Podcast Feeds Articles | IPod

By: Darren Williger

Simply put, podcasts feeds are the coding that help to share the information over the internet. There is RSS coding within the podcast feed that can be read by a machine, The RSS feed is updated every time the owner of the podcast makes updates.  When these updates occur, the RSS feeds show the changes and subscribers are then updated as well.  RSS feed files have the web site address encoded within them and can be downloaded whenever a user wishes. 

Podcasting currently refers to media files, but this was not always the case at one time.  Originally, podcasts were used only for music or MP3 files; it has only been more recently that there have been video files turned into podcasts. 

Since these are only files that can be changed and updated, it then makes podcasting unlimited.  These files can be used for more than just media files and could be used to transfer all different types of data and information.  Although, right now podcasts are used for media files, it does not mean that will not change at some time.  These audio and video files are called episodes and are everything from music to videos to news, radio stations, and TV shows.

Podcasting has especially become popular because there is such a low entry cost and start up fees.  Anyone that has something they want to share can get involved with podcasting.  All a person needs is:

1. A host to store the media files on.
2. A domain name so that their podcasts can be found.
3. A podcast client to read the podcasts and receive regular updates.
4. Lastly and of course, the podcasts themselves.

Established musicians, TV stations, producers, and radio stations have gotten involved with podcasting.  Many podcast portions of their shows or music.  Allowing users to download and view or listen to new music, or part of a show they missed.  The American Life show has gone so far as to charge subscribers to view and have regular updates of the program.  Doing this destroys the entire point of podcasting, since the subscribers of this particular show cannot copy or share their podcast feed.  Subscribers have a unique podcast feed that only they can use.  The American Life show has completely missed the entire purpose of podcasting, thankfully many others have not and are free to watch and share.

Interestingly, the newest use of podcasting has been video blogging.  The blog has the feed that shares the video instead of the audio of blog feed.  A fun and different way of sharing your blogs, not just through writing but now though actually videotaping yourself.

What has made podcasting so accessible is the fact that the internet has become so fast and people can download large files quickly and easily, within just a few minutes at most.  Podcasting is accepted by mainstream companies and organizations like the BBC that use it to broadcast shows and episodes clips.  With all the technology coming out and being developed who knows what else podcast episodes and clips will be used for in the future.  Some people believe podcasts could so far as a way to share software updates and technology services.  For now it is being used as a low cost way to share and distribute media files.