How It Works

The cutting edge of podcasting involves a set of rules known as RSS (Really Simple Syndication). RSS allows podcast content to be syndicated instantly on the World Wide Web for download and use by anyone who has an interest in listening to it (or watching it, in the case of video podcasts). By using RSS, the creator of a podcast can make his or her material available to anyone in the world (who has access to the Internet) within a matter of minutes.

With the evolution of RSS and associated technologies, podcasting becomes analogous to a TiVo for audio broadcasts of all kinds. Once syndicated, a podcast is disseminated over the World Wide Web to anyone who has subscribed to that content. Via RSS, podcasts are downloaded to a user's computer and can be uploaded to a digital media player the next time it is connected to the computer. Soon, digital media players will have wireless connectivity, allowing podcast content to be streamed to these players in much the same way that laptop computers connect to wireless networks in airports and coffee shops the world over.

Although this process may sound complicated and cumbersome, it really isn't. Thanks to incredibly versatile and user-friendly software like Apple's iTunes, iPodder, and video-specific programs like TVTonic (Figure 1.2), the process of enjoying podcasts plays out like a soft Jamaican breeze.

Figure 1.2. TVTonic is a Windows-only, Web-based video podcast aggregator that allows you to manage all your video podcasts easily in one handy location.

Although syndication is probably the most popular way of obtaining podcasts, there are other ways to get your hands on these audio and video gems without committing to daily or weekly content. Many podcasts are available as one-time downloads or as streaming content from podcasting Web sites (the number of which is sure to mushroom even while this book is at the printer), giving you the option of sampling small bites rather than ordering a four-course meal.

Technically speaking, any media event that is played on a digital media device such as an iPod or other MP3 player is a podcast. Indeed, many weekly magazines, radio shows, and even television shows (such as "The Charlie Rose Show") are available for download in MP3 format for use on digital media devices or home computers. As one might expect, many of these commercial ventures are associated with some small cost, but that is just one small area of the podcasting realm. In fact, 99 percent of all podcast content has no cost associated with it other than the necessary audio hardware and computer/Internet connection.