How to Use This Book

This book has four main chapters, each of which details a different area of the podcasting universe. Podcasting is so new that it is entirely possible that you may have never heard of it or that you have heard of it but have no working knowledge of what it is. With this in mind, the book is designed as a beginner's handbook for finding, downloading, listening to, and creating podcasts. The book can be divided into two sections. The first section (Chapters 1 and 2) concerns learning the basics about podcasting and how to go out and enjoy the great podcast content that's available. The second section (Chapters 3 and 4) details the process of creating your own podcasts and then publishing them on the Web for the world to enjoy.

Chapter 1 is an introduction to the concept, explaining what podcasting is, how it is being used, and how it may be used in the future. By the end of Chapter 1, the term podcast will be firmly established and completely understandable. Chapter 2 is for the person who wants to download and enjoy podcasts without having to worry about how to create them. This chapter explains the process of setting up a podcast aggregator (podcatching software) and details the most popular programs available for this purpose. Chapter 2 also takes a look at a few of the most popular iPods and other digital media players that are best suited for podcast playback.

Chapter 3 is concerned specifically with the process of creating a podcast. This chapter looks at most of the options available today, in terms of equipment and software, and then takes you through the process of creating a podcast from start to finish. Finally, in Chapter 4, publishing a podcast to the World Wide Web via an RSS feed is explained, demystified, and then described in step-by-step fashion.

Because podcasting is so new, this book is designed specifically for the new user, but that said, there are plenty of details that an intermediate podcaster can benefit from. The inclusion of interviews with people from all walks of the podcasting universe helps bring home the incredible effect that podcasting has had on radio, business, and even education in just a few short months.

This book is designed to be useful on several levels. If you specifically need to learn about RSS feeds, Chapter 4 awaits. If you are completely new to podcasting, the entire book is a treasure trove of information. Use this book as much or as little as you need to get exactly what you want out of podcasting. Most of all, have fun!

Icons

The four icons used in the following chapters are:

Macintosh-compatible

Windows-compatible

Unix/Linux-compatible

Items to take note of and helpful tips