KAFPodcasters

• What is Podcasting
• Who listen to podcasts?
• Podcasting is audioblog
• A brief history
• Feature of Podcasting

Podcasting is audioblog

Podcasting is audioblog. How, you would ask. Blogging usually refers to a continuous posting of comments on a specific subject; podcasting does the same but with audio and video files. Each podcast is associated with a theme and is called aptly an 'episode' and the following music or audio file bears some connection to the main stream. Basically then podcasting is indeed an audioblog.

Though generally podcasting has been and is still most popularly used for music downloading and playback, there are many other things that have grabbed the attention of the public at large with high entertainment value such a comedy shows, specific radio programs and so on. Hence, podcasting is audioblog. The best part is that even politicians have made podcasting part of their campaign and have used this new process to freely distribute their views to the public. Science and technology uses podcasting to broadcast the latest development for doctors and physicians and other scientists. Not to be left out news companies too joined this revolution - including BBC - and have news podcast on regular basis. There are complete radio stations that adopted podcasting as their method of broadcasting.

The best application however is the adaptation of the print media to podcasting - such as providing 'talking newspapers' for the customers. The term that podcasting is audioblog is reinforced in these type of scenarios as it actually it behaves in exactly the same manner as a blog would - the only difference being that while the blog is a text only meant for reading, the podcast is for ears as well - from where the audioblog name ensues. Podcasting is hence described as the method or way of disseminating multimedia files which include audio and video files through specifically designed software called RSS with enclosures. These files are bunched up based on a particular theme - again bringing back the allusion to the blog which has to be thematic.

Podcasting is audioblog for another main reason. It is downloadable and replayable from the Net. It does not need any specific playback device - though now podcasting is adopted and adapted with video files which can be replayed on latest technology iPods. As compared to streaming where you would have to be continuously connected to the Internet for listening to your audio files - podcasting only needs your computer to be connected at periodic times when the downloads are automatic. The replay can be done at leisure at any time you want. This is why BBC is naming their podcast 'listen again' and there are a lot of great hits on travel podcasts as well as language teaching podcasts because it can be heard when required and convenient to the user and not only when you are connected to the Internet.

Podcasting is audioblog for many reasons as described above, but the best reason why it is called an audioblog is that blogging is by itself a new phenomena which has caught the fancy of the today's generation. From just a discussion forum the blogging has moved into the world of money spinners by disseminating specific knowledge and thread of thought. In a similar manner podcasting too has moved from the mere entertainment podium to that of the money spinners it has become today. There are many companies today who have cashed in this excellent way to providing information and entertainment to cash in on the need of the people to have quality and convenience of podcasting at their fingertips - and they are minting money. It is beautiful to see the fast development of this wonderful thing called iPod which started from an idea called blog - a simple thought posted on the Internet. This shows how fast the technology can develop and how much pampered can we the audience be when we demand it. Podcasting is audioblog from the point of success as well.