Podcasting
June 29, 2009mike Comments OffFor those of you who are unaware of what “podcasting” is welcome to the 21st century, just a guess but you probably drive a Crown Victoria but never get it above 30 mph (let me tell you they didn’t put the V8 in there for a Sunday drive to Walmart). Podcasting is a portmanteau of iPod and broadcasting. Ok if you didn’t catch what an iPod was its like a Walkman for the 21st century. Basically podcasting is recording news or other “talk-radio” style information into a digital audio file for downloading to a portable media player (PMP) or MP3 player for enjoyment while on the move. It allows any kid in his mom’s basement or mad scientist in Kiev with a microphone to become a talk show host with the planet as his audience. With regular updates these DJs can gather quite an audience and set their iPods to automatically download new installments. The beauty of podcasting is its so easy a caveman can do it (I’m sure Geico will be collecting their royalties on that one), the downside is, while portable, its not instantaneous. Streaming audio (via Shoutcast or other service) allows anyone with an internet connection to get a realtime feed of an audio file just like good old fashion AM/FM radio. Aside from that downside (which will turn out to be a big one as the iPhone and other MP3-capable devices have high speed modems built in capable of streaming audio) it is a pretty great thing as most any digital device from cellphone, laptop, desktop, MP3 player, Nintendo DSi or whatnot can play downloaded audio files (even the PC and Mac guys can agree on it). Don’t worry podcasting… we will call audio streaming podcasting and you will get to live on in the form of 3G and 4G wireless streams. Until then, look for some wild podcasts out there that will make Rush Limbaugh seem like Bill Maher (and vice versa of course!)