A Podcast definition specifically refers to digital video or audio computer files that are, through web syndication, regularly released to enable downloads online.  However, podcasts are different from other methods of file access such as streaming or downloading in that there is the aspect of syndication.  There is automatic identification and retrieval of a series of new files by special client software applications, i.e. podcatchers, which access a Web feed, listing all files which are associated at that point in time with that series.  The podcatcher can automatically download new files and store them in the user’s computer or any other device to enable use offline.  This simplifies the downloading of content which is released at regular intervals.

Origins Of The Term

Podcast definition, like the word broadcast, encompasses both the content and also the way it is syndicated.  The method of syndication is also known as podcasting.  The person who generates the creation of the content is known as the podcaster.  The word podcast itself originated from ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’.  Initially, podcasting scripts were developed to enable automatic transfers of podcasts, after being downloaded, from personal computers to mobile devices.  Since devices other than iPod are now able to be synchronized with podcast feeds, a podcast definition is now based on “Personal On Demand broadCAST’.

How It All Began

A Podcast definition originally referred to an audio broadcast that had to be converted to an MP3 file or some other audio format to be played back on a digital music player.  Podcasting went on to include static images and video images as well.  Contrary to the origins of the word, it has not been necessary to utilize an iPod, nor any other portable media player, for the use of a podcast.  The only thing required to access the content is a computer that can play media files.

How It Works

A podcast first saves a file and uploads it to a service provider’s web site.  The file is given a URL which is then inserted as an XML tag into an RSS XML document.  After it is created, the podcast can be registered in podcast directories.

Although the simple distribution of video and audio files has been prevalent for a long time, in fact even before the Internet, podcasting caught on in 2004.  As more and more people became familiar with podcasting, its popularity grew and it is today a familiar concept in common use.  A number of podcasts are available for free while some have to be paid for.  The most common audio file used is an MP3.

Advantages

The advantages of a podcast includes the ability to download individually or through subscription which enables automatic downloads as each episode of a podcast is made available.  The use of RSS feeds facilitates the subscription to a podcast.  Producers of content are turning more and more to podcasts since they are not expensive and are user-friendly, thereby reaching a much wider audience.  Among the initial users were bloggers and musicians.  An effective podcast definition involves a combination of all these factors.