Podcast

Podcast

A podcast (not to be confused or equated with Apple Inc's iPod) usually consists of a combination of audio and/or video that is made available for download via syndication. It is this syndication aspect of the delivery that separates a podcast from a file available for download. The files are usually retrieved with software applications (generically known as podcatchers) such as Apple's iTunes so that subscribers can listen at their convenience on devices that have intermittent, slow, or are otherwise lacking Internet access. The podcatcher reads an feed (whose entries point to specific podcasts, usually sorted by date) to identify and retrieve the podcast.

Like the term broadcast, podcast can refer either to the content itself or to the method by which the content is syndicated; the latter is also called podcasting. A podcaster is the person who creates the content.

A podcast is syndicated via an RSS feed. This feed enables distribution over the Internet by syndicated download. Though the same content may also be made available by direct download or streaming, a podcast is distinguished from most other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added.

The term is a portmanteau of the words "iPod" and "broadcast", the Apple iPod being the brand of portable media player for which the first podcasting scripts were developed (see history of podcasting). Such scripts allow podcasts to be automatically transferred from a personal computer to a mobile device after they are downloaded.

As more devices other than iPods became able to synchronize with podcast feeds, a backronym developed where podcast stood for "Personal On Demand broadCAST." though such a definition would create a misnomer, because podcasts are not available "on demand"; they are subscribed to and usually received at set intervals. Such a definition would more accurately describe a direct download or streaming media.

On February 5, 2005, Shae Spencer Management LLC of Fairport, New York filed a trademark application to register PODCAST for an 'online prerecorded radio program over the internet'. On September 9, 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office rejected the application, citing Wikipedia's podcast entry as describing the history of the term.

As of September 20, 2005, known trademarks that attempted to capitalize on podcast include: Podcast Realty, GuidePod, PodGizmo, Pod-Casting, MyPod, Podvertiser, Podango, ePodcast, PodCabin, Podcaster, PodShop, PodKitchen, Podgram, GodPod and Podcast.

As of February 2007, there were 24 attempts to register trademarks containing the word "PODCAST" in United States, but only "PODCAST READY" from Podcast Ready, Inc. was approved.

On September 26, 2006, it was reported that Apple Computer started to crack down on businesses using the acronym 'POD,' in product and company names. Apple sent a cease-and-desist order that week to Podcast Ready, Inc., which markets an application known as 'myPodder'. Lawyers for Apple contended allegedly that the term "pod" has been used by the public to refer to Apple's music player so extensively that it falls under Apple's trademark cover. It was speculated that such activity was part of a bigger campaign for Apple to expand the scope of its existing iPod trademark, which included trademarking "IPODCAST," "IPOD," and "POD." On November 16, 2006, Apple Trademark Department returned a letter claiming Apple does not object to third party usage of "podcast" to refer to podcasting services and that Apple does not license the term(s).

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Enhanced podcast

An enhanced podcast is a podcast multimedia format that allows images to be displayed in time with audio. This can be an effective way to present information such as lectures with a powerpoint-like slide show.

Enhanced podcasts also are able to present chapter markers in an audio file much like a DVD movie can allow users to jump to predetermined spots in a presentation. This can be helpful for longer audio presentations and audiobooks. The current drawback of enhanced podcasts is that they are not universally supported.

The most popular approach is based on AAC and Apple's QuickTime. Playing these enhanced podcasts on a computer requires Apple's Quicktime Player or iTunes software. The only portable devices capable of playing these enhanced podcasts are iPods.

Authoring is possible on a Macintosh computer using applications such as Apple's GarageBand (part of their iLife suite), Podcaster, ProfCast and Apple's Chapter Tool.

The technical details of the mp4 format can be found in the references sections.

An alternative approach is to use ID3v2 Chapters. This is a relatively new standard and is not widely supported as yet. However an authoring tool is available and a media player for Pocket PCs and Windows Mobile Smartphones.

SMIL is a W3C recommended XML markup language that can be used to create enhanced podcasts.

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Halfcast podcast

The Halfcast Podcast is a monthly podcast located at halfcast.net and syndicated by Greylodge podcasting company. It was created by Australian comedians "Pol Symtas" and "Simon Keck".

Each episode is an intense brain re-programming device diguised as a seamless mess of absurd comedy sketches, monologues, surrealism, culture jamming, absurdity and music.

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Macworld Podcast

The Macworld Podcast is a bi-weekly podcast published by Macworld, a magazine and web site devoted to Apple's Macintosh computers. It is hosted by Macworld Senior Editor Chris Breen, and consists mostly of interviews with Macworld editors and other Mac luminaries. Macworld editorial director Jason Snell is a frequent guest and occasional guest host. The program's original host was Cyrus Farivar.

The Macworld Podcast began life on April 26, 2005 as the "Geek Factor Podcast," but was upgraded into the official "Macworld Podcast" with its fifth installment, in August 2005.

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