Podcasting 101: An intro course

Ever heard the term Podcasting? No? Well, I am here to familiarize you with things of this nature. And if you do know what it is, you should still read.

Due to the massive growth of the iPod and thousands of other digital audio players (DAP) the average human can now have anywhere from 1 to 10,000 songs on his/her person at any given time. That's about 667 CD's worth of music! This revolution pushed the mobility of media further than the Sony Walkman could have ever done. The best thing about a DAP is that you can manage you content through a computer, constantly changing it and updating it. But music is just a beginning. What about audio books? They are also in the familiar format of MP3 so now, instead of carrying all 60 CD's worth of Harry Potter audio books, just put them on your DAP.

Now, on to Podcasting. Podcasting is basically audio articles. Somebody with something to same gets on their computer and records it. Now, with that, you have a lot of wackjobs out there recording about their encounter with Zyphorg, the human liaison from planet Fupa. But, their are also VERY good podcasts from very reputable sources. Don't have time to watch or read the news? Download any one of thousands of podcasts relating to recent news stories. Interested in some very obscure hobby such as World of Warcraft Mods? Download the daily podcast. The best thing about podcasts is that they are free. All you need is a computer. You click the one you want, wait until it downloads and listen right off your computer or put it on your DAP. The Podcast directory is a very helpful resource that combines a large selection of some of the most popular podcasts. Check it out.

Now, why does this matter and why is it worth writing about? I shall pose this question. Have you noticed how media is changing? It used to be, supply and receive. Channels supply content, we take it in. Now, we demand what we want, either bypassing the 'channel' or not, and take it in. With DVR (digital video recording, i.e. TiVo) you can save any show in a digital format. Other people, who have other channels, trade these shows on the internet. Don't have HBO, no problem, go to the internet. No longer are we subject to whatever is on the tube or in the magazines in the waiting room at the dentist's office. The whole world is at our fingertips.