At some point somebody will write the ‘idiots guide to Podcasting’.
As soon as I can find an idiot that knows anything about it…
Idiots guide to Podcast subscription (Podcatching)
Podcasts are basically broadcasts in episode form from a website. You can think of them as magazine articles, radio programs or TV shows. They are available as soon as they are published by various automatic subscription methods or you can download them manually. All podcasts are designed to be viewed, read or listened to on iPods although your computer screen and speakers will do just fine.
As they are content based items they can be accessed via ‘feeds’. This is the core of all content subscription on the internet and although fairly confusing at first glance is a very simple and effective system. All it means is that the words, pictures, video and soundfiles (the content) from a web page or article are accessed without all the trimmings – fonts, colours, spacings, layouts, flashy-widgety this and that – it is just the content. So when you subscribe to a feed you get all the content when you want it and you can view it or listen to it how you want to – you just have to learn how. Nice…
All you need to view feeds of any sort is some feed-reading software – these will get you all the static visual content – ie text and pictures. To get the audio and video you will need Pod-catching software. All very simple – you just type the URL (web address) of the podcast feed (ie http://www.papersurfer.com/feed/podcast/) that you want to subscribe to into the correct field and the software will do the rest.
The most common way of subscribing and dealing with podcasts is through Apples iTunes. Many sites will offer a direct link (ie this one) which makes it ridiculously easy for you by opening the application and then giving you a nice, obvious ’subscribe’ button. You can also browse through their enormous library of podcasts from the iTunes store.
Useful links:
Podcatching software:
iTunes: The most common and popular by far (PC and Mac)
Juice: Free open-source podcatching software (PC /Mac and Linux)
PodNova: Online podcast community. Search, subcribe and play your favourites from one site.
Idiots guide to Podcasting
I’ll refresh this if and when my knowledge level augments but currently my advice is as follows:
Use Wordpress for your website. Install the Blubrry Powerpress plugin and follow the instructions…
If you want to do some severe research then go to the podcasting toolbox.
