Podcasting and RSS Feeds

RSS (really simple syndication) is a way of "feeding" files to your computer off the internet. RSS usually involves headlines and text, but in 2005 this was extended to movement of MP3 audio files which will run on Apple's iPod devices, on MP3 players, and on some mobile phones (video files movement is a future development). Reflecting the popularity of the Apple iPod, such audio feeds are commonly referred to as "podcasts".

Podcasts are audio broadcasts, accessible over the internet. They are usually stored recordings, rather than live, though a growing number of radio stations (particularly public service and news stations) are making their RSS feeds available shortly after the actual broadcast. (Live broadcast is "streamed" audio - another technology).

Programs which allow you to receive podcasts are media aggregators - software which allows you to download many different audio files from many different sources onto your desktop. You either synchronize (usually if you are not always connected to the internet), or if you are "always on" through broadband connections the feeds are usually automatic and continuous. Most programs also include scheduling options.

Often these programs are stand-alone, or add-ons (e.g. to Palm hand-helds), but RSS capability is being built in to common desktop software. For example, Apple's iTunes desktop software (version 4.9 onwards) supports podcasts.

RSS is an implementation of the XML standard for information-exchange and interworking. The and buttons on websites both indicate that an RSS feed is available (usually a text feed - audio Podcasts are usually separately identified).

"Traditional" RSS text feeds (particularly headlines, displayed scrolling across news bars) are supported in several browsers such as Opera, Firefox, and Netscape (the current version, which is based on Firefox). Apple has integrated full support for accessing RSS feeds in its Safari browser.

RSS feeds are also supported in numerous portals, such as My Yahoo!, and by some blog site hosts. Stand-alone programs which can display RSS feeds are called "Newsreaders" (or "RSS readers").

RSS 2.0 Website Full explanation and technical details. An Open Source-like community. http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss

RSS information on Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSS_%28file_format%29

How To Publish a Podcast on the iTunes Music Store
Explanation (with sample code) of how to set up an RSS feed so links to your Podcast can be included on Apple's iTunes music store, which is fast becoming the focal point for publishing Podcasts. http://phobos.apple.com/static/iTunesRSS.html

Apple iTunes
www.apple.com/itunes/

Podcasting News
Large news, information, and directory for the podcast community. www.podcastingnews.com

iPodder
Popular podcast receiver software for Windows, Mac, and Linux. http://ipodder.sourceforge.net

AvantGo
Enables users of PDAs (eg Palm Pilot) and smartphones to select from thousands of online channels and download feeds onto their handheld device. Correctly formats text and image feeds for particular devices. Puts current news, weather, sports, stock quotes, maps, movie listings, and more on your handheld. Works with wireless and Wi-Fi enabled devices. For others, desktop software accesses internet and updates channels on the handheld each time the handheld is synchronised with your desktop personal information manager (eg Outlook or Palm Desktop). www.avantgo.com