Just as we could have rode into the sunset, along came the Internet, and it tripled the significance of the PC. Andy Grove

Podcast Downloads





Podcast downloads are a wonderful new online way to


share files. A podcast is a way to send files from a


distributor's online site directly to the subscribers


computer, where they can view them whenever they


wish. A podcast works by having a small file called an


RSS file placed somewhere on the podcaster's web


page. This RSS file is updated regularily, usually


automatically with text and links to new media files


available for downloading. The RSS file is then


accessed by the podcast client of the subscriber's


computer. A podcast client is a small program that goes


online to look for the RSS files that the feed subscribers


wish to view. There are many podcast clients available


for every conceivable need, and most are free to


download and use.



The podcast download will be done when the podcast


client downloads and views the file from the feed's


website. After finding the links to the media files


embedded in the RSS file, it will download those files


and store them on the computer, allowing the user to


view them whenever and as many times as they wish.


The podcast files may be of many things. There are


comedy shows done by people who enjoy creating and


writing a regular show, but aren't able to do it as a


business. Some podcasts are music mixes, an mp3 file


that subscribers can play. Even some radio shows are


getting into podcasting, allowing subscribers to


download portions of their shows from the internet in


podcast form and play them on their home computer.



Podcast downloads could conceiveably be applied to


any type of file. The RSS files that allow the mainly


audio and video files now used in podcasting to be


downloaded can be customized to enclose almost any


type of file. This has led some analysts to believe that


podcasting could eventually be used to distribute


software updates, demonstration programs, and many


other types of files, moving beyond the simple use of


podcasting to share media files. All that would be


neccessary would be for the users to subscribe to the


feed with their podcast client. They could then stay


regularily updated for nearly anything.



Podcast downloads offer many different possibilities for


distribution of files across the internet. Because it is a


different mode of using the internet, allowing the data


to come to the user rather than the user having to visit


each site they enjoy, podcasting has the possibility of


changing the way the internet works. Content can be


given directly to the individual, easily and ever more


quickly as broadband use spreads. This means that what


the internet is will change drastically. The web changes


from something connected to in order to be used to


something that is integrated and connected with our


personal life.

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