Week 11: Podcasting and Streaming Media

Podcasting! It seems like everyone is doing it. Libraries, radio stations, television shows, and the Whitehouse are using podcasts as a way to extend their message or brand to a larger audience. Not only can you listen to your favorite morning radio show from your computer, you can also subscribe to all the best bits using their podcast. Podcasting allows you to get President Obama’s weekly address delivered to you. You can hear it immediately, or when it’s convenient. In the past if you wanted to watch a video online or listen to a digital recording of a speech the onus would be on you to seek it out. Podcasting, or more specifically, RSS allows that content to be delivered to you. Before we get too far, let’s take a few minutes to understand the difference between downloadable and streaming media and their relationship with podcasting.

Streaming and downloading are two different methods of delivering audio or video content. To better understand this difference let’s use the example of a CNN’s Web site. When you visit CNN.com you can watch live news broadcasts. The content is delivered, or “streamed” from CNN’s servers to your computer. The broadcast is not saved to your computer; rather it is delivered to you only when you request it.

Downloading installs the audio or video content onto your computer. Unlike CNN’ streaming news broadcast, audio or video that is downloaded can be accessed at anytime and does not require you to be connected to the Internet. The file is saved on your computer's hard drive and it can be retrieved in the same way you would a Word document or digital photograph.

Podcasting distinguishes itself from the above formats by the ability to syndicate and subscribe to the content. If this sounds familiar then you were paying attention during Week 3 when we discussed RSS. In some cases the same newsreader that you use to read blogs can be used to subscribe to podcasts or vodcasts (video podcasts). You can listen to (or view) the podcast when it arrives, or you can download it to your computer or a portable device.

To learn more about podcasts, check out this video from the good folks at Common Craft.



This week we're asking you to locate a podcast and subscribe to it (Thing #20). A list of suggestions are available on the Wiki page for Week 11 or you can search for one on your own. You can use subscribe to the podcast using Google Reader or any other RSS reader that supports podcasts. You can also use one of the "podcatchers" mentioned in the above video. A directory of Windows and Macintosh podcast software can be found here. (Some of these podcatchers require you to download free software. In the event that it doesn't work, check with the eiNetwork Help Desk to get administrative rights for your machine.) To document your experience, include a comment below or a link to a blog post that describes your results. As always, include your name and your library. Good luck!