Podcasting

Podcasting:
A podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and downloaded through web syndication. The mode of delivery is what differentiates podcasts from other ways of accessing media files over the Internet, such as simple download or streamed webcasts: special client software applications known as podcatchers (like iTunes, Zune, Juice, and Winamp) are used to automatically identify and download new files in the series when they are released by accessing a centrally-maintained web feed that lists all files associated with the series. New files can thus be downloaded automatically by the podcatcher and stored locally on the user's computer or other device for offline use, giving simpler access to episodic content.
Most dictionary definitions of a podcast fall into one of two camps as of September 2009. One set focuses on the "on-demand" nature of podcasts. Another set requires the automatic or syndication posting. There are problems with both definitions. The first is too open. Under such a definition, a paid music download could technically be a podcast. Most audiences would disagree. The second is too limiting. It does not allow for manual downloads. Researchers at the Center for Journalism and Mass Communication Research at the University of Texas at Austin are proposing a three-part definition of a podcast: first, that it is episodic; second, that it is downloadable; and third, that it is program-driven, mainly with a host and/or theme.
Like the term broadcast, podcast can refer either to an ongoing series or episodes of a particular program.A podcaster is the person who creates the content.

Podcasting:
What It Means
 2005 word of the year – New Oxford American Dictionary
 A podcast is a media file that is distributed by subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.
 Podcasting may auto-update an iPod
 Podcasting does NOT require an iPod!
 Podcasts were first called
Define podcasting:
media file that is distributed by subscription (paid or unpaid) over the Internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers.
Name:
The term was mentioned by Ben Hammersley in The Guardian newspaper in a February 2004 article, along with other proposed names for the new medium. It is a portmanteau of the words "iPod" and "broadcast", the Apple iPod being the brand of portable media player for which early podcasting scripts were developed (see history of podcasting), allowing podcasts to be automatically transferred from a personal computer to a mobile device after download.
It has never been necessary, despite the source of the name, to use an iPod or any other form of portable media player to use podcasts; the content can be accessed using any computer capable of playing media files. A backronym has been posited where podcast stands for "Personal On Demand broadCAST".
History:
Podcasting began to catch hold with the public in late 2004, though during the 1998–2001 dot-com era there were multiple "podcasts" done by major companies, such as Real Networks and ESPN.com. Many individuals and groups contributed to the emergence and popularity of podcasts.
The most common audio file format used is MP3.
“Audio Blogs”
 Web logs (blogs) are web pages that are easily updated – example
 Text, comments, exchanges possible
 These web pages with text accompany most podcasts – allow for information exchange
 Engages the audience
 Process
 Make recording, gather visuals
 Assemble into a multi-media presentation
 Post to the Web – most often with a description at a blog
 Generate RSS file
 Syndication
 Clients receive notice via RSS
 Their “podcatcher” automatically downloads to computer and send to iPod (if used)
Podcasts for Learning
 Have been used in higher education for three years! Originally called “audio blogs”
 iTunes University
 Sample Accounting Podcasts
 EPN Education Podcast Network
 Accounting Best Practices – Bragg & Nach
 Ernst & Young Podcast Channels
 CPA Podcasts
 Podcasting News - Business
Creating Podcasts
 In simplest audio form (mp3), podcasts can be created using free software.
 Audacity, Media Player, Feedburner, and other online tools
 Enhanced podcasts mp4a format
 Graphics, text, video
 ProfCast – drag and drop visuals – chapters
 OS-X platform required (Mac not PC)

Trademarks
2005


The logo used by Apple to represent Podcasting
On February 5, 2005, Shae Spencer Management LLC of Fairport, New York filed a trademark application to register PODCAST for an "online prerecorded radio program over the internet".On September 9, 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office rejected the application, citing Wikipedia's podcast entry as describing the history of the term.
As of September 20, 2005, known trademarks that attempted to capitalize on podcast include: Podcast Realty, GuidePod, PodGizmo, Pod-Casting, MyPod, Podvertiser, Podango, ePodcast, PodCabin, Podcaster, PodShop, PodKitchen, Podgram, GodPod and Podcast.
2006
On September 26, 2006, it was reported that Apple Computer started to crack down on businesses using the acronym "POD", in product and company names. Apple sent a cease-and-desist order that week to Podcast Ready, Inc., which markets an application known as "myPodder". Lawyers for Apple contended allegedly that the term "pod" has been used by the public to refer to Apple's music player so extensively that it falls under Apple's trademark cover. It was speculated that such activity was part of a bigger campaign for Apple to expand the scope of its existing iPod trademark, which included trademarking "IPODCAST", "IPOD", and "POD". On November 16, 2006, Apple Trademark Department returned a letter claiming Apple does not object to third party usage of "podcast" to refer to podcasting services and that Apple does not license the term(s).
2007
As of February 2007, there were 24 attempts to register trademarks containing the word "PODCAST" in United States, but only "PODCAST READY" from Podcast Ready, Inc. was approved.