Podcast (and rss)

In an earlier blog entry iPodder and iPodderX were mentioned (my prefered rss client NetNewsWire, and playpod are alternatives). They are all podcast clients for Mac (well, ipodder runs on Mac, Windows and Linux). Like syndication (rss) and blogs, podcasts is based on the idea of dynamic and updated web contents. But podcast is audio content for your iPod. It is a way the make your iPod a radio-on-demand device. See what is podcasting? at ipodder.org. Wikipedia provides a more detailed description of podcasting. See also fun iPod tricks.

OK, you have an iPod and a podcast client. The next thing is to locate the feeds (the radio stations). Good sources are podcast.net, ipodder.org and Podcast Alley. You will also find a podcast directory at ipodderx.com. If you want to create your own feed (from streaming radio stations), radiopod is your server application.

I'm currently using NetNewsWire (see interview with Brent Simmons, the author of NetNewsWire) both for ordinary rss feeds and for podcasts (NetNewsWire includes podcast support in the current 2.0 beta version, 2.0b10). It is however a product you have to pay for, and the free alternatives might fit your needs. You do not have to own an iPod to start using a podcast client. The downloaded audio (programs) can be played on any mp3 player (including iTunes and other similar applications). The integration with iTunes (and iPod) is configurable in all clients.

January 3 2005 (aa)