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Podcast is the release and download of a series of digital media files in a set of episodes through web syndication. It differs from web download and web streaming in the mode of delivery. The audio or video files are maintained on a centrally distributed server and a user needs special software called a pod catcher to access these files. It also checks for updates and settings can be made so that any newly updated files are downloaded automatically. The most common audio formats that are used in podcasts are mp3 and Ogg Vorbis.

It was first named as podcast by a person named Ben Hammersley. It is a portmanteau of the words "iPod" and "broadcasting". Some may have a misguided notion that one needs an pod to podcast but that is not true. It is just enough to have a computer that can play the specified audio formats. "Personal on Demand" was proposed as an acronym for podcast. And sometimes the term 'net cast' is used as a synonym for podcast.

Podcasting started to gain momentum in the later months of 2004 and has emerged as a popular service with the increase in use of the Internet. Podcasting is creating quite a buzz in technological circles. It provides a user with several options in the context of content and features. The listeners also have the facility to choose the time and place where they will listen to the podcasts.

Podcasting delivers media files to the user using a RSS feed. Therefore to create a podcast, you must record a media file and place it in the enclosure field of the RSS 2.0 feed. Although there may be some expenses involved in using recording equipment, once recorded several softwares are available for free that help in editing the recorded files. Numerous tools are also present that aid us in creating RSS 2.0 feeds.

The procedure to podcast can be summarised as follows. First step is to plan what you want to podcast and create a media file. Then, add the audio or video file to the enclosure tag of the RSS feed and finally submit the podcast and advertise to the world about your podcast.

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