The Hindu Business Line : Webcasting and PodCasting

What is the difference between podcasting and webcasting? I would like to start my own podcast and want to know what kind of software is required for this.

JAGDEESH

Webcasting is the distribution of media files through the Internet. This can be a streaming media file. This can also be live broadcast or a recorded one. This is like TV broadcasting but uses the Internet as the media instead of the radio signals.

This is the transmission of video and audio content over the Internet, used for updating the news, weather or coverage of any selected events such as seminar, product launches or training. One site can be viewed or listened to by many users over the Internet simultaneously.

Web casting can also be done in the intranet portals viewed by users within an organisation for any internal training. Podcasting is the distribution of media files using syndication feeds. This distribution is for playback in portable media players and computers. This distribution is over the Internet.

The word pod casting is a combination of the words iPod and broadcast. The iPod is the Apple's media player. In pod casting, the distribution is through syndication or subscription.

The media file is automatically downloaded to the subscriber's device whenever the site is updated with new content. Podcasting finds its use in distribution of news, music. The difference between webcasting and podcasting is that in webcasting, users come to the site where the webcast is done. In podcast, the content is downloaded to the users' device, such as portable players or computers, so that users can view the content at their convenience. Podcasting is distributed to all subscribers whenever the content is updated.

In webcasting the site will be updated of the new content. The user who visits the site after the updating can view the new content. The user will not be aware of the change until he visits the site. To start your own podcast, first choose the subject on which you want to make the podcast. Then create the media file, generally audio file of MP3 format.

This can be created using any of the good audio recording software. The free audio recording software Audacity 1.2.6 (2.1MB) can be downloaded from the URL http:// audacity.sourceforge.net/latest/audacitywin/ audacity-win-1.2.6.exe

Please edit the audio file and prepare it for a podcast. After creating an audio file, select a Web site from where you can podcast. The selection of the Web site is based upon the size and the bandwidth it offers. The size is to store the media file.

There can be a regular addition of new file and that depends on the subject you select. The Web site can handle the traffic based on its bandwidth. The higher the bandwidth, the more traffic it can handle.

SOLUTION BY P. NATARAJAN

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