"Podcasts" are recordings stored on a website and available for user downloading. They can be played on one of the standard utilities that come with most computers - including Microsoft Windows Media Player, QuickTime, iTunes, and RealPlayer. You are probably "podcast-ready."
Commercial podcasting began in the fall of 2004, preceded by perhaps two years of development of the enabling technologies. School Improvement Industry's first podcast was listed in April of 2005.
What makes podcasts a unique internet medium is their ability to reach a targeted audience of like-minded people with a specific vocal message at times and places convenient to the listener rather than the broadcaster.
Listeners can link to a podcasting site, or one of the growing number of podcast directories, and opt to have new podcasts sent to them as soon as they are published. The files downloaded to their computer can be listened there, archived, or transferred to any mp3 player or ipod and heard on the way to work or at the gym. There's nothing mysterious or complex about it. Unlike downloaded music, most podcasts record "talking heads" and are made available for free by their publishers. There's no reason not to try one. Listen Here.>
