The Next Big Thing

Move over bloggers, here come the Podcasters.

Have you always secretly wanted to be a talk show host? Would you like to be the Bill O'Reilly of the Internet? Then here's your chance.

What is a Podcast, you ask? Here's the definition according to Wikipedia:

The term "podcasting" is a portmanteau of the words iPod and broadcasting. Although an iPod is currently the playback device of choice for many early adopters of podcasting, a portable music player is not required to take advantage of this method of content distribution.

A podcast is much like an audio magazine subscription: a subscriber receives regular audio programs delivered via the internet, and she or he can listen to them at her or his leisure.

Podcasts differ from traditional internet audio in two important ways. In the past, listeners have had to either tune in to web radio on a schedule, or they have had to actively download individual files from webpages. Podcasts are more flexible and much easier to get. They can be listened to at any time because a copy is on the listener's computer or portable music player, and they are automatically delivered to subscribers, so no active downloading is required.

Wanna hear some sample Podcasts? Go here.

Curious to find out what it takes to be a podcaster? Check out this article for more information on how it's done (from a Macintosh perspective). Wired's article is a bit more platform-neutral.

I don't know that there will be an Audible Feeble podcast anytime soon, but it does look like fun. I'd just have to get over my dislike for the sound of my own voice. :)

Is anyone else out there already podcasting, or considering it? Let me know!