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A Quiz: Test Your Podcasting Knowledge
How much do you know about podcasting? Take the podcast quiz
and test your knowledge.
Question: Are there any size limitations to podcasts?
Answer: There are no maximums or minimums when it comes
to podcast size. Obviously, the larger files might intimidate
listeners with a slow connection. Podcasts can be successful
at any size, generally wise podcasters balance the file size
and the quality of their show.
Question: What are ID3 Tags?
Answer: ID3 tags consist of meta data that describe the contents
of the audio file (typically ID3 tags relate to MP3 files).
ID3 tags generally contain information related to the audio
file, including things like title of the audio file, the artist,
album, or other relevant information. There is speculation
that podcasting search engines and directories will use
the information contained in the ID3 tags to categorize, search,
and group podcasts in the future.
Question: Are Podcasts are always in the RSS 2.0 format?
Answer: No, while RSS 2.0 was the first version to support
enclosures, RSS version 1 also now includes an enclosure tag
for podcasting. While the current RSS 1.0 supports podcasting,
RSS 2.0 is by far the more popular format for those podcasting.
This is not only because RSS 2.0 was the first standard to support
enclosures, but also due to the fact that Apple iTunes uses
RSS 2.0 for it's podcasts.
Question: Can podcasts be restricted to a specific group
of listeners?
Answer: Yes, while there are no provisions in the RSS 2.0
specification for passwords or protecting files, as with any
web documents, podcasts can be password protected by placing
it in a subdirectory. You can use any security mechanism
available on the http server to protect the entire feed or
the actual audio file.
Question: Are there any fee based podcasts?
Answer: Yes, while the model has not yet been widely adopted,
some publishers have experimented with providing fee based
"commercial-free" podcasts. Rather than charging advertisers
to advertise in the podcasts, the publishers have monetized
the podcasts by charging listeners for the contents of the podcast.
Typically the audio file is password protected and only
subscribers are able to download or listen to the file. The model
is similar to that which the cable shows HBO/Showtime use,
where they charge a fee for premium content. It is likely
that educational podcasts, or language lessons will adopt
this model.
Question: What file formats are acceptable in a podcast?
Answer: It really depends on what your definition of a podcast
is. Initially the term podcast referred to any RSS feed that
contained an audio file as an enclosure. The usage of the term
podcast has expanded and now many people consider any RSS feed
that includes a file in the enclosure field to be a podcast.
In other words, many people use the term podcast to refer
to an RSS feed that has a video file, or power point presentation
or other enclosure.
Technically you can put just about any type of file in the enclosure
field. If you are referring to a traditional audio podcast,
for the sake of compatibility, most podcasters use either MP3
or M4a. The added benefit of using an MP3 or M4a file is that
both formats are also supported by iTunes, which allow people
to expand their podcast with iTunes tags and include it
in the iTunes Music Store.
Interested in additional RSS FAQs visit the RSS Knowledgebase
http://www.feedforall.com/podcasting-knowledgebase.htm
or subscribe to the RSS knowledgebase feed
http://www.feedforall.com/podcasting-knowledgebase.php
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They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
Carl W. Buechner
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