Introduction

A podcast is like a radio show that you can listen to at your convenience. If you have a hectic schedule and work 50 hours or more per week, then pod casting is definitely for you.

Audio media broadcasting, otherwise known as, podcasting on demand is ideal fo small business owners and professionals. Now you can listen to shows anywhere and anytime.

What is the difference between a radio broadcast and a downloadable broadcast?

The norm for years has been to listen to a favorite radio talk show at a preprogrammed time. For example, we tune into our radio talk show every Saturday at 10 a.m. What happens when you have to leave town for a business conference? Let's say at exactly 10 a.m. Saturday morning you'll be attending a lecture at a conference. You could have someone record your favorite radio talk show, but that's would be cumbersome and time-consuming. There are convenient alternatives with podcasts.

What if you could download an audio media broadcasts i.e. podcasts onto your Pocket PC, iPod, computer or MP3 player? It sure would be convenient. You could listen to the show on the plane ride back home or while you go to on a nightly stroll with your dog. The difference between a radio show and a downloadable broadcast is simply that you can download it to a digital recorder or any of the devices mentioned above. Remember, a radio talk show is a show that you have to tune into at a specific preprogrammed time and which you can't download to your computer, iPod Pocket PC or MP3 player. You can only listen to it on your radio.

Can you still download podcasts without an iPod MP3 player?

Yes. If you don't have an Apple iPod player, it is not a problem. Maybe podcasts listeners think you need to own an iPod in order to listen to podcasts. There are two advantages for iPod users:

• iPods have a much longer battery life than other devices.
• IPods have much more storage space than a typical Pocket PC.

30 million iPod owners feel the magic of owning an iPod.

Here are the advantages of using your Pocket PC for podcasting:

• Pocket PC standard 12 cm x 16 cm screen is much larger than the tiny 2.5 in.² iPod screen
• Pocket PC lets you have a wider selection of podcasts readers or feed aggregators
• If you have a WiFi Pocket PC, you can pull a podcasts feeds from the Internet without turning on your computer. You just need an Internet connection.
• Most audio media broadcasts are stored in a compressed format MP3 or MP file, so if you have between 1-2 GB storage card it is more than adequate.

How do you make a podcast on your Pocket PC?

Follow these instructions to begin creating and publishing your first podcasts on a Pocket PC.

1. You'll need a recorder to create an audio file
2. Update the podcasts XML file
3. Upload the podcasts file onto a web server

A Pocket PC records a wav file, which is an uncompressed format. When you record your own podcasts don't make the same mistake I did. I recorded a voice file on my mobile blue MP3 player and purchased a software program called: Smart Audio Converter. I spent hours converting the wav files to MP3 file format. Instead of repeating my hair pulling procedure, I recommend that you download: NoteM (Voice Notes Recorder with MP3 encoding) onto your Pocket PC. This absolutely amazing utility lets you record your audio files directly as MP3 files.

Recording podcasts is easy to do if you use the right equipment and software. There are some digital voice recorders which allow you to record directly to MP3 format:

• Pogo's radio your way
• S-Media's gp 2000 digital music player
• RCA's Lyra
• Frontier Labs Nex 3t

All of the MP3 data recorders above come with standard built-in mic, Sd card expansion slot and a line in recording as an MP3 format.

Most of the emphasis in this article is on Pocket PCs and digital voice recorders within the Windows platform. However, you can create podcasts with an iPod player using the Apple operating system.

I noticed significant sound quality difference when I recorded a voice file using Grafton's I-talk microphone versus a professional microphone plugged into my Pocket PC. With the Apple I talk microphone my voice echoed as though I talked into a tin can. Seven Tips for Podcasting Using a Pocket PC Device

1. If you're going to use one of the digital recording devices recommend above, begin by recording your first audio file. To test it, record yourself reading a paragraph for one to three minutes. After you've completed your first audio recording with either a digital recording device or your Pocket PC, remove the S. D. card from your digital recording player and attach it to your Pocket PC. If you're going to use your Pocket PC, remember to go to the web site are recommended above where you can download a utility, which will allow you to record your audio file directly as an MP3 format.
2. Find a free WiFi hotspot or to this in your home office. It's a good idea for your first time recording to be done in a quiet environment without any background noise. Use the Internet connection to download this free FTP program for your Pocket PC called, FTP View.
3. Transfer or FTP the podcasts XML file that you've recorded on your Pocket PC to your web site using the free FTP program mentioned above.
4. Before You Submit Your Podcasts Feed to a Podcasts Directory Validate your podcasts feed. To make sure your podcasts feed is valid, go to www.feedvalidator.org. Cut and paste your podcast's XML file into the empty field and click on the validate button. If your blog URL address is my blog, then the URL you need to cut and paste would be http://www.myblog/index.xml. If you see an orange RSS button with a check mark, it means you were successful in validating your XML podcasting feed. If your feed is not validated, you need to fix it. Otherwise, people will find it difficult to subscribe and listen to your audio podcasts. If you're proficient in writing XML, you'll have no problem validating or fixing your XML feed.
5. To make this a stress-free experience, I recommend editing podcasts XML files on your desktop computer. If this is not possible go to either: feedforall.com or M-audio Podcast Factory to edit your podcast's XML file. The M-audio podcast factory is all you need to start podcasting. If you're going to edit your XML file on your desktop computer, transfer this feed onto your Pocket PC.
6. If you're a programmer and know how to work with XML documents, you can enter the title, description, enclosure name and publication date. I used the XML editor at www.logicalsky.com. This Pocket PC application is called: CEdit. What's really handy about CEdit is that your URL is color coded. When you can see it at a quick glance it's easier to edit the XML files.
7. Submit your podcast theater XML documents so others can subscribe and listen to your live audio broadcasts at a time that's convenient for them.

Here's a short list of RSS podcasts directories for you to submit to.

• www.jpodder.com
• www.primetimepodcast.com
• www.podcast.net
• www.podcastelley.com

Audiobay.com

There is a way around going back and forth from the Pocket PC to test, create and publish podcasts live on the Internet. Audio Bay, an innovative company lets you create downloadable episodes of audio programs straight onto your Pocket PC. All you need is an Internet connection and a Pocket PC to publish, download and listen to your podcasts. The last time I checked Audio Bay's web site, the podcasts software was only $27.95.

There are three easy-to-use functions: Publish, Download and Listen. If you don't know how to create an XML document, Audio Bay will automatically generate a compliant RSS feed without you doing anything. Audio bay is also itunes compliant. They make it so easy to use that even a sixth grade student can create podcast of his or her favorite lesson and share it with their classmates. For only $7.95, you can activate the VoiceAtom Pro Podcast Hosting, which allows you to transfer 5 GB of files per month. This means if you have up to a thousand audio podcasts subscribers, that they would be able to listen to your podcasts created on your Pocket PC. This is one of the most economical podcast hosting fees on the Internet.

Copyright © Rene Tse, the founder and president of the website: free cellular phone deals.

Rene Tse is on the look out for mobile devices to enhance her productivity. This website cuts to the chase and has valued information on: T-Mobile Wireless Phones and which is the best VoIP solution available for your Linux PDA, Pocket PC or smart phone.

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