Glossary

- Top of the Glossary
- AAC (Advanced Audio Compression)
- Account
- Address (or Web site address, or URL, or e-mail address)
- Aggregator (or Podcatcher) software
- Anti-Virus program
- Application
- Article
- ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) Attachment
- Bandwidth
- Baud
- Bed
- Big Haired Fag (or Podfather)
- Bit
- Bit rate
- Blog (or Weblog)
- Bookmark
- Boot up your system, or Booting
- Bits Per Second
- Browser
- Bug
- Byte
- Channel
- Chat
- Client
- Digital Data
- Digitizing
- DNS (Domain Name Server)
- Domain or domain name
- Downloading
- email
- Encoding
- Encryption
- FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
- Feed
- Flame
- Folder
- Freeware
- File Transfer Protocol
- FX (Effects)
- GIF
- Gb (Gigabyte)
- Hard Disk
- Home Page
- HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)
- HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol)
- Hyperlink
- Hypertext
- ICQ
- Imaging
- Internet
- Internet Address
- Internet Explorer
- Intranet
- iPodder (a.k.a. Juice nowadays)
- ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
- ISP (Internet Service Provider)
- JPEG
- Juice (Formerly known as iPodder)
- Listserver
- Laugh Out Loud (LOL)
- Mailing lists
- Microphones (a.k.a. Dynamic, Passiv, and USB microphones
- Mixer
- MIME
- Moderator
- Mono (as opposed to Stereo)
- MP3
- Multimedia
- Net (The Net)
- Netiquette
- Netscape Navigator
- Network
- Newsfeed
- Newsgroup
- Newsreader
- On-line
- OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language)
- Page (Web Page)
- PDN (Podcast Delivery Network)
- PGP (Pretty good Privacy)
- Plug-in
- PMN (Podsafe Music Network)
- Pod-o-sphere (or the Podcasting Universe)
- Podcast
- Podcast Delivery Network (or PDN)
- Podcast Directory
- Podcaster
- Podcasting
- Podcatcher (or Aggregator) software
- Podfather (or Big Haired Fag)
- Podsafe
- Podsafe Music Network (or PMN)
- Protocol
- Push technology
- RAM (Random Access Memory)
- Real Audio
- RealPlayer
- RSS feed
- Sample rate
- Search tool
- Server
- Service provider (ISP)
- Shareware
- Shockwave
- Smiley
- Snail mail
- Spam
- Spiders
- Surfing
- Uploading
- URL (Uniform Recource Locator)
- Usenet (USEr NETwork)
- UUencoding
- Vidcast (or VODcast)
- Virus
- Vodcast (or Vidcast)
- Web page
- Web site
- Weblog (or Blog)
- WinZip
- WWW (World Wide Web)
- XML (or eXtensible Markup Language)
- XML feed (or feed)
- Bottom of the Glossary

Top of the Glossary

This is the "Glossary of the Pod-o-sphere", the "Poddictionary", the "Termonologue of Podcasting", the "What-is-what-in-podcasting".
In short:

Welcome to the Podcasting Dictionary!

Below you find all the terms, buzzwords and abbreviations used in podcasting. If you don't find what you were looking for, please post a comment so we can add it!

AAC (Advanced Audio Compression)

An audio file format (like mp3), which is a proprietary Apple format. The AAC format does sound better than other compressed audio files. However, the downside is that it can only be listened to in Apple iTunes and on Apple iPods.

Account

An Internet account allows you to access the Internet. If you have an Internet Service Provider
(ISP), you will have one of these.

Address (or Web site address, or URL, or e-mail address)

Depending on the context, this term may have to following meanings:
- the address of a Web site, a Domain Name, like http://www.Podcastplatform.com/;
- a URL, the address of a specific file, containing a) name of the server where the site's files are
stored (the Domain Name), b) the file's directory path, and c) its file name. For example
http://www.Podcastplatform.com/advertisements/earthlink.jpg;
- an email-address, like webmaster @ Podcastplatform . com (the spaces are to avoid this
address to be used by spamming-software).

Aggregator (or Podcatcher) software

A term for programs used to subscribe to and automatically download (new episodes of)
Podcasts. Downloading takes place when the user is on-line, and the podcatcher software is
activated.

Anti-Virus Program

A program that runs on your computer looking for viruses, and if it finds them it guides you on
how to deal with the virus, from deleting the virus on the file to deleting the file itself. The virus
program should to be updated with new virus definitions usually every month.

Application

Also called a computer program. A set of instructions written in computer code that enables a
computer to perform specific tasks - normally with some help from you, the user.

Article

Name given to a message you post to a newsgroup, for example to ask for information.

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange)

A standard translation table, where byte-values were converted in the alpha-numeric characters
used in writing (a-z, A-Z, 0-9, punctiation).

Attachment

An electronic file that you fix to an email message and send with it. For example, you could send
a computer file of a Microsoft Word document to a colleague, friend, relative or client.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth (the width of a band of electromagnetic frequencies) is used to mean (1) how fast
data flows on a given transmission path, such as a network, and (2), somewhat more technically,
the width of the range of frequencies that an electronic signal occupies on a given transmission
medium. Bandwidth is important because it is a determining factor in setting the speed that
information flows around the world and into your computer.

Baud

The number of signalling elements that can be transmitted per second on a circuit. Used in
referring to the speed at which a modem transmits data. This is an older term being replaced by
bps - bits per second, or kbps kilo-bits per second. We still speak of the baud rate of modems. />

Bed

Audio that is reused as a background element, such as music or effects.

Big Haired Fag (or Podfather)

Adam Curry. The man who enabled Podcasting, combining some existing techniques into a
usefull application. For a very confusing and continuously changing history on this evolution, and
its contributors, visit the Wiki-pages.
We like the guy, and thank him for his efforts making Podcasting into a major succes.
Tailwinds and thermals!
;-)

Bit

Binary Digit, a digit with only two states. The smallest unit of measure of computer data. A bit can
be a "1" or a "0".

Bit rate

Bit rate is the amount of digital data that is moved from one place to another in a given time,
usually in a second's time, for example, kilobits, or thousands of bits per second [Kbps].. The bit
rate can be viewed as the speed of travel of a given amount of data from one place to another. In
general, the greater the bandwidth of a given path, the higher the data transfer rate.

Blog (or Weblog)

A website, usually built with user-friendly web content management systems, that feature
chronologically arranged entries. Podcasts are often published using weblog tools such as
Movable Type and Blogger.

Bookmark

A term used in browsers to describe a Web site that is marked for later reference. Also called a
'favorite' (Internet Explorer). Bookmarks offer a convenient means to retrieve pages whose
locations (URLs) you have saved. You store your bookmarks in a list that is saved on your hard
disk.

Boot up your system, or Booting

Simply means to start your computer.

BPS (Bits Per Second)

The measure of a modem's speed. Often expressed in kbps, kilobits.per second.

Browser

Software that allows a computer to access information on the Internet. Netscape Navigator and
Microsoft Internet Explorer are browsers that use a graphical user interface (GUI) for searching,
finding, viewing and managing information.

Bug

A error in computer software that can cause programs to malfunction.
The first bug in a computer was a real bug (yes, the insect) that was discovered in the Eniac. This
system consisted of tubes (instead of transistors and chips), and a vital part of the system
malfunctioned due to the presence of this (uninvited) bug.

Byte

A group of 8 bits.

Channel

You can choose whether you want sound recorded through one [mono] or two [stereo] channels.
Mono means both ears are getting the same sound-signal. Stereo means the left and right ear
are getting different sound signals. Stereo enables a 3D-effect in sound (for example: hearing
someone walk from left to right). Stereo is important for audio files which contain music. For
speech with some music in the background, mono will be sufficient. Saving a file in stereo format
usually doubles its filesize.

Chat

Chat is an Internet communication service. Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is software that allows you
to use chat services on the Net.

Client

A computer that uses the services of another computer called a server. When you are using the
Internet to download information to your computer, your machine is a client.

Digital Data

Data transmitted or stored with digital technology is expressed as a string of zeroes and ones.
Each of these state digits is referred to as a bit. A string of bits that a computer can address
individually as a group is a byte.

Digitizing

Digitizing is a the process of transforming analog information into digital information. In
Podcasting the result of recording sound, or importing a raw audio file into your computer.
Through this process the raw sound is saved as digital data, ie. a string of zeroes and ones,
which can be saved as a file.

DNS (Domain Name Server)

A computer on the Internet. It does the work of translating between an Internet domain name
such as abc.com and an Internet numerical address such as 82.192.72.103 .

Domain or domain name

Part of a computer's official name - for example, abc.com. Your ISP can tell you more about
obtaining a domain name. You can find a list of domain name registrars at http://www.internic.net/
- for a fee.

Download

To transfer programs or data from a computer to a connected device, usually from a server to
your personal computer.

Downloading

Importing data into your computer for further usage. In the case of downloading audio, it means
that one saves the audio file on their hard drive in order to manipulate it (play, edit, copy,
broadcast).

email

Short form for electronic mail, as opposed to snail mail, the realm of the post office.

Encoding

In order for some email messages to be sent over the Internet they need to be altered. This
process is called encoding. We describe two type of encoding below: MIME and UUencoding. />

Encryption

A process of scrambling communications so that they can not be intercepted. On the Internet,
people can read an encrypted message if they have the right electronic keys.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

A collection of questions that are commonly asked in a newsgroup or mailing list - including
answers. A good place to start when you join a newsgroup or mailing list.

Feed

A text file, used by software 'feeding' itself with content based on information in this file. The text
file consists of information structured by means of XML (eXtensible Markup Language) tags.
Feeds adhere to the RSS (Real Simple Syndication) standards, to enable Newsfeed- and
Podcatcher-software to read them and download the related content.

Flame

A rude or inflammatory Internet message. Most often occurs when you write someone
complaining about something they have written to a mailing lists or newsgroup. Often leads to
more flaming and generally unproductive use of everyone's time and energy.

Folder

An area where you store similar material so you can find it later. You should create these in
Windows to store and organise the messages you receive, the Web site information you capture
and the software you download from the Net.

Freeware

Software that is provided free of charge. You do not need to buy a license to use the
software.

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)

A way of transferring data from one computer to another over the Net. Often the preferred way for Internet oriented people (like Podcasters) to put files onto the Internet.

FX (Effects)

An abbreviation that, when spoken, sounds like Ef-Ex, meaning effects.
In Podcasting, this is a shortcut for Sound Effects.

GIF

This is a compact graphics format, which has become poplar on the Internet. Many web
browsers accept JPEG images as a standard format for viewing graphics on Web pages.

Gb (Gigabyte)

1,000,000,000 bytes of data. This seems to be a huge amount of data but present software takes
a good bite out of a one-gigabyte hard drive.

Hard Disk

A computer component that stores your program and data files. This is different than RAM
because the information is stored even if the power is turned off.

Home Page

The first area you see on your monitor when you access a Web site.

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)

A "tag" language used to format Web pages. To see HTML coding, load a Web page in
Netscape Navigator 4, select View, Page Source.

HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol)

The method used to transfer documents from the host computer or server to browsers and
individual users. Commonly seen as the first letters of most URLs, or Internet addresses.

Hyperlink

Connections between one piece of information and another. In browsers, hyperlinked text is
underlined.

Hypertext

Allows the user to select text and immediately display related information. You click on a
hypertext link and your browser sends you to the place on the Web or a file that is associated with
the address you click on.

ICQ

A real-time chat program that allows you to communicate with other people on the Internet
running the same program.

Imaging

Term for using audio effects, spoken phrases or music to create an "image" or brand for a radio
station or show.
(In another context also used for managing digital images. But we're talking Podcasting here,
right?))

Internet

The interconnection of over hundreds-of-thousands computer networks world-wide. The Internet allows
estimated 50 million computer users to exchange email and information.

Internet Address

A unique combination of letters, most of which start with HTTP.

Internet Explorer

See Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Intranet

An Internet at the level of an organisation, most often a business. Using popular Internet
software, an intranet allows people to exchange data within an organisation, as they do on the
Internet, with the world.

iPodder (a.k.a. Juice nowadays)

One of the original Podcast clients, iPodder is a free program that can automatically download
new shows when they become available, and synchronize them with portable digital audio
players.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

A digital telephones system, faster than normal telephone service, operating up to a speed of
128 kilobits per second.

ISP (Internet Service Provider)

This is the organisation that has a hook-up, often direct,
to the Web. An individual or small organisation normally accesses the Internet through an ISP. />

JPEG

Indicated by the letters JPG on a computer file, this is popular method used to compress the size
of photographic images. Many web browsers accept JPEG images as a standard format for
viewing graphics on Web pages.

Juice (fromerly known as iPodder)

One of the original Podcast clients, iPodder is a free program that can automatically download
new shows when they become available, and synchronize them with portable digital audio
players.

Listserver

An email service that 'remails' all incoming mail received by the list. Each message is sent to
people who subscribe to the list, unless they arrange otherwise. Also called electronic mailing
lists, Internet mailing lists, listservers and discussion groups.

Laugh Out Loud (LOL)

An internet term often used in messages, mails and posts on blogs. Used both as a true and as a cynical statement.

Mailing lists

Microphone (a.k.a. Dynamic, Passive, and USB microphones)

A device to transform audio signals into an elektrical signal. In Podcasting mostly used to record
voice-input.
- Dynamic microphones require a current to operate (called 'Phantom Power'). They usually offer
a better sound quality for spoken voice.
- Passive microphones are easier to connect to other gear (mixer, laptop, etc.), but offer less
sound quality.
- USB microphones can only be used in conjunction with a computer with a free USB slot. Quality
of those microphones varies.

Mixer

A device that enables the user to combine serveral audio-streams (inputs) to be mixed into one
audio-stream (output).
In general, a mixer consists of several input channels. A channel is a mono input (for mono
microphones, musical instruments like guitars, saxophone and others), or a stereo input (for input
of CD, DVD, synthesizers and other stereo signals).
Every channel can be adjusted in regards to volume, panning (left-right balance), and other
settings.

MIME

The most popular method for encoding messages and email attachment. It stands for
Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions. Eudora Light automatically converts your messages and
attachments into MIME format without any extra effort on your part. Virtually all Internet mail
programs now will seamlessly receive and decode MIME encoded messages and attachments.
MIME is capable of encoding virtually any kind of file for the Internet including documents sound
and video.

Moderator

An important person for a moderated mailing list. The moderator or a group of moderators review
the messages posted to a mailing list or some newsgroups and decide whether they can be
released to the public.

Mono (as opposed to Stereo)

MP3

MP3 is slang for "MPEG Layer-3". MPEG stands for "Moving Picture Experts Group," and refers
to the experts who developed MPEG - a set of industry standards for digitally encoding video and
audio information.

Multimedia

The combining of audio, video and data. Internet browsers have multimedia capability due to the
addition of plug-ins.

Net (The Net)

Short form for Internet.

Netiquette

Rules for how to behave on the Internet, especially in mailing lists, email, blogs and newsgroups.

Netscape Navigator

Netscape's Internet browser. Can be used with the Internet or intranets to access the wealth of
information in cyberspace.

Network

At least 2 computers that are linked together (through modem, cable, satellite etc) and have the
ability to share files or other resources.

Newsfeed

A collection of news or story highlights made available on the Internet in a standard format,
usually RSS 2.0. News feeds are used to publish information about Podcasts. Podcast clients can
subscribe to Podcast news feeds, and use their information to find new shows and download
them.

Newsgroup

A topical area in Usenet Newsgroups.

Newsreader

Software that allows you to read and respond to messages in newsgroups.

On-line

A term meaning 'being connected to the Web', embracing the whole Internet (and in large
organisations possibly Intranets).

OPML (Outline Processor Markup Language)

Just as a Web browser interprets HTML (HyperText Markup Language), there will be a new range of products
- both Web-based and on your desktop - that will support and parse this “strange new” OPML thingy for you.
Inside of an OPML document, you might find an organized list of information - like a set of RSS feeds that
might easily be imported into your favorite news aggregator.

Page (Web page)

A way of collecting and conveying information on the Net. The Web site visitor only experiences
a page, but its content has been assembled based on the rules in the HTML (and possible other)
programming-code. Pages may be of any length and contain a variety of elements including text,
graphics, sound, video.

PDN (Podcast Delivery Network)

An initiative from Podshow.com, enabling Podcasters to publish their Podcasts without having to
pay a hosting-fee, and without the worry about (unreliable) distribution and the cost of
bandwidth.

PGP (Pretty Good Privacy)

A freeware encryption program with considerable support
on the Internet.

Plug-in

A computer program that you add to your Internet browser to handle additional functions such as
audio and video.

PMN (Podsafe Music Network)

The network were musicians can post their songs, on the condition that these songs can be
freely used by Podcasters to produce their show.

Pod-o-sphere (or the Podcasting Universe)

A long, long time ago, this used to be a black void, that empty feeling in the stomach. And then,
on the five-billionth-three-hundred-thousand-eighthundred-sixty-ninth day, the Podfather said: 'Let
there be Podcasting', and there was Podcasting. And from that moment on, the Pod-o-sphere
existed, and everything about Podcasting happened in the Pod-o-sphere.
Happily ever after!

Podcast

In general, the term refers to audio files published to the web along with a news feed, letting
users subscribe to a series of shows and download them automatically. Podcasts are a collection
of files, such as audio MP3 files or other media files, referenced in an RSS 2.0 news feed as
enclosures.

Podcast Delivery Network (or PMN)

An initiative from Podshow.com, enabling Podcasters to publish their Podcasts without having to
pay a hosting-fee, and without the worry about (unreliable) distribution and the cost of
bandwidth.

Podcast Directory

A website to find Podcasts you can choose to listen to.
Like you use a phonebook to search for telephone numbers, Podcast listeners use Podcast
Directories to search for Podcasts.

Podcaster

Somebody producing Podcasts (a series of Podcast episodes).

Podcasting

Sorry. We have heard of it, but don't know what it is. Really!
Strange word, by the way.
We think it has something to do with ironcasting tripods for battle-use, but that's just an opinion.
Maybe you can look it up on Podcastplatform.com...

Podcatcher (or Aggregator) software

A term for programs used to subscribe to and automatically download (new episodes of)
Podcasts. Downloading takes place when the user is on-line, and the podcatcher software is
activated.

Podfather (or Big Haired Fag)

Podsafe

Music that can be used in Podcasts, without having to pay a fee, or risking legal repercussions.
The thought behind this fenomena is that Podcasts are used as a way to promote the music. />

Podsafe Music Network (or PMN)

The network were musicians can post their songs, on the condition that these songs can be
freely used by Podcasters to produce their show.

Protocol

Rules governing how computers talk to each other. The 'p' in HTTP, TCP/IP and other important
Net conventions.

Push technology

Push technology or Webcasting enables Web sites to deliver their content directly to users'
desktop computers.

RAM (Random Access Memory)

Memory that a computer software uses to run programs. Similar to a hard drive except the data
is lost when the computer is turned off.

RealAudio

With this plug-in installed in your browser, you can listen to live and on-demand audio over the
Internet using your standard modem.

RealPlayer

RealPlayer is a real-time audio and video delivery system for the Internet. It is distributed with
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4. Using RealPlayer, you can listen and view thousands of hours of
live and pre-recorded clips, including sporting events, live radio stations, news, music, and
lectures.

RSS feed

Sample rate

A sample is simply a snapshot of a sound at a given point in time. The sampling rate is a
measurement of how many snapshots are taken. The best example is a movie camera that takes
24 still photographs per second. When they are played back at a certain speed in the cinema, the
result is almost like a real life. Each frame of film is a sample; 24 frames per second is a sampling
rate. If you reduce the number of frames per second, the film would look like a sequence of still
images.

Search tool

A free service on the Net. Search tools are like master librarians that index and find links on the
Internet to the information you request. When you types in a phrase or keyword, the search tool
scans the pages in its index for matches.

Server

A computer that provides services to another computer - called a client.

Service provider (ISP)

A commercial company selling Internet access. Also called an Internet Service Provider or
ISP.

Shareware

Computer programs that you can download from the Net. You are free to use them for a period
of time ‚Äî often 30 days. If you keep them longer, you are expected to pay the shareware
provider.

Shockwave

Sometimes called Macromedia Shockwave. This is the most popular plug-in for viewing
multimedia.

Smiley

A combination of keyboard characters that portray emotions like :-) for a smile or :-( for a frown.
Also called an emoticon.
Used a LOT by The PP TEAM!
;-)

Snail mail

The slow stuff from the post office. As opposed to faster email.

Spam

The verb and noun referring to sending a commercial email message to a large number of
people. Also used to cover a multitude of other disruptive, nasty things that happen via email from
time-to-time.

Spiders

Search tools send out small programs that we once called robots but now refer to as spiders,
crawlers or 'indexers' - to review and catalogue Web sites and copy text they finds into a
database.

Surfing

Looking for interesting things on the World Wide Web, using search engines and hyperlinks. />

Uploading

The process of putting any data [text, audio, video] online. This in contrast to downloading, which
means getting data from an (mostly Internet) server to save it on your own computer.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

A Web site address with the name of the server where the site's files are stored (the Domain
Name), the file's directory path, and its file name.
For example http://www.Podcastplatform.com/.
(Excellent example, huh?)

Usenet (USEr NETwork)

Internet newsgroups currently with over 25,000 different newsgroups.

UUencoding

UUencoding is an older format for sending attachments via Internet mail. It is not as flexible as
MIME and is no longer widely used on the Internet. However, there are still some mail systems on
the Internet that send attachments in Uuencoded format.

Vidcast (or VODcast)

A Video-Podcast (Vidcast) or a Video-On-Demand-Podcast (VODcast).
For easy understandig we prefer the different sounding Vidcast.
The principles are the same as with Podcasting. The only difference lies in the
fact that a video file is produced and downloaded, instead of a sound file. The player used for
Vodcasts must be capable to show video files.

Virus

Small computer programs that make your computer malfunction ‚Äî sick, for short. Some are just
a nuisance. Others can destroy all your data.

Vodcast (or Vidcast)

Web page

A page that is part of a Web site.

Web site

A location, adressed by it's URL (like 'http://www.Podcastplatform.com'), where Web information
is collected and made available. A Web site, if not password protected (i.e. closed for public), can
be visited by anyone connected to the internet using a piece of software called a browser.

Weblog (or Blog)

WinZip

WinZip is a compression utility that lets Windows users make their files smaller for faster transfer
over the Internet. This utility also decompresses files that were originally compressed using
PKZIP or TAR formats.

WWW (World Wide Web)

The World Wide Web provides a way of linking the computers on the Internet through HTML tags
and using hyperlinks that allow you to click on a link and advance to another location on the
Web.

XML (or eXtensible Markup Language)

Extensible Mark-up Language or XML is a specification developed by the W3C. XML is a pared-
down version of SGML or Standard Generalised Mark-Up Language, designed especially for Web
documents. XML uses tags that describe the contents of the field. It is very similar to html but
unlike html it allows designers to create their own customised tags, enabling the definition,
transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and between
organizations.

The design goals for XML were:

1. XML shall be straightforwardly
2. usable over the Internet.
3. XML shall support a wide variety of applications.
4. XML shall be compatible with SGML.
5. It shall be easy to write programs which process XML documents.
6. The number of optional features in XML is to be kept to the absolute minimum.
7. XML documents should be human-legible and reasonably clear. 8. The XML design should be
prepared quickly.
9. The design of XML shall be formal and concise.
10. XML documents shall be easy to create.

XML feed (or feed)

Bottom of the Glossary

Hi there!

This is the bottom of this Glossary.
What are you doing here...?!

Go find yourself a Podcast!

The PLATFORM TEAM
;-)

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