by Glenna Vincent
Podcasting is a new technology that allows your computer to automatically download the latest audio and video content from Common Bits or other Web sites. With Podcasting, you can listen to or watch the latest Common Bits content as soon as it is updated and downloaded to your computer. Common Bits recently began supporting Podcasting in all of our RSS content feeds. In order to download content, you'll need to install a Podcasting client program. We recommend iPodderX for the Mac or DopplerRadio for Windows because they both support downloading files via Bit Torrent. You can find links to other Podcast programs here (Mac/Windows).
A rake is a composition of all the lowest, most ignoble, degrading, and shameful vices; they all conspire to disgrace his character, and to ruin his fortune; while wine and the pox content which shall soonest and most effectually destroy his constitution.
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
Download all new submissions by subscribing to our main feed. Whenever any item is added to Common Bits, you're Podcasting client will download it to your computer. Download every episode of a specific show. Want to download every episode of Al Franken or DemocracyNow? Click on the show link on our home page, and then add the RSS feed at the top of the page to your Podcast client. If you have a favorite channel on CommonBits, you can add the RSS feed to your Podcast client to automatically download its entire featured media. Whenever CommonBits users add new content to CommonBits, they tag it with descriptive information.
Note that one limitation of using Podcast software to view CommonBits content is that there may sometimes be multiple file types available e.g. mp3 audio, QuickTime video, a video bittorrent but your Podcasting software will only download the first available file. This is a limitation of the Podcasting technology at this time. If you wish to view all of the file types available, you will need to visit the site. While Podcast clients will download media files automatically for you, you may be interested in browsing the headlines from new content at CommonBits. If you'd like to read more about using the CommonBits content feeds with an RSS feed reader, please read how to use RSS feeds to follow content.
Unjust laws exist; shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? Men generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. It makes it worse. Why is it not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? Why does it not cherish its wise minority? Why does it cry and resist before it is hurt? Why does it not encourage its citizens to be on the alert to point out its faults, and do better than it would have them? Why does it always crucify Christ, and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels?
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
When you use a Podcast for personal use there are many different reasons, from using a music video, to basic downloaded music clearly Podcasting is here to stay. When you use the iPod for broadcasting however, you must be very careful as to how you do it. With so many shows on the air these days, it is easy to get lost in the fray. You must find a formula that works; this will in all intensive purposes be by trial and error. There is a great difference between using the ipod for person use, and using it for broadcasting. It is relatively easy for someone to just download the latest music video, or new song from his or her favorite band. If you have decided that you want to start a show with your ipod, as a Podcast, you will need to pay very close attention to what you are doing. It is not like simply downloading the latest tune, you will have many people tuning into what you are doing or have done.
This is why sometimes people consider making a Podcast, yet fail to do so; the fear of failure seems to set in rather quickly. This is by no means a reason for anyone to quit, no one is in a place to judge what you have done, it is either good or it is not. This again is why many times people get an iPod, without the intention of ever trying to make a Podcast. There is so much that goes into one of these broadcasts that it can surely be scary to even think about, let alone ever attempt. This is why the mainstream ipod owner is very content with the simple use of downloading what they want for the reason that they want. If it was not for the fact that Podcasting is so appealing these days, many ipod owners would not even dream of the prospect of reaching people globally with a broadcast. Without these daring people however, the market would not be what it is today, active and robust. Making this leap to the big show is what ipod owners of the new millennium dream of. iPod stardom. Lights, camera, action!