Digital World

A podcast directory is a listing of syndication feeds that

link to a podcast. They are often organized by category

and topic, and allow the user to find a feed that podcasts

about almost anything. Just as search engines help

people find sites with the information they need, a

podcast directory presents a searchable list of podcasts

users can subscribe to. Users may even be able to play

the available feed episodes from within the site.

Unlike most search engines, though, a podcast directory

rarely searches out and finds content on its own,

automatically. All the feeds are either contributed by

users who want people to find their podcast, or added

by the staff. Nearly anyone can set up a podcast, but

gaining visitors can be difficult, and so podcasters can

submit their feeds to the directory to gain readers.

Since its so easy to make a podcast, a podcast directory

often uses ways to separate the very good feeds from

the ones people do not enjoy as much. A directory may

have a ranking system, feature certain special feeds on

the front page, or even allow visitors to comment with

their thoughts on a feed.

Visitors to a podcast directory can thus add their own

podcasts, search for feeds on topics or regions that

interest them, and even comment on those they like or

Podcast Yahoo, is an example of a very full featured

podcast directory. Yahoo's beta offering presents

podcasts from many professional organizations

including NPR, Slate Magazine, and others. They also

organize their listing by categories, offer a list of the

most popular series and episodes currently available,

and let users search through the entire database.

Yahoo's site is professionally done, and likely has

people permanently assigned to work on it, and so it

differs from many of the other podcasting directories

available. Many directories are little more than listings

of amateur podcasters, but Yahoo's site brings out a

number of feeds done by mainstream organization,

raising the level of quality available.

For anyone who wants to find a podcast, Yahoo is

certainly a good choice. They have a slick, well done

site that is easy to use. Yahoo even includes software at

the site so that podcasts can be listened to from within

the web browser. After logging in, Yahoo allows users

to subscribe to feeds they enjoy, letting them be notified

when new episodes are available. Yahoo even has a

detailed walkthrough to help visitors create and begin

publishing their own podcast.

Podcast Yahoo clearly demonstrates the ability of a

corporate group to create a well made site. While it's

very unlikely that Yahoo or a company like it would

have been able to come up with podcasting, once they

know what to do, they can do it well.

While some video feeds can be found by visiting the

site that hosts them, many more are easier found by

visiting a directory of podcast videos. These podcast

video directories maintain listings of podcasts that have

been submitted to them. They may sort the list

according to region, category, and popularity, helping

visitors find exactly the type of feed they are looking

for. Tech video podcasts can be found, with regular

episodes about technology news. Some video feeds are

experimental podcasts, created by designers interested

in showcasing their work and trying out new forms of

editing and storytelling. There are some feeds that

recreate talk and comedy shows, with interviews every

episode.

A directory of podcast videos can help anyone find new

and interesting podcasts to subscribe to, and it can also

help podcasters advertise their feeds. Rather than

relying on word of mouth advertising and people

stumbling onto the feed, a directory makes it easier for

listeners to find the feed. Directories play the role that

early search engines did, maintaining a list of a

relatively small group of net addresses that otherwise

would not be found.

After looking through a directory of podcast videos and

finding a feed that is appealing, it can be subscribed to

by using a podcast client. A podcast client is a computer

program that checks the RSS file that stores the

information about the feed and downloads the video

files that the video podcast links to. The file can then be

watched by the user on their computer whenever and as

many times as they wish.