Mobile/PDA About Us Advertise here


		User name	Password

		Not registered yet? Register here. Lost your password? Click here.

Browse by topic

News

Podcast named 'word of the year'

7 December 2005 11:04 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 4 comments

The word "Podcast" has been named "word of the year" by the New Oxford American Dictionary. It has been defined as "a digital recording of a radio broadcast or similar program, made available on the Internet for downloading to a personal audio player". The word came from combining "broadcast" with "iPod". It will be included in the online dictionary early next year. Podcasts are growing in popularity at huge rates as they are fast and easy way to get digital audio content.

Some people criticize the word because it gives too much credibility to Apple's iPod, even though Apple had really nothing major to do with the development of the "technology" although it did boost its popularity by including podcasts in iTunes. Some people have suggested other terms such as Blogcasts or Audioblogging. Anybody with a PC, microphone, recording software and a net connection can easily make and distribute their own podcasts.

Its popularity has gotten to a point where it is beginning to challenge conventional radio's broadcasting and business model. Many radio stations have responded by offering their content as MP3 downloads as well, like the BBC for example. "Podcast was considered for inclusion last year, but we found that not enough people were using it, or were even familiar with the concept," said Erin McKean, editor-in-chief of the New Oxford American Dictionary.

Other terms that were brought up but didn't make it were lifehack (which means a more efficient way of completing an everyday task), rootkit (which are tools used to cloak malicious software) and blogging. Surprisingly, two other general terms didn't make it either, bird flu and sudoku.

Source:
BBC News

Permalink to this article

iPod continues to dominate (15 January 2006)

Yahoo offers podcast services (11 October 2005)

Podcasts on your mobile (21 August 2005)

Apple adds podcasting to iTunes (30 June 2005)

« Previous news article
New Creative MP3 player targets video iPod

Next news article »
UK games industry opens site for parents

Post your comment

Discuss this article!
Lethal_B (Moderator) 7 December 2005 13:22
Nice :) Just to let any of you guys know if you do not already - Ricky Grevais started his own podcast on monday so get on itunes and check it out (V. funny) [ + quote]
jdeboer (Newbie) 7 December 2005 17:08
I think the word of the year should be pickle. No matter how many times u say pickle, its always funny. [ + quote]
Rikoshay (Member) 7 December 2005 18:23
What the F*ck is podcast? [ + quote]
madman91 (Junior Member) 17 December 2005 17:51
i would have prefered lifehack... atleast there isnt a "pod" or "i" infront of it. iAfterDawn podDawn stupid apple make something creative [ + quote]