Streaming and Podcasting

| About Streaming | Getting Started | Recording an Event | Posting Content | Links | FAQS |

About Streaming Media

Streaming media is a technology for delivering multimedia over the Internet. The media can consist of video, audio, and animation and is delivered, or streamed, to the end-user's computer by streaming the content from a streaming server. Viewing media that is streamed, versus downloaded, allows the end-user to view/listen to the information before waiting for the file to download to the computer. The University of San Francisco administers a QuickTime Streaming server to provide streaming media services. Individuals viewing media files at USF should download and use Quicktime to playback the available content.

Appropriate uses for streaming media might include: student speechs, interviews, presentations, lectures, demonstrations, and virtually any event that would allow individuals to review or view recorded information.

About Podcasting Services

Podcasting implies the delivery of media files, typically audio files, that may be downloaded or streamed. An additional feature of podcasting is that podcasts can be subscribed to, allowing users to automatically receive new audio files, using RSS feeds, from the podcast host. Podcasting files are typically MP3 files downloaded to the end-user's computer, making it convenient for listening to on a computer or portable MP3 player, like an iPod or iRiver device. USF's podcasting service is provided by iTunes University, a service hosted by Apple. Individuals viewing media files through iTunes University should download and use iTunes to playback the available content.

Additional resources and best practices on streaming media and podcasting can be found in the Links section of this website.