Podcatcher

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A podcatcher is a computer program used to download various media via an rss or xml feed. While podcatchers are most known for downloading podcasts(generally being audio files saved in an mp3 format), many are also capable of downloading video, newsfeeds, text, and pictures. Some podcatchers can also transfer received audio files to a portable media player.

According to FeedBurner the most popular podcatcher as of July 2005 is iTunes. [1]

[edit] List and Comparison of Podcatchers

Windows Podcast Software

  • @Podder - a free podcast client designed for the visually impaired.
  • AudioShell - freeware MS Windows Explorer shell extension plugin which allows you to view and edit music file tags directly in Windows Explorer.
  • BitsCast - freeware RSS/podcast reader that supports both iPods and Microsoft Media PlaysForSure devices.
  • BlogMatrix Sparks! - An all-in-one podcasting solution that lets you record, mix, share, publish, store and listen.
  • CITA RSS Aggregator - a RSS feed reader includes keyword alerts, support for password login, per-channel settings, proxy support, support for RSS enclosures (Podcasts) and a tool to remove persistent adverts from RSS feeds.
  • CustomReader - a customizable podcast client that can be "branded" to match a website.
  • Doppler - Doppler is a podcast aggregator. It’s a tool to subscribe to RSS feeds which supply downloadable files. Doppler will go out and fetch the files enclosed in the RSS feed and will automatically add them to your preferred media player.
  • Golden Ear - an easy to use old-school style podcast receiver; styled to look like an retro radio and designed to be as easy to use.
  • HappyFish - free podcast client that will automatically sync podcasts to most mp3 players (and ipods too)
  • iPodderX - cross-platform media aggregator that handles podcasts, vlogs and other files distributed using newsfeeds.
  • iTunes - Apple has announced support for listening to podcasts within iTunes.
  • Juice - (formerly iPodder) Lets users select and download shows and music and to play whenever they want on their iPods, portable digital media players, or computers automatically.
  • Newzee - A feed reader that allows you to create your own news catalog from your preferred sources, that is automatically kept up to date with the latest headlines that are sent from the sources. Newzie features system tray notification (on feed updates), feed statistics, color coding, filtering, search, and support for enclosure (podcast) files.
  • NewzCrawler - news aggregator with built-in podcast receiver
  • nimiq - Nimiq is Windows podcasting client. Subscribe to a podcast and Nimiq automatically downloads audio and video enclosures. Subscribing is easy using the build in podcast directory browser. Download bittorrent files using the built-in bittorrent support.
  • Podcast Amp - free tool that lets you preview and play podcasts.
  • PodNova - offers a custom version of iPodder that supports OPML and integrates with the PodNova site.
  • Podsage - freeware podcast client with large directory of podcasts.
  • Podspider - podcast client with integrated podcast directory
  • Prime Time Podcast - features all in the same application an embedded media player, WMP/iTunes playlist support, Automatic AAC bookmarkable conversion for iTunes/iPod users, podcast directory browsing and media list browsing.
  • Pwopcatcher - a free podcast downloader, player and manager application for Windows.
  • Replay Radio - lets you capture podcasts, broadcast radio shows and XM Radio.
  • RSSRadio - easy to use podcasting software for Windows.
  • Synclosure - Synclosure is a RSS aggregator to flexibly download files in enclosures. It supports filter keywords, custom actions and a caching mechanism. (Source code available for other platforms).
  • TVTonic - A video podcast reader optimized for Windows Media Center. It makes watching podcasts like using a DVR (digital video recorder) on your television.
  • WinAmp - commercial audio app with free Lite option, supports podcasts
  • Yamipod - freeware application to efficiently manage your iPod under Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.
  • Ziepod - an easy-to-use toolkit to reach and manage audio-based content published through podcasts.

Macintosh Podcast Software

  • iPodderX - cross-platform media aggregator that handles podcasts, vlogs and other files distributed using newsfeeds.
  • iTunes - Apple has announced support for listening to podcasts within iTunes.
  • Juice - (formerly iPodder) lets users select and download shows and music and to play whenever they want on their iPods, portable digital media players, or computers automatically.
  • NewsFire - described as the Angelina Jolie of applications, NewsFire is news reader and podcast client. "David is an evil master of slick UI genius"
  • NetNewsWire - an RSS and Atom newsreader for Mac OS X. Its familiar three-paned interface—similar to Apple Mail—can fetch and display news from thousands of different websites and weblogs, making it quick and easy to keep up with the latest news.
  • NewsMacPro - OS X newsreader that supports podcasting & Palm and iPod sync.
  • Playpod - designed exclusively for Mac OS X.
  • Podcast Studio - beta OS X podcasting app
  • Poddumfeeder - Applescript-based podcast client.
  • PodNova - offers a custom version of iPodder that supports OPML and integrates with the PodNova site.
  • PulpFiction - easy-to-use, powerful RSS/Atom feed reader. Featuring a familiar Mail-like interface, PulpFiction will fetch, organize, and display news and articles from thousands of weblogs and websites.
  • Yamipod - freeware application to efficiently manage your iPod under Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.

Linux/Unix Podcast Software

  • amaroK - music app and podcast client
  • BPConf - a podcase downloader for KDE on Linux
  • gPodder - Podcast receiver/catcher written in Python, using GTK
  • Juice - (formerly iPodder) lets users select and download shows and music and to play whenever they want on their iPods, portable digital media players, or computers automatically.
  • Liferea - news aggregator for online news feeds, features podcast support.
  • Peapod - a podcast client for Linux. Supports HTTP and BitTorrent.
  • PenguinTV - RSS feed reader designed to work with podcasts and video blogs.
  • Podcast Maker - easy to use app that features drag and drop support
  • PodGrid - personal internet radio news receiver, podcast receiver.
  • Podracer - podcast aggregator/downloader. It supports BitTorrent, http and even ftp distribution of podcasts and runs best as a cron job to automatically retrieve podcasts throughout the day.
  • Rhythmbox - the music management application for GNOME
  • StreamTuned - plays and records audio and video streams using mplayer as backend, acts as a podcast client.
  • Yamipod - freeware application to efficiently manage your iPod under Mac OS X, Windows and Linux.

BeOS

  • BePodder - a media aggregator (and more) for the BeOS/Zeta Operating System.
  • http://www.tunetrackersystems.com/ - a radio automation system that features time-corrects, fades, exact-time starts, configurable silence-sensor, live network joins, live-assist for dj'ing, music-selection software, background (delayed broadcast) recording, a built-in streaming server for broadcasting over the Internet, unlimited format design, and a user-friendly control interface.

Java-Based Podcast Software

  • FeedPod - a Text-To-Speech RSS/ATOM Newsfeed reader.
  • jPodder - one of the first programs to be created for podcasting.

Palm OS

  • QuickNews - news reader and podcast client for Palm OS

Pocket PC

  • FeederReader - a full-featured RSS aggregator with podcast enclosure support, running on Windows Mobile.

Amiga OS

  • AmiPodder - a utility that lets you to download podcasts to an Amiga, play it and, optionally, copy it onto a portable MP3 player.

RISC OS

  • spc - GPL'd podcast client. You need wget (cli), Perl and FrontEnder II. Use of the command line is possible.

Command Line

  • Armangil's Podcatcher - Armangil's podcatcher is a podcast client for the command line. It provides several download strategies (new shows only, back-catalog allowed, etc), supports Bittorrent, offers cache management, and generates playlists for MP3 player applications. Windows, Linux (any OS supported by Ruby).
  • BashPodder - Bash-based podcast client that works on OS X, Solaris, AIX, Linux, Net Open and FreeBSD, even Windows.
  • Podget - a Bash script to automate the downloading of podcast content from RSS feeds, storing it in categories and folders, and automatically creating a playlist for new content. Compatible with Windows, OS X & Unix variants.

Perl

  • CastGrab - a podcast download application written in Perl, which can be run from a cron job.
  • PerlPod - used from the command line and written in perl. I checks if the pod has been downloaded, if not it gets the file.
  • w98podfetch - is a PERL script for fetching podcasts. It has advanced features, like skipping any files older than a certain date, and limiting download options per feed such as "only download a maximum of 5 files at a time" or "don't download more than 25MB from this feed", etc.

PHP

  • Gregarius - a web-based RSS/RDF/ATOM feed aggregator, designed to run on your web server, allowing you to access your news sources from wherever you want.
  • PodPress - a WordPress plug-in that adds advanced podcasting support.
  • WordPress - includes basic built-in support for podcasts

Online Services

  • MirPod - podcast client with a "virtual iPod" interface.
  • PodFeeder - an online service for searching for and sharing podcasts.
  • Podcast Sender - podcast email notification service

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Creator OS Cost Features
iTunes Apple Computer Mac OS X, Windows XP Free Media Player, iPod updater, podcatcher, built in directory
Amarok Linux KDE Free Media Player, iPod updater, podcatcher, built in directory
Nimiq The Nimiq Team Windows Free Podcatcher for windows, built in Bittorrent client
PodSpider RapidSoftware Solution Windows €14.90, $17.90 Podcatcher
Odeo Noah Glass & Evan Williams Mac OS X 10.4 Free Mac OS X Widget, Podcatcher, built in directory (Deprecated)
Podcast.com Podcast.com Windows/Mac OS X/Linux Free Online based, no downloadable client
Juice The Juice Team Windows, Mac OS X 10.3+, GNU/Linux Free, Open Source Podcatcher, built in directory
Wizz RSS News Reader Wizz Computer Firefox extention, fully tested on Windows XP/2000, Mac OS X, Mandrake 10.0 Free Podcatcher, can read any RSS
Winamp Nullsoft Windows Free/14.95 (both have podcast directory) Media Player, Music Store, can update MP3 players (iPod too!)
PodNova Active8 Windows, Max OS X 10.3+, GNU/Linux Free Podcatcher, synchronizes with its web-based counterpart at PodNova.com
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcatcher"