An enhanced podcast is an audio podcast that can display images simultaneously with audio. These can contain chapter markers, hyperlinks, and artwork; all of which is synced to a specific program or device. When an enhanced podcast is played within its specific program or device, all the appropriate information should be displayed at the same time and in the same window, making it easier to display materials. Enhanced podcasting is considered to be a very practical way to present information. This new technological phenomenon is becoming more prominent in schools, universities and businesses; as it is an efficient way to present school and university lectures, slide shows, video clips, and other presentation materials of the like.

Apple approach

The most popular approach is based on AAC and Apple's QuickTime. Playing these enhanced podcasts on a computer requires Apple's Quicktime Player or iTunes software. The only portable devices capable of playing these enhanced podcasts are iPods.

Authoring is possible on a Macintosh computer using applications such as Apple's GarageBand (part of their iLife suite), Podcaster, ProfCast and Apple's Chapter Tool.

The technical details of the mp4 format can be found in the references sections.

The MPEG-4 mp4 acc format mirrors the approaches that can be used for enhanced podcasts:

• Audio mp4a

• Audiobook format mp4b

• Video format mp4v (equals mp4 but takes much more space than mp4a or mp4b)

Microsoft approach

The wmv scripted approach is less functional and more difficult to implement. Other Windows solutions exist; these too often require several steps, for example the online Webpoderator uses Microsoft Producer for PowerPoint 2003 files which are uploaded to create Enhanced podcast http://www.celt.sunysb.edu/webpoderator/ jrlearnsmedia.com has a command line tool similar to Apple's chaptertool for creating Enhnced podcasts as well http://jrlearnsmedia.com/blog/archive/2007/07/29/enhanced-podcasting-on-windows.aspx The easy-to-use Profcast application for Macintosh is promising a Windows version sometime in the near future (2008?).

ID3v2 Chapters

An alternative approach is to use ID3v2 Chapters. This is a relatively new standard and is not widely supported as yet. However an is available and a for Pocket PCs and Windows Mobile Smartphones.

SMIL

SMIL is a W3C recommended XML markup language that can be used to create enhanced podcasts.