There are several differences between streaming media and podcasting. Many of these differences concern the distribution method and content load.
First, streaming media sends information to the consumer at a fixed rate while a podcast will download files using as much bandwidth as available. This leads to the second major difference in that streaming media can be taylored to the viewer or listener using technology that detects individual connection speed and sends the appropriate file for that network connection.
Although generall small, self-contained programs, podcasts are fully downloaded to the end users computer, and as such could potentially monopolize a connection and take considerable time to retrieve. As podcasts use a download distribution method, the audience retains copies of the media that can be shared with others.
Podcasts generally use platform independent file formats such as MP3 or MPEG-4, while streaming media uses proprietary formats requiring specific players, such as Windows Media, Real Player or Quicktime.
Streaming media is removed from the retrieving computer once the file has been played and so files do not clog up the users disk space. Because of this, the consumer of the streaming media is not left with a reproducible copy of the media file.
