What is this? Software? Hardware?

The Podcast in a Box CDROM is software which converts any PC into a dedicated podcast appliance. When you are installing it, you'll see it as software. When you are using it on a day to day basis, you think of it as a hardware solution.

I want to buy hardware with the software pre-installed. Can I do this?

Yes, Box Populi sells the same software on certified hardware. Visit our products page for more clarification.

Do I have to purchase a support contract to use the Podcast in a Box product? Do I have to pay anything to use it?

Yes. Box Populi has released some of the Podcast in a Box software CDROM under the GPL which means you are free to modify and use those portions without limitation. The web administration program and installer are proprietary software and require a license to use, although we offer a 30-day free evaluation. Also This software package includes MP3 encoder code which requires a software license in the U.S. and Europe. This is due to the patent owned by the Fraunhofer Institute and can be purchased from Thomson in the U.S. or Europe. Box Populi has obtained permission to allow anyone to evaluate the software without a license for 30 days after which it should be licensed or the MP3 encoder software should be removed from the system. Box Populi provides a license for MP3 encoding with our support package.

Why do you charge for software?

We offer a support package which provides you with installation and usage support, access to our update servers, access to our bug and feature request system, and an MP3 encoder license. None of these can exist as free services. And, the developer costs to create and maintain the Podcast in a Box CDROM are substantial as well. Compare our system offerings to other services and you'll find it is much cheaper and full featured than most other services out there.

I like this software, but I want a hardware solution

This is software that takes any PC, new or recycled, and converts it into a dedicated podcast appliance. If you are a college or university, every year you probably send back hundreds of old PCs that can no longer run the latest version of Windows (tm). Now, all those PCs can now be converted and reused as podcasting appliances.

If I purchase a support contract and the machine on which I installed it fails do I have to purchase another support contract?

No, the MP3 encoder license can be transferred, as well as all other components of the support contract, without cost.

This is more expensive than buying audio software for my laptop.

For many situations laptop software is the better choice. When the presenter cannot be asked to learn and use software on their laptop, however, Podcast in a Box is a good choice. Also, consider that most media capture appliances cost on the order of $2000 to $20,000. When you consider Podcast in a Box in this light, our integrated operating system and media production software is a steal.

How do I update the machine?

Upon installation the system is setup to automatically update once a week. You can disable this by escalating to root (using the sudo command) and then deleting the weekly cronjob. To manually update the system at any time run 'sudo su; apt-get update; apt-get upgrade'

I need 'xyz' feature. How do I request this? How do I add it myself?

If you have a paid support contract you can login to our bug and feature request database. There you can find out if this is a feature we are working on already and if not request it. You can also check our roadmap to determine if this is a feature we have decided to commit to already. If you want to add the feature yourself, first read the developers guide. Most of the source code is available for you to examine and modify.

Can I make extra copies of the CD?

You can distribute this CD as much as you like. There is no restriction on distribution. You may not redistribute if you change or omit the licensing. We ask that you link directly to our download page rather than hosting yourself so that we can easily update to a new version without notifying others.

Can I use the Podcast in a Box as a standalone podcasting device, meaning, can users connect directly to it to download files and listen to live audio streaming through the appliance?

Yes, with some caveats. The software is robust and secure enough to support hundreds, even thousands of users. However, depending on the processor speed on which your software is installed, and the encoding rate you've chosen, you may unduly stress the system where it may not be responsive as your users grow. For internal use within a medium size office, the Podcast in a Box Hardware specs should be sufficient. For larger deployments, you may want a custom hardware configuration. We have several customers using this software to host podcasts and live streams for several thousand simultaneous users (KUSC, for example)

How secure is the Podcast in a Box?

We take security very seriously. We use password protection over SSL for our web interface; the only ports which are enabled on the appliance are the SSH port on 22, HTTPS on 433, HTTP on 80, and Icecast streaming on 8000. We also have several good firewall scripts which can prevent DOS attacks, and other security problems. We build on top of the Linux operating system which is shipped very securely by default, unlike other non-free operating systems that often become infested by viruses because they emphasize ease-of-use features over security.

I want to do video podcasting. Will you offer this?

Yes, using our Video Podcast in a Box. Be aware that video requires either a camera operator (meaning you need to hire a trained operator for each class) or a "smart classroom." Audio is much simpler to produce and in many situations can be fully automated. You can also synchronize audio presentations with a PPT or PDF. If you have not done video production before please consider that you may be seriously underestimating the costs of production; many experience videographers estimate that video production requires 10 minutes of post production for each minute of actual video, so plan accordingly.

Things are not working? Can you help?

Please purchase a support contract. Box Populi offers training packages and professional services; please contact us at sales@boxpopuli.com for more information.

I need to publish the files to a different name via SCP. Can I do this?

This is a feature we would like to develop but need you to help assist with our developer costs. Please consider purchasing a support contract.

©2007 Box Populi (formerly Webcast in a Box), Inc. All rights reserved.