The term “podcast” can be a little confusing because the word is used both as a noun and as a verb. As a noun, a podcast is a pre-recorded audio or video file distributed over the internet. As a verb, podcasting is the process of sending that file over the internet.
Do I need an MP3 player to listen to podcasts?
No. All you need to listen to a podcast is a computer and a program that plays audio files. Windows MediaPlayer works, iTunes is another popular choice. Some podcasts are embedded which means you can just click a play button on the site to listen in. You only need an MP3 player if you want to take the file with you away from the computer.
Do I have to go to the site each time to download the latest podcast?
No. One of the main features of a podcast is the ability to download automatically. If you subscribe to a podcast in iTunes or a similar program, the latest podcast will automatically be downloaded ready for you to listen in/ view or transfer to an MP3 player.
How do I subscribe to a podcast?
To subscribe to a podcast you’ll need a program that handles podcast subscriptions – even if you already have an RSS aggregator installed. The easiest program to use is iTunes. It is a free download and works on both Macs and PCs.
If you do not have iTunes you can download a free copy from the Apple site.
Open iTunes and go to the iTunes Music Store. Click on the Podcasts link to browse all of the podcasts that iTunes has to offer. It is important to note that not all podcasts are free. If there is a charge for a podcast you will be directed to make a purchase before the podcast can be downloaded.
Once you have selected a podcast, click on the link to see a list of available podcasts in the series (often called episodes).
To subscribe to the podcast, simply click Subscribe. iTunes will automatically download all episodes. The files will be ready if you want to transfer them to an MP3 player or double click an episode to listen right away.
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