What is a Podcast?
A podcast is a special file (RSS file) that contains
information on the location of various audio or video files on
the internet.
What can I do with a Podcast?
You can subscribe to the podcast with a type of program called
a podcatcher. These programs will allow you to collect
programs from a variety of sources for listening offline at your
convenience.
What is a Podcatcher?
A podcatcher is usually an always-on program which starts when
the computer is started and runs in the background. It manages a
set of feed URLs added by the user and downloads each at a
specified interval, such as every two hours. If the feed data
has substantively changed from when it was previously checked
(or if the feed was just added to the podcatcher's list), the
program determines the location of the most recent episode and
automatically downloads it to the user's computer. Some
podcatchers, such as
iTunes, also automatically make the newly downloaded
episodes available to a user's portable media player.
Where do I find Podcatchers?
There are lots of these programs available on the web (usually
FREE!).
iTunes is
probably the most popular and allows you to listen on your
computer or transfer the podcast to your iPod. See the list on
the left. Some require you to download the program to your
computer and others are web-based.
Do I have to have an iPod to listen to a Podcast?
No. In fact, you don’t even need an MP3
player at all. You can listen and participate just with your
computer. But if you have an iPod or similar device, you can
listen on-the-go.