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| Your host: LiL Dee | Contact Dee | What is a podcast? |  |
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< Back to homepageWhat is a 'podcast'?A podcast is basically a recorded (not live) radio show that listeners download from the internet and listen to whenever they want. They can be either audio or video, although most are audio only and come in .mp3 format. This means you can listen to them on any device that plays .mp3 files (your PC, Mac, or any mp3 player like an iPod). Podcasters (the people who make the podcast) can publish episodes daily, weekly, monthly, or whenever they feel like it. In addition, podcasts can be about anything under the sun: technology, sports, news, comedy, or just chit chat about nothing. Many radio stations and TV networks will also take audio recordings of their radio/TV shows and publish them as podcasts (NBC's 'Meet the Press,' and NPR radio shows, for example). At this time the vast majority of podcasts are free to listen to. Do I have to have an iPod to listen?Absolutely not! Although the name does have "pod" in it, this is a misnomer. You can listen on ANY device that plays .mp3 files. How do I download podcasts?The best way to download podcasts is by 'subscribing' to them through podcasting software. Examples would include the popular iTunes from Apple and Juice (formerly iPodder). The software checks the Web for new episodes of your favorite podcasts and downloads them automatically to your computer or MP3 player. Listen to them whenever you want, then delete the .mp3 file when you're done. How do I find a listing of podcasts?One of the easiest ways to find more podcasts if you are using iTunes is to go to the iTunes Music Store within the iTunes software, then click on "Podcasts" on the left side of the window. You can browse by a number of categories or type in search terms to find what you are looking for. When you find a podcast you want to subscribe to, click the "Subscribe" button next to the podcast name. There are also a number of websites that list podcasts:
For more info on podcasts, check out some of these sites:
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