I am a Member > Beyond My Plan

Podcasts

Sending and receiving podcasts (audio and video files) is a great way to stay informed on topics of interest as well as to share information. The beauty of podcasts is that you can download programs to a hand-held device like an iPod, iPhone or MP3 player and take it with you.

What They Are

A podcast is an audio or video file that is downloaded automatically to your computer using a RSS feed. Many Web sites allow you to subscribe to podcasts for free. Every time a new podcast is added to the RSS feed, people who have subscribed receive the file automatically.

It's a lot like an electronic magazine. When you subscribe to a magazine, each new issue is delivered to your home. In the case of podcasting, every time a new "issue" is available, it is delivered electronically to your computer.

Why Use Them

• Stay Informed – podcasts use RSS feeds, which means you can get the latest audio or video files automatically.
• Inform Others – create your own podcast. Share special events – your grandchild's piano recital perhaps – with friends and family members or document your trip across the country. By setting up a podcast and having your friends and family subscribe, they’ll receive the audio you recorded or video you shot the next time they are online.
• Listen/Watch Programs Anywhere – because podcasts can be uploaded to a hand-held device (like a cell phone or MP3 player), you can take them with you anywhere. Next time you’re stuck in the waiting room at your doctor’s office, just put on your headphones and play your latest podcast. Pass the time with news and topics tailored to your interests.

Back to Top

How They Work

• Choose a Podcatcher – to receive podcasts, you can use any of the News Aggregators, or Feed Readers that you use for RSS feeds.  There are, however, many Aggregators made specifically for podcasting. These sites will allow you to watch the video or listen to the audio file directly from the podcaster.
• Some podcatchers require you to download software on your computer. When you open the software, the feeds you’ve subscribed to automatically begin downloading. Once they are downloaded, you can watch/listen to your podcast using the software.
• You can also upload podcasts to a hand held device like an iPod or MP3 player. The most popular podcatching software is iTunes, which is free.
• Web sites like Yahoo!, MSN, and Google offer their own aggregators, so you can watch podcasts directly from your My Yahoo!, My MSN, or gmail home page. If you want to transfer the file to a hand-held device, you’ll need to use software like iTunes, or manually transfer the files with a USB connection.
• Find Sites that Offer Podcasts – there are many sites – the best known is podcastalley.com - dedicated to podcasts where you can search by topic or interest.  Some of your favorite sites might already offer podcasts; look for an orange or red icon and the word “podcast.”
• Sit Back and Let RSS do the Work – once you’ve told your podcatcher  to check your favorite sites’ feeds, your work is finished.  As long as you have your aggregator open, you can watch videos and listen to audio shows from your favorite sites, all in one place.  Every time a new video or audio file becomes available, your Podcatcher will automatically refresh your feeds.
• Take Them With You – using a USB cable and software, transfer the Podcast to your mobile device. You can then enjoy the program anywhere.
• Hand-held devices have come down in price over the years, so you can pick one up for a lot less than you might expect.
• They can range from $20 to $500+, depending on factors such as the brand, the amount of memory (how many files it can hold), and the features it offers.
• Become a Podcaster! – if you own a camcorder or digital audio recorder, you’ve got what you need to create your own Podcast.
• For example, maybe you know a lot about fixing cars and want to broadcast lessons. You can record your instructions on a digital recorder, upload the file to your computer, and send it out as a Podcast.
• There are plenty of free tools online – the best known is probably Blogger - that you can use to create podcasts. Feedburner is a great tool for managing and sending out your podcasts.

Back to Top