Podcasting Help
What is a podcast?
Podcasting is a way to automatically download audio and video programs to your portable media player through your computer. You use podcasting software to check for and download new editions of your favorite podcast programs.
What do I need to listen to podcasts?
You'll need a computer, an internet connection and podcasting software (follow the links below for free podcast software). That's it! You can listen or view the podcasts right from your computer—or you can synch the files to your portable media player to listen on the move.
What is RSS?
RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. It uses a technology called XML to deliver headlines and summaries to your desktop or web browser. You can use an RSS reader or aggregator to view these "feeds" instead of, or in addition to, visiting individual web sites (clicking on an RSS or XML link in your web browswer will show only the raw code).
Are podcasts and RSS related?
Yes! A podcast is an RSS feed with an audio or video link inside. This link points to the location of the media file.
Help! When I click the podcast or RSS link I'm seeing a bunch of code.
If you click an RSS or podcast link but do not have a compatible reader installed you will see the XML code in your browser. Instead, paste the feed address into your RSS reader or podcasting application. See your application's documentation on how to do this.
Podcasting Software:
Apple iTunes
RSS Reader:
Bloglines - a web-based RSS Reader
PBS RSS and podcast feeds (including video podcast)