| You don't need an iPod to listen to a | | | | Some are free. And many are sold |
| Podcast! | | | | commercially so you must |
| | | | |
| Or to an MP3, or an Advanced Audio Coding | | | | pay to use those formats.Some files are |
| (AAC) file, or a Windows Media Audio (WMA) | | | | created in such a way that encrypts the |
| file? | | | | information |
| | | | |
| And although iPod is an a product from | | | | in the file making it difficult to decode |
| Apple, | | | | the information in it, unless you |
| | | | |
| in many cases you don't need any Apple | | | | have a decryption key. |
| products | | | | |
| | | | This is to protect the rights of the owner |
| to listen to a Podcast. | | | | of sound recording and |
| | | | |
| You just need some free software!Why?Because | | | | is often referred to as digital rights |
| many Podcasts consists only of MP3 files | | | | management (DRM). |
| | | | |
| that are sent or transferred from a website | | | | AAC files use a DRM format developed for the |
| server | | | | iTunes store and the Apple iPod. |
| | | | |
| to you. | | | | WMA files are stored in a DRM digital audio |
| | | | file format created by Microsoft. |
| And you can receive and listen to MP3s with | | | | |
| almost any PC | | | | That's why Apple's iPod and iTunes and |
| | | | Microsoft's Windows Media Player (WMP) |
| in use today -- Windows, Macintosh, Linux, | | | | sometimes |
| or other.All you need is a software program | | | | |
| on your PC | | | | don't play together well! |
| | | | |
| called an MP3 player (although it will | | | | As a preferred format, iTunes and the iPod |
| frequently | | | | use AAC while |
| | | | |
| play files other than MP3s). | | | | Windows Media Player uses WMA.However, |
| | | | iTunes, iPod, and Windows Media Player do |
| This software MP3 player allows you to play | | | | have at least one thing in common. |
| MP3s | | | | |
| | | | They all will handle MP3s (assuming you have |
| just like the hardware MP3 players such as | | | | the correct MP3 encoder/decoder used |
| the Apple | | | | |
| | | | in the MP3). |
| iPod, Creative Zen, and a host of | | | | |
| others.Why?Well an MP3 and the other types of | | | | And that's why you can listen to a Podcast |
| audio files such | | | | without an iPod!You can go to Apple's website |
| | | | and download iTunes for free (or you can |
| as Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) files, | | | | download Quicktime with iTunes now). With |
| Windows Media Audio (WMA), Waveform audio | | | | iTunes you can listen a variety of different |
| format (WAV), and others are | | | | kinds digital audio files including, of |
| | | | course, AAC and MP3 files. |
| digital audio files. | | | | |
| | | | With iTunes you can purchase and listen to |
| These files contain a recording of sound | | | | music files from Apple's iTunes music store |
| that has been captured in a digital format. | | | | after you set |
| | | | |
| Wiki has this to say: | | | | up on account. |
| | | | |
| | | | You can also burn your music to CD if you |
| | | | have a CD burner (or writer). |
| Though a WAV file can hold compressed audio, | | | | |
| the most common WAV format contains | | | | Purchased music from iTunes will incorporate |
| uncompressed audio in the pulse-code | | | | DRM and is usually in the AAC format. You can |
| modulation (PCM) format. PCM audio is the | | | | also subscribe and listen to Podcasts with |
| standard audio file format for CDs at 44,100 | | | | iTunes. But iTunes doesn't care much for WMA |
| samples per second. Since PCM uses an | | | | files.However, if you have a Windows PC you |
| uncompressed, lossless storage method, which | | | | may already have Windows Media Player on it. |
| keeps all the samples of an audio track, | | | | |
| professional users or audio experts may use | | | | If you don't, you can go to Microsoft's site |
| the WAV format for maximum audio quality. WAV | | | | and download the latest and greatest for |
| audio can also be edited and manipulated with | | | | free(depending on which version of Windows |
| relative ease using software. | | | | you are running). |
| | | | |
| | | | Many of the online music stores (other than |
| | | | iTunes) sell |
| Important note! | | | | |
| | | | music in the WMA format. |
| Some formats are lossy and some are | | | | |
| lossless. | | | | When you purchase the music, you get a |
| | | | license for each WMA file and Windows Media |
| Lossless means just that. None of the data | | | | Player |
| from the original recording | | | | |
| | | | will play these files (and record to CD if |
| that is available is lost. | | | | you have CD burner). |
| | | | |
| A lossy format may throw or lose some of the | | | | You can also play WAV and MP3 files with |
| original data in order | | | | Windows Media Player. |
| | | | |
| to reduce the size of a file. | | | | Many Podcasts are also set up in a way that |
| | | | Windows Media Player will |
| The idea is to throw away only sound | | | | |
| information that wouldn't be missed. | | | | handle them as well!There are also other |
| | | | player that will handle MP3s and other |
| Sometimes sounds recordings include | | | | formats. |
| frequencies beyond or below what most people | | | | |
| can hear. | | | | Winamp is another popular choice.And most of |
| | | | these MP3 players will also play streaming |
| Dropping these can make the file smaller and | | | | media or Internet radio stations!So what are |
| yet result in a file with little | | | | you waiting for? Jump in and join the digital |
| | | | audio revolution! Before you know it you'll |
| distinguishable sound differences from the | | | | be recording your own Podcasts and |
| original. | | | | broadcasting them!Mike FurlongWhen I'm not |
| | | | playing with gadgets I'm working to get |
| But that's the kicker. | | | | enough money for more. |
| | | | |
| There are numerous different ways and | | | | Check out |
| implementations of doing this. | | | | |
| | | | iPod-Advisor. |