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