[access-uk] Re: Podcasts, what It Is

  • From: "Tracy Lloyd" <tracy_lloyd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 09:36:24 +0100

Oh, I see I should have read my mail first before sending mine, as Roger's
post here gives recommendations for versions that work well with screen
readers etc...

All the best now,

Tracy.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "roger south" <roger.south@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, September 05, 2005 10:30 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Podcasts, what It Is


> Hi Barry et al
>
> Some while ago I received a post about podcasting and how it works from a
> lady named Debbie Kraft. I thought is made great sense and it supplements
> your original post well Barry.  I paste it below for anyone who's
interested
> and I hope for those people it is of some use.
>
> Roger
>
> You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.
>
> ++++
>
> Hello listers,
> I should warn you up front this is going to be a long post,     but I
can't
> keep quiet about this any longer!  Also please excuse the cross-posting
this
> once.  I realize that extended discussion of this subject may be off-topic
> for the list, so feel free to contact me off-list if I can provide any
> additional information on this.  Thanks, and here goes:
>
>      Back in February, I read an article in the New York Times about a new
> way to use audio and RSS technology which is called podcasting.
Basically,
> its a way of getting mp3 files which other users create and upload to a
> server automatically downloaded to your machine/mp3 player  as soon as
they
> become available.  Now don't let the "pod" in the name "podcast" put you
> off--you don't need an Ipod to take advantage of these files--your
computer
> or any portable mp3 player (like the Bookport) will work just fine, thank
> you!  Not all podcasts are in mp3 format, but the vast majority of them
are.
> The only additional piece you need is a piece of software called an
> aggrigator (or frequently referred to as a podcatcher)!  I knew
immediately
> that this was the answer to my mp3 file prayers, and have been exploring
the
> wide world of podcasts ever since.  And a goldmine it is!  There are
> podcasts available on every conceivable subject from news, technology,
> sports, music, comedy etc.  You can find serialized books and dramas,
> programs for any musical taste, programs that make you laugh out loud,
> religious programs, and on and on it goes.  To help you get started in
> exploring this rich and varied world, I've put together a little 5-step
> getting started guide.  I hope some of you will find as much enjoyment
from
> this as I have had.
>
>      Step 1: Get an aggrigator
> So how do you find the right software?  Podcastalley provides an excellent
> software page which is a good central point for finding the software you
> need.  Go to
> http://www.podcastalley.com/phpBB2/links.php
> Finding the best software to use with your screen reader will take a
little
> experimentation.  The program I use and recommend is Ipodder 2.0 available
> at
> http://ipodder.sourceforge.net
> Here is a direct download link:
> http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/ipodder/iPodder2.0.exe?download
> Another program that works well with speech is Primetime Podcast Receiver
> http://www.primetimepodcast.com/blog/default.aspx
> Once you've downloaded and installed your aggrigator, take some time to
> familiarize yourself with the default options.  You'll probably want to
> change the download directory to something that works for you, or at least
> find out what the default location is.  You may also want to check a box
to
> have scans done automatically when the program starts.  Also take a look
at
> the scheduling options, which are generally in a separate dialog box.  I
> have mine set up to check for new files every four hours.  Most programs
> will either allow you to set specific times or frequencies in hours.
>
>      Step 2: Find and subscribe to podcasts
> The easiest way to subscribe to podcasts is to use the directories built
in
> to most podcatchers.  In Ipodder, simply hit control-tab once from the
> starting screen and you will land in a directory tree structure with
several
> directories to choose from.  Most of these programs use a tabbed interface
> so you use control-tab to change views.  Use the tree structure to locate
> categories and podcasts you are interested in.  In Ipodder, simply press
> enter on any show you want to add.  Hit shift-control-tab to cycle back to
> the subscriptions view which shows the list of shows you are subscribed
to.
> Be aware that most programs including Ipodder start you off with a few
> default podcasts.  If you aren't interested in these defaults, they can be
> easily removed.  In Ipodder, right click on the unwanted entry and choose
> "remove" from the menu.  In Primetime, just hit the delete key. You can
> manually enter feeds by copying a feed's URL and then pasting it in to the
> program's new feeds dialog box.  In Ipodder, use control-n to bring up
that
> box.
>
>      Step 3: Scan for new shows
> Once you've subscribed to some shows, start the scanning/downloading
> process.  In Ipodder, you can do this by pressing f5.  It is also possible
> to scan an individual show from the tools menu.  Most programs will
download
> just the newest show for each podcast.  If you highlight a program in
> Ipodder, then press tab, you will be in a list of the podcasts on the
> server.  If you want to download previous programs, use your review cursor
> to locate the graphic symbol to the left of the episode you want, then
> left-click it.  The status of the entry will change from "skipped" to "to
> download".  I cannot find a keyboard equivalent for this.  The bottom of
the
> display should display information about the downloads in most programs.
>
>      Step 4:  Transfer your files
> Locate your download directory.  The files for each podcast you have
> subscribed to will be housed in its own folder.  What I do is to move the
> files I want to put on my Bookport in to one combined folder (E.G.
"current
> podcasts") and then do a send-to-Bookport on that folder.  This technique
> has several advantages: 1. I can easily check the folder properties to
make
> sure that the size of the files I want to transfer will fit on the card I
> have in my machine; 2. The files will transfer in alphabetical order; 3.
It
> cuts down on the amount of folder navigating I need to do.  The downside
is
> that where folder names are very descriptive, the actual file names are
far
> less so.
>
>      Step 5. Sit back, relax and enjoy!
> 'nuff said!  Below are just a few of my favorite podcasts to help get you
> started.  I've given website URLs instead of actual feed addresses so you
> can visit the websites, from where you can manually download files to see
if
> you do indeed want to subscribe.  If you do, find the link to the feed, do
a
> copy shortcut, and paste in to the new feed dialog box of your aggrigator.
> Ok here goes:
>
> Adam Curry's Daily Source Code
> http:
> www.dailysourcecode.com
> Good place to get clued in to what's happening in the podcasting world.
> Very enjoyable, and my favorite until I ran across
>
> The Richard Vobes Radio Show at
> http://www.vobes.com
> Man his voice is amazing--and he's hilarious!
>
> Another good daily show is Chuck Chat at
> http://www.chuckchat.com
> Technology oriented but he covers a wide variety of other topics as well
in
> a warm and friendly manner.
>
> DailySonic at
> www.dailysonic.com
> is an extremely well-done magazine-style program that comes out every
> weekday.
>
> I could go on for a while, but I'll leave the rest of the treasures for
you
> to discover yourself. Below are some podcasting directories to explore,
all
> of which are easily navigable with speech:
> http://www.podcastalley.com
> http://podcastbunker.com
> http://ipodder.org
>
> Enjoy!
>
> Debbie Crafts
> Framingham, MA
> debbiecrafts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> a follow-up message:
>
> Go to the tools menu (alt-t).  The scheduler is in that menu.  Also there
> are the options to check all or check selected feeds.  You can also check
> and download all subscribed feeds by pressing f5.
>
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