Where Economists Meet In The Nation's Capital
Podcast Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a set of frequently asked questions about podcasting. If you're question isn't here - ask it.
Back to the Podcast Page
Do I need an iPod to listen to a podcast?
I only want to listen to one of the files. What is the easiest way to get one file?
How can I listen to it on a desktop PC?
What software can play these files?
How can I get the file onto my iPod?
How can I get the file onto other portable devices?
Does it cost anything to subscribe via the iPod store?
What happens if I have a non-Apple .MP3 player?
Do I need an iPod to listen to a podcast?
No. The NEC podcast is formatted as an .MP3 file. MP3 files are a universal standard that most software and hardware can handle. You can listen to these files on a desktop or laptop Windows PC, an Apple Mac OS X computer, a Linux computer, or on any type of portable music player (such as a Zune or iRiver) or on an iPod.
I only want to listen to one of the files. What is the easiest way to get one file?
Just go to the NEC podcasting page with your browser. Right-click on the file you want, and select Save.
How can I listen to it on a desktop PC?
The simplest way may just be to double-click on the file from Windows Explorer. This should open the file in your default music player, which by default may be Windows Media Player.
What software can play these files?
Some of the software that can play these files include Apple iTunes or Quicktime, Windows Media Player, RealMedia, WinAmp, or MusicMatch. There are other programs, too. They just need to be able to play MP3 files.
How can I get the file onto my iPod?
The easiest way to get the file onto your iPod is to subscribe to the program via iTunes or from the Apple iTunes Music store. Within iTunes, click Advanced >Subscribe to Podcast and then type in the URL of the podcast feed:http://www.national-economists.com/podcasts/necpodcasts.xml. After that, iTunes will periodically check for new episodes and download them automatically. Then, when you connect your iPod to the computer, the episode will be transferred automatically. Much of the Apple iPod market dominance comes from the ease in which files can be downloaded to the computer and transferred to the iPod.
How can I get the file onto other portable devices?
In general, if your device is connected to your computer, it should be recognized just like it was another hard drive. You can use any of your normal techniques (such as Windows Explorer) to copy the MP3 file to the device. If all else fails, read the manual.
Does it cost anything to subscribe via the iPod store?
No. It is a free service from Apple. Of course, they are not doing it out of the goodness of their heart; the iTunes store only works with iPod hardware, although iTunes works on both Macs and PCs.
What happens if I have a non-Apple .MP3 player?
You can use other podcatching software, and input the podcast feed URL directly, or use another podcast directory. The NEC podcasts will also be available at other sites.
National Economists Club
P.O. Box 19281
Washington, DC 20036
703-493-8824
info@national-economists.org
