Podcasting makes an audio file, typically an MP3 file, available online for downloading via an automatic “feed.” You can then hear the podcast whenever you want from your computer or a portable media player.
Of course you can just click our podcast link and listen to the mp3 files on your computer (provided you have a sound card and mp3 player software.) But what if you want to take advantage of the feature that defines podcasts, namely that you can automatically receive the latest podcast whenever it is published?
The first thing you’ll need is podcast subscription software. Your options include the latest version of Apple’s iTunes (which has the software built in), or other services such as Odeo or PodcastAlley, to manage your podcast subscriptions. If you want to make your podcasts portable, you will need to transfer them from your computer to a portable media device.