Listening to Podcasts: Learn while jogging

DearREADERS,

The following is the outline (and a few of the graphics) from one of DearMYRTLE's five presentations made last week at Brigham Young University's Computerized Genealogy Conference. Several readers have asked, so here it is...

WHAT IS A PODCAST?Podcasts are pre-recorded internet radio shows of sorts, varying in length and available via the web 24/7 in .mp3 format. Although the term originated through the use of iPods, one does not need an iPod to listen to a podcast. Alternative listening methods include:

• Directly from the podcaster’s website (using your computer with the speakers turned on).
• Through a computerized subscription service such as iTunes.
• Via any .mp3 player after you’ve transferred the files.
• Usually free

The main reason you’ll enjoy podcasts is that you listen on YOUR schedule, not that of the podcaster.

• Archive of previous podcasts.
• Pause, rewind & play.
• Listen as many times as you wish.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE GENEALOGY & HISTORY PODCASTS (if you want to listen “manually”).

• Anna-Karin’s Genealogical Podcast (about Swedish roots) http://annakarin.libsyn.com
• British History 101 http://british_history_101.blogspot.com
• DearMYRTLE’s Family History Hour (oldest) http://podcasts.dearmyrtle.com
• Genealogy Gems http://www.genealogygem.tv
• Genealogy On Demand http://genealogyondemand.wordpress.com
• History Podcast (particularly Small pox in Hawaii & Philippine-American War) http://www.historyonair.com
• National Archives Podcast Series (from England) www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/rss/podcasts.xml
• Nuestra Familia Unidad (Spanish heritage) http://nuestrafamiliaunida.com/podcast/index.html
• Oxford University: Podcasts from Medieval English lectures http://tinyurl.com/2v7pn3
• Sparkletack – The San Francisco History Podcast http://www.sparkletack.com
• The Genealogy Guys (longest continuously running) http://www.genealogyguys.com

LISTENING AUTOMATICALLY VIA iTUNES (free software)
GET ITUNES - Download from http://www.apple.com (Mac & Windows platforms). This software manages purchases of music (singles or albums), movies, TV shows, podcasts, radio and cell-phone ringtones.

OPEN the iTunes software on your PC.
SEARCH the iTunes “store” for:

• Genealogy podcast
• History podcast
• Family history
• DearMYRTLE

Once you find a listing you'd like, CLICK THE SUBSCRIBE BUTTON to add the podcast to your personal iTunes lineup on your computer.

ALLOW TIME for .mp3 file download.

CLICK PODCASTS in the left navigation bar on iTunes to view the list of podcast feeds & individual podcast episodes.

SELECT a podcast episode by double clicking, and it will begin playing.

Note, the Swedish roots podcast titled Anna-Karin’s Genealogy Podcast 20080126 is 21 minutes and 44 seconds long, and was released on 1/26/2008.

NOTE CONTROLS (above the listing of podcasts) to pause, skip forward, and adjust volume in the iTunes screen shown above. At this point, the listener has heard about 13:35 minutes of the show, and has another 8:08 minutes to go in the podcast.

COPYING FILES TO YOUR .mp3 PLAYER
Follow manufacturer’s instructions. This class includes a demonstration of how to transfer podcasts from iTunes to an 80gig iPod.

Happy family tree climbing!
Myrt :)
DearMYRTLE, Your friend in genealogy.
Myrt@DearMYRTLE.com
http://blog.dearmyrtle.com

© 2006-2008 Pat Richley, All Rights Reserved.