Frequently asked questions

What is podcasting?

Podcasting is a way of delivering audio (and video) content that enables people to get content easily and at their convenience. Once a user subscribes to a podcast, they will be able to access all the content for the podcast and will be notified as new content becomes available. Created by combining the words iPod and broadcast, Podcasting originally referred to the download of subscription audio content (usually in .mp3 format) to an iPod or other compatible player. Now audiences can use a podcast capable application or device to subscribe to a series of on-demand broadcasts which can be heard or viewed anytime. It is just that simple.

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How do I participate in an IBM podcast?

You can participate in a IBM podcast into two ways. You can either use podcatcher client software to subscribe to and playback podcasts or download and listen directly.

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How do I subscribe to and playback IBM podcasts?

To subscribe and playback podcasts, first you need to download a podcatcher podcast client and next you need to subscribe to a podcast feed.

To subscribe to a feed:

1. Select a podcast that you want to subscribe to and navigate to the podcast event page.
2. On the podcast event page, right click on the Podcast RSS Feed link, and select "Copy Shortcut" or "Copy Link Location".
3. In your podcast client, select the option to add a new podcast feed or subscription (See the podcast troubleshooting page for specific instructions for recommended podcatcher client software).
4. Paste the the podcast URL to complete the subscription.

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Which podcast application should I use?

There are numerous "podcatchers" available on the web. A small selection of the more popular podcast clients are available for download on the IBM Podcasts downloads page or alternatively you can compare the features of a wide range of podcatchers on Podcatchermatrix.org.

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Can I download and listen to an IBM podcast events using just my browser?

Yes. All IBM Podcasts can be downloaded using the browser in .mp3 format and played in your default media player. To download podcast events:

1. Select a podcast that you want to listen to or view and navigate to the podcast event page.
2. On the desired episode listing, right click on the Download audio or Download video link.
3. Select "Save target as" (if you are using Internet Explorer) or "Save link as" (if you are using Firefox) from the pop-up menu.
4. Choose a download location on your hard drive to save the media file.
5. When the download completes, open the file in your favorite media player. (E.g. Windows Media Player or Real Player)

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Do I have to download an IBM podcast completely before listening to it?

No, if you left click a "Download in .mp3 format" link on a Podcast channel page, it will open the mp3 file up into your default media player and start playing as a progressive download. Note: if you do not have a large enough bandwidth connection, this may result in the playback of the file stopping or rebuffering.

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