A couple of weeks ago we uploaded our first podcast to the internet. The hour-long video explains in detail how to cut dadoes, grooves, rabbets, and laps on your table saw. Ever since then, otherwise media-savvy people here at work, have come up to me and asked, “I don’t own an iPod, so how am I supposed to watch the podcast?”
I suppose the confusion begins with the word “podcast,” a combination of iPod and broadcast. Since Apple mp3 players (iPods) dominate the portable media device market, the name has become synonymous with podcasting. But the fact is, you don’t need to own an iPod to watch our online video.
There are, in fact, three ways to watch our video:
1) Click on the thumbnail (or the “Play it Now” buttons) and watch it on your browser as a streaming video. If you leave WoodworkingOnline while using this option, you’ll have to start the stream all over again when you return.
2) Or, click on “Play in Popup” button. A popup viewer will open and you can watch it there as a streaming video. Leaving WoodworkingOnline doesn’t affect the viewer or the stream.
3) Finally, you can download the video to your computer (in order to view it later) by right-clicking on the “Download” link next to the option of your choice and clicking “Save As.”
We also offer you another way to subscribe to the seminar podcasts by using an iTunes feed. This means that when we release a new podcast, iTunes will automatically download it for you. If you already use iTunes, simply click on the “Subcribe to the iTunes Feed” button. If you aren’t familiar with iTunes, then you ought to be. It’s really the easiest way to stay current and up-to-date.
But there is a learning curve to using the iTunes site.
To subscribe to our Seminar video using iTunes, you must first install the iTunes player. (You can download it for free here.) When it’s installed, click on the “Music Store” in the left hand pane.
Once you’re in the iTunes Music Store, click on the “Search” bar in the upper right hand corner. Type the search word “Woodsmith” in that search bar and you will find our podcast.
Once you find it, simply click on “Subscribe” and the most recent seminar will be downloaded and all subsequent videos will automatically be downloaded. (Note: Please remember that iTunes must be running on your computer in order to download new episodes of the podcast automatically.)
The main advantage is that you can make the most of your time by telling iTunes download manager what content you want to download, and in what order. You can also use iTunes to browse the world of the podcasts by clicking on “Podcasts” button in the left hand window pane.