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| This is a text compatible page. Several pages have text versions, they are nested in the sub menu for that page How to use and subscribe to the H&T Podcast P o d c a s tLISTEN NOW! If you would like to subscribe to the H&T Podcast, use this link in your podcatcher or add it to your browser feed list. If you want to learn how to Podcast, read on. Search here for more accessibile software and hardware.
This page is designed to make it easy for people who are blind or V I, visually impaired, to setup and use Podcasts. I have found screen reader accessible programs and step by step instructions. All podcasts are simply MP3 audio files that you can download and listen to any way that you're comfortable. Podcasting is the process of sending your audio files out, while Podcatching is the process of receiving and listening to other people's podcasts. A Podcatcher is a program that subscribes or organizes them, and lets you know when a new podcast is available.
To listen to Podcasts I recommend using the WebbIE software suite. It is specifically screen reader designed and in large text so it is easy to read for V I. There are several components to the software such as a Radio Tuner, Clock, a Google podcast search, and other programs useful to people who are blind. These instructions are about the Accessible Podcatcher program and how to subscribe to Hear and There Audio Magazine. Instructions on how to use the individual programs are contained in the Help menu for the program. Info about talking MP3 players is at the bottom of the page. This is the essential info and links you will need to start listening and subscribing to Podcasts. Refer to section 1 for the software and web links you will need. A full explanation of terms is in the second section. If you are a beginner start with Section 2.
Section 1 Setup and subscribe instructions Step 2 Once installed go to the “All Programs” List on your computer and find “Accessible and WebbIE” title. Scroll down to “Podcatcher” and Open. Step 3 Find the “Podcasts” menu then select “add podcast”. You will enter the name " H e a r and There" and you will need this link for the H&T podcast. You are subscribed! Step 4 Anytime you go to the Podcatcher click on Hear and There and it will automatically download the latest H&T podcast. Step 5 Download the podcast to your MP3 player with the Export command in the File menu. The Podcatcher Help menu gives more info. See the bottom of the page for resources on accessible MP3 Players. Step 6 You may be able to get podcasts dirctly on your desktop If you use Internet Explorer or another browser. You can use the Favorites Menu as a Podcatcher. Check the Feed Instructions for your browser.
Section 2 Detailed info about Podcasting According to Wikipedia, podcasting is a "method of publishing audio broadcasts via the Internet." In layman's terms, it's a way for individuals and companies to create audio programs and allow people to download, listen, and subscribe to them very easily. If you're familiar with blogging you can think of podcasting as "audio blogging." The ability to subscribe to podcasts via a technology called RSS (Really Simple Syndication) allows you to have fresh content downloaded to your computer or portable audio player (e.g., an iPod). Podcasting is the process of sending your audio files out, while Podcatching is the process of receiving and listening to other people's podcasts. To subscribe to a podcast simply copy that link and paste it into the appropriate place in your podcatcher program. You can tell a podcast feed because it has F E E D at the end of the link. Receiving Podcasts
To receive and enjoy podcasts, you need a computer (at a minimum) or ideally an MP3 player, such as the iPod. Podcasts are great for dial-up or broadband users because in most cases, the program download can happen off-hours. You can listen to podcasts on your computer or burn them to CDs using MP3 CD burning software. Using a MP3 Player
Every MP3 player is different, but in general you will connect the MP3 player to your computer occasionally and it will transfer (synchronize) your programs. At the same time, it will clean up programs that are older than a certain (specified by you) date. Accessible Podcatcher Accessible Podcatcher is a simple way for blind and screen reader users to use podcasts. Podcasting is a way to distribute audio files on the web. Accessible Podcatcher lets you access these podcasts. You can listen to them, forward and rewind, save particular items to disk, and export and import lists of podcasts to send to other people. You also get Accessible Podcast Directory, a way for you to find new podcasts to add to your collection.
The WebbIE group of programs include a web browser for blind and visually-impaired people, especially those using screen readers, used since 2001 all over the world. It comes with the Accessible programs, letting you access news and audio on the Internet in a simple and accessible way, allowing you to use podcasts, listen to the radio and read RSS and news with your screen reader or other access solution. Together they provide a way to access websites and other great things online - and they are all free! Learn more about WebbIE. http://www.webbie.org.uk/index.htm RESOURCES Sansa E250 talking MP3 fully upgraded with Rockbox from Accessible Electronics The menus are completely accessible, because they are voiced. The folders and file names can be made to be voiced as well. It plays a variety of file types. It has an FM radio, and you can record from the radio or from the built-in microphone. The memory is expandable from 2GB to 32 GB. The battery charge lasts for up to 20 hours of play time. Accessibleelectronics.com sells them completely set up. Players start at $42 for a 2 GB model, and none of the players cost more than $90. Rockbox Talking Software for MP3 Players Rockbox is an open source firmware for mp3 players. It runs on a wide range of players:. All supported models have large text and have the ability to talk to you - menus can be voiced and filenames spelled out or spoken. See all the features at their homepage. http://www.rockbox.org/
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