Buy a Song Online

Use the Source list link to the iTunes Music Store to view available songs.  The first time to click on Buy Song it will be listed in the Shopping Cart.  You will have to set up an account to finalize the purchase.  Once you buy it will be downloaded to your Library and may be moved to other Playlists.

The P-O-D of Podcasting

Podcasting is Internet broadcasting:  think of the words "iPod" and "broadcast."  Podcasts are created in MP3 format. You may download the MP3 file to your computer and listen to it as you would any other MP3.  You may use any MP3 player, iPod, and computer to play your podcasts. 

There are many ways to find podcasts. Use your favorite search engine, to visit an online directory of podcasts

"[a favorite topic] podcast", "astronomy podcast", "popular podcasts", or "bluegrass podcast."  Check out  

www.ftpplanet.com/blog_guide/index.htm, www.podcast411.com/page2.html  & www.digitalpodcast.com/ for some good links.

A podcast may be an audio or video/audio file although procedures for downloading and playing both files require the same skills.

Play Podcasts

Find a good site and listen online, download the file to your computer, or subscribe to other podcasting services.  

Use the Music Store link in iTunes Source List to find podcasts of all types.  Can you find an NPR or other radio program that you'd like to hear but miss? 

Menus & play controls	View the options under each Menu as these allow you to change personal settings for your computer.  Use the Play, REW, FWD, and Volume buttons to manipulate how a playlist is heard over your computer.
Source list	View the different sources of music files from your computer's Library, personal playlists, CDs, iPods, or Music Store.  Click on a Source and view the contents on the right hand side active Content panel.
Content panel	View the contents of your entire computer's Library or organize/edit a personal playlist.  Click on a column header to sort music by Name, Artist, Album, etc.
Playlist shortcuts	Use these buttons to create New Playlists or to play in shuffle or repeat modes.  All of these options are also found in the Menus.

Or, go to a specific website like National Geographic's at www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/minutes.html.  Find the link to download the file to your computer.  Save the file in the My Music folder of My Documents and your iTunes software will be able to play it on your computer or transfer it to an iPod.

 
Organize Podcasts
Use the iTunes file interface to drag podcasts to specific playlists or iPods/MP3 players. 

Creating Podcasts

Check out the following links provided for all those Garage Band and other pod-creators:  www.apple.com/support/garageband/podcasts/recording/ & www.clickcaster.com/.  Check out Small Dog Electronics site for hardware/software requirements to mix your own audio:

http://www.smalldog.com/