How to Use Podcasting
Install a podcatcher., Customize your settings., Search for a podcast., Download your podcasts., Access your podcasts.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Install a podcatcher.
To download podcasts onto a mobile device, you will need a relevant app known as a "podcatcher".
Since there are numerous podcatchers available for both iOS and Android, you have options; as a general rule, though, you should look for podcast apps with wide, expansive libraries, clean interfaces, and easy controls. iOS:
Apple's newer models actually come with the free Podcasts app pre-installed.
If you don't have a recent iPhone or iPad, don't fret--you can download Podcasts from the app store free of charge.
Overcast is also a great alternative to the default software.
Android:
Apps like Pocket Cast and DoggCatcher range from $3 to $4 and come highly recommended; however, if you're hard on cash, Stitcher Radio along with Podcast and Radio Addict are both great free options for Android.
You can download them from Google Play. -
Step 2: Customize your settings.
Once you've downloaded a podcatcher of your choosing, make sure your accessibility settings allow you to download items through the app.
You can generally do this by accessing the app's restrictions through your phone's settings and editing them accordingly.
Many podcasting apps will also give you the option to download every new episode of a subscription automatically.
Though this can eat up hard drive or cloud space quite quickly, it's a great option for users interested in some autonomy.
Similarly, many podcatchers allow you to customize specific subscriptions.
Most come with features such as layout options, whether or not to download new podcasts automatically, and sorting. , In your podcatcher, access the search function and browse.
Ideally you'll have an idea of what you want to look for; if not, most podcatchers have "trending" or "top" tab within their interface.
This is always a good place to start if you're out of ideas.
Once you've found a podcast you like, find a "subscribe" button in your podcatcher interface.
Often, this button will be intuitively designed--a plus sign in the corner, for example--but it will differ from app to app.
Subscribe to the podcast if it looks like something in which you'll be interested. , Usually, each individual episode displayed on your podcatcher will have a download sign--a downward-pointing arrow, for example--next to its name.
If you've made sure that your podcatcher is allowed access to your hard drive or cloud already, then press the download button. , Depending on the model of your device, you will have a different default app for playing podcasts: iOS favors iTunes, while Android devices default to Music Player.
Many podcatchers also give you the option of playing your podcasts within the app. -
Step 3: Search for a podcast.
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Step 4: Download your podcasts.
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Step 5: Access your podcasts.
Detailed Guide
To download podcasts onto a mobile device, you will need a relevant app known as a "podcatcher".
Since there are numerous podcatchers available for both iOS and Android, you have options; as a general rule, though, you should look for podcast apps with wide, expansive libraries, clean interfaces, and easy controls. iOS:
Apple's newer models actually come with the free Podcasts app pre-installed.
If you don't have a recent iPhone or iPad, don't fret--you can download Podcasts from the app store free of charge.
Overcast is also a great alternative to the default software.
Android:
Apps like Pocket Cast and DoggCatcher range from $3 to $4 and come highly recommended; however, if you're hard on cash, Stitcher Radio along with Podcast and Radio Addict are both great free options for Android.
You can download them from Google Play.
Once you've downloaded a podcatcher of your choosing, make sure your accessibility settings allow you to download items through the app.
You can generally do this by accessing the app's restrictions through your phone's settings and editing them accordingly.
Many podcasting apps will also give you the option to download every new episode of a subscription automatically.
Though this can eat up hard drive or cloud space quite quickly, it's a great option for users interested in some autonomy.
Similarly, many podcatchers allow you to customize specific subscriptions.
Most come with features such as layout options, whether or not to download new podcasts automatically, and sorting. , In your podcatcher, access the search function and browse.
Ideally you'll have an idea of what you want to look for; if not, most podcatchers have "trending" or "top" tab within their interface.
This is always a good place to start if you're out of ideas.
Once you've found a podcast you like, find a "subscribe" button in your podcatcher interface.
Often, this button will be intuitively designed--a plus sign in the corner, for example--but it will differ from app to app.
Subscribe to the podcast if it looks like something in which you'll be interested. , Usually, each individual episode displayed on your podcatcher will have a download sign--a downward-pointing arrow, for example--next to its name.
If you've made sure that your podcatcher is allowed access to your hard drive or cloud already, then press the download button. , Depending on the model of your device, you will have a different default app for playing podcasts: iOS favors iTunes, while Android devices default to Music Player.
Many podcatchers also give you the option of playing your podcasts within the app.
About the Author
Rebecca Bell
Specializes in breaking down complex crafts topics into simple steps.
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