Think of a podcast as an online radio show. Each show consists of individual episodes that you can listen to in several ways - on your PC, using your MP3 player, or with a web browser. Learn more >>
We offer two formats for our podcast: one in mp3 format, which is audio only, and one in m4a format, which includes audio plus images. Learn more >>
Not at all. Our podcasts are produced as mp3 files, the most universal format for listening on various devices. You can download individual podcasts and listen to them using almost any application. Learn more >>
How do I watch the M4A episodes?
We offer two formats for our podcast: one in Mp3 format, which is audio only, and one in M4A format, which includes audio plus images. You may play our M4A podcasts in your web browser with software such as Windows Media Player or Apple QuickTime. Simply double-click on the links for podcast files labeled 'M4A'. You may also download our M4A podcasts to your iPod, or play them in iTunes. The tutorial below shows you how to play the M4A-enhanced episodes in iTunes.
STEP 1: Make sure you have read our tutorial on subscribing to the M4A podcast stream for This Birding Life. Once you have downloaded the episode into iTunes, you may begin playing the file by highlighting the episode title in your iTunes Podcast menu and clicking on the 'Play' button at the top of your screen.
STEP 2: Near the bottom of your iTunes window, you will see a series of controls. The one on the far right activates the iTunes Video Player (highlighted in RED in the diagram below). Click on this button while the M4A podcast is playing.
STEP 3: A window will pop up in the lower left corner of your iTunes application, allowing you to see special images embedded in the episode file.
STEP 4: You can adjust the size of the iTunes Video Player to make it bigger or smaller. Let your mouse hover over the thin black line that divides the blue navigation panel on the left from the striped blue and white panel on the left. Your mouse icon will turn from an arrow to a cross. Click and drag the line, making the iTunes video player bigger or smaller, as desired.
STEP 5: Our M4A episodes also feature chaptering, which allows you to easily jump to different parts of the presentation. Simply click on the 'Chapters' menu in iTunes while the episode is playing and select the chapter of interest.
