Downloading and podcasting - what's the difference?
Downloading is simply copying a sound file from the RNIB website onto your own computer.
Podcasting automates the downloading process. When you subscribe to receive a podcast, the software regularly checks to see if a new programme is available on RNIB's website. If there is, it will automatically download the sound file onto your computer.
Which ever method you prefer, you will end up with the sound file saved on your machine.
Listening to podcasts
Podcasting enables you to be automatically alerted as soon as RNIB's latest audio programmes are available to download.
Once a programme has been downloaded, you can listen to it on your preferred media player whenever you like. Or you can transfer it to your portable mp3 player and listen on the move.
To receive automatic alerts and downloads you will need to subscribe to our podcasts. To subscribe you will need to download and install special podcasting software, though many of the newer RSS feeders and some browsers enable users to subscribe to podcasts (see below for more information on subscribing).
If you'd rather not download software or subscribe, you can still listen online or manually download any of our programmes when you visit the RNIB website.
How to download an audio file
Downloading varies from computer to computer, and from browser to browser.
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If you are a Windows user, right-click to select the link to the podcast and choose "Save Target As..." (Internet Explorer), "Save Link As..." (Firefox), or a similar option.
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Mac users should hold 'CTRL' and select the link to the podcast, then select "Save Link As..." (Firefox), "Download Linked File" (Safari), or a similar option.
When you've selected the appropriate option, you'll be asked where you'd like to save the audio file on your computer.
Listening to podcasts using software
To subscribe to our podcast you will first need to download special podcast software or an RSS feed reader. There are many podcast software options available online. WebbIE is part of an suite of accessible software. There are many others, such as iTunes, Juice, ZENCast or Zune.
These software packages are known as podcatchers.
Web-based feed readers
If you don't want to download special software, you can subscribe using online web-based "feed readers" such as My Yahoo or Google Reader. They work in a similar way to the software options mentioned above, but you won't have to download any software. Most are free to use. Usually you will need to register an email address and create an account.
Podcast feeds
A podcast "feed" is a file containing information about the podcast, eg:
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description of the podcast channel
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the podcast URL (internet address) which your podcast software will regularly check for any new programmes
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running times of each audio programme
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the publication date and various other details about each audio programme.
These feeds are used by podcast software to download podcasts and to let you know about updates to your favourite podcasts.
Subscribing to an RNIB podcast
There are different ways of subscribing to a podcast depending on which software you use. The RNIB podcast homepage provides a number of different methods to subscribe to a podcast feed.
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Cut and Paste: The podcast home page on has a text box labelled "Feed URL". Copy and paste the "feed" address of the podcast into your podcast software.
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One click subscription: Some podcast software and RSS readers allow us to set up a one-click subscription option. That means you click a button and the software does the rest. We have set up one click subscription for iTunes, ZENCast and Zune.
Special podcast software, often known as podcatchers or podcasting clients, will regularly check for new programmes available on RNIB's website. When they find a new one, they will alert you and / or download the audio programme. This means you can listen to all of our programmes without the need to visit our website.
Accessible podcasting
You can find a suite comprising an accessible podcatcher, podcast downloader, RSS reader and several other accessible tools at Webbie - accessible podcatcher.