iTunes for this Dummy!

[klam_chowder]

I found the podcasts near the beginning of this year. I listened to a couple from my PC and they were great so I decided to go download the archives thru iTunes.

I managed to get them all on my iPod. However, now I've listened to some them and I'm when I try to figure it out.

I was able to keep track of which ones I had listened to on my iPod thru the blue dots on it. However, when I sync my iPod to get iTunes to copy the latest podcast to it, it shows all the shows as unheard.

When iTunes loads, it does automatically download the new podcast episode.

A couple of questions:

• can I delete a podcast directly from my iPod after listening to it?
• what do the blue dots on the leftmost column in iTunes mean?
• what are the check boxes, next to the blue dots, in iTunes mean?

Here's what I'd like to do...

• listen to the podcast on my iPod
• delete the ones I've listened to both on the iPod and in iTunes
• have iTunes just load on the unheard podcasts and copy it to my iPod

I know it sounds so easy...

For iPods/iTunes to be so highly praised, I know there must be an easy way to do this but for the life of me I can't figure it out...yes, I get VERY stressed trying to figure it out. It's now causing me to fall behind on the shows cuz at first I wasn't ready to move on, and then when I was, they all show as unheard.

I'm embarrassed to say that while I've had an iPod for a few years now, DH manages all my music, and I only have a couple of audiobooks on it so haven't experienced having to "manage" the data. I have to figure this out.

I'd really appreciate directions for this I tried going to iTunes Tutorial but the info was too vague.

cheers,

 

[Praying Colonel]

You can set your podcast settings on your iPod to automatically delete after you've listened to it. Itunes can do this when you sync your iPod to it.

 

[daneenm]

Additionally, you can set iTunes to only download unfinished Podcasts.

You can also go into iTunes and manually delete. I do this if I have listened partially on my iPod but then finish on my computer from the DIS site (I listen during lunch at work sometimes).

It will prompt you to ask if you want to move the podcast to the trash. I say OK. You can always get the episodes you want again.

--Daneen

 

[daneenm]

The check boxes are a way to manage what you download. When you set your download preferences there is an option to download checked items only.

--Daneen

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I have a related question - I just got my iPod and discovered Disney podcasts about 4 months ago.

Since iTunes automatically downloads the new podcasts (I have 6 that I subscribe to), I have my iPod set to sync the first 10 unheard casts. I go through iTunes and set the video ones to "not new" so it won't sync them - personal preference since I ususally listen while gardening or driving.

Here's the kicker - when I first started doing the sync, it would show all of the same 10 podcasts as 1 of 10, 2 of 10, 3 of 10, etc for each different podcast. Now, each one comes over as 1 of 1. I obviously must have changed a setting that screwed me up. What did I do?

Thanks for the advice in advance!
Nancy

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I forgot - one important thing - I use iTunes on PC. That apparently makes a big difference, as it doesn't allow you to sync the same as it does on Mac.

Nancy

 

[klam_chowder]

You can set your podcast settings on your iPod to automatically delete after you've listened to it. Itunes can do this when you sync your iPod to it.

Thx a mint for this tip...I figured out how to do this thru a google search but I didn't even know it was an option before

cheers,

 

[Praying Colonel]

You're welcome! That option is what caused me to switch from a Creative mp3 players to an iPod. I got into podcasts back in '05, but I was downloading them with a program (Ipodder IIRC) and then manually adding them to my mp3 player. After I listened to the podcasts, I had to manually remove them. Too much trouble! When I found out I could do all that automatically through Itunes and iPod, I made the switch.