Apple supports podcasting

Apple has unveiled a new version of its iTunes digital music software and revamped its iPod range to only include models with colour screens.

This means that all iPods now feature colour displays and are equipped to play photo slideshows. A 20GB model can hold up to 5,000 songs and 20,000 digital photos, while the £299 60GB model can store up to 15,000 songs and 25,000 snaps.

In its latest music software, iTunes 4.9, Apple has included a podcasting feature, with a directory featuring over 3,000 free audio programs and all iPods will offer a podcast menu, including bookmarking within a podcast and the ability to display podcast artwork in colour.

You can subscribe to a podcast so that every time there’s a new episode, it’s automatically downloaded to your computer and auto-synced to an iPod.

Steve Jobs, chief executive at Apple, said: “Podcasting is the next generation of radio, and users can now subscribe to over 3,000 free podcasts and have each new episode automatically delivered over the internet to their computer and
iPod.”

“By simplifying our iPod lineup to include 20GB and 60GB models with colour screens and the new podcast menu, iPod and iTunes provide the world’s
easiest and appealing way to discover, subscribe, manage and listen to podcasts.”

iTunes 4.9 for Mac and Windows includes the iTunes Music Store and is available as a free download from www.apple.com/uk/itunes. The new Podcast menu is available via a free iPod software update for all Click Wheel iPods and iPod minis from www.apple.com/uk/ipod.