How to listen to podcasts in your car

Louise writes:

"I am purchasing an ipod in the next month or so, so it will be a lot easier for me to find the time to download and listen to the recordings whilst I am driving, so weekly would be fine.I am not sure if you mentioned this on your show, but you can purchase an attachment with your iPod so that you can tune your ipod into the radio of your car by selecting a designated channel for your ipod. You can then listen to your iPod whilst you are driving (to work etc) just like another radio station. A lot of people do not know this and I know that it would allow people to listen to your shows a lot more often. They can set a time for themselves, say driving to work every Tuesday morning. Just some food for thought."

Thanks for the note Louise - sometimes I take technology for granted and make the wrong assumption that everyone is as familiar with the technology as me...

I listen to podcasts on my way to work in the car too. I download several different podcasts, so I can listen to a variety of topics every day of the week... it certainly makes my daily commute more interesting.

Here are some options specifically from the Apple iPod accessory range that allow people to tune-in their radio to the ipod. Essentially these little devices broadcast your signal to a specific channel on your FM radio.

Here's one that I particularly like because it suits most - if not all - of the ipods on the market today. The one thing to watch when buying an FM transmitter is "does it suit my particular ipod", as the ipod connectors do vary from model to model, depending on the age of your particular unit.

This unit is called the Griffin iTrip Auto and it is available from the Buy Mac Australian online store. (http://www.buymac.com.au/). This unit is a transmitter for all seasons incorporating the ipod nano and even the latest generation ipod videos (the status of connection with the brand new itouch ipod is unknown... read down for more information on this new device). It also recharges your unit through the cigarette adapter in your car while you listen. The unit retails for about AU$129 RRP but you can get it only for just AU$89 here.

Here's a list of some of the other devices available that do pretty much the same thing. If you buy one of these units, remember to check that it is compatible with your particular ipod.

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT THE NEW IPOD TOUCH?

This is a brand new unit, just released a couple of days ago. This new unit has the same features as the much acclaimed iPhone just without the phone component. To select music you simply touch the screen - no complicated buttons. The iPod touch also allows you to surf the web wirelessly, and download music and podcasts (including the In Spirit Podcast) from a new wireless iTunes store.

The units currently available are considered top of the line and are around the AU$415-AU$435 mark, and their storage capacity is a bit limited (the largest iTouch iPod is currently only 16GB, while the latest ipod video unit has 10 times this capacity). If you want the latest and greatest though, the new iTouch iPod is probably the way to go for you.

With this release Apple also announced that the iPod Nano has gone video as well, so the range is changing and it's worth checking out the latest products before you buy...

Thanks for the note Louise - and I hope some of this ipod techno info is of some use!

Now, where do you listen to the In Spirit Podcast? Leave your comment and let us know!

Cheers,
James (a.k.a. the technoboffin)