Thursday, December 4, 2008

iPod Fun

The Black Friday sale-priced iPod Nano I ordered on-line was delivered to my front door sometime while I was at work on Tuesday. I haven't had much time to diddle around with it yet, but did get the battery charged up. This afternoon I decided to try and download a podcast and see what that was all about. I went to the Bird Watcher's Digest website because I knew that they had podcasts available of birdy topics I would enjoy listening to. It was pretty easy, I just clicked on the "Visit Podcast Central" button and there it was: This Birding Life with host Bill Thompson, III.

I browsed the list of titles and chose the podcast titles I wanted to listen to and within minutes, I was learning all about BirdJam......

from two of its creators: Jay and Denese (complete with pictures!) Isn't this cool??

Next I listened to my friend Julie's story of Fergus the bullfrog called "Paradise Lost" from her great book "Letters from Eden."

I don't know about you, but when I was a little kid I loved it when my mom read stories to us, and that's exactly what listening to these stories was like. Somebody who knows about these things please tell me: I can download audio books to the iPod too, can't I? Then I'll really be able to maximize my knitting time!

Oh, and if any of you know of other sites with bird and/or nature podcasts I can add to my collection, would you please share them with me in the comments section? Thanks

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18 comments:

  1. Kim12/4/08, 6:22 PM

    I love those too. I am not as lucky as you are to have an Ipod, but you can listen to them on your computer.

    here is a pretty decent site you may want to check out.

    http://support.nature.org/site/PageServer?pagename=podcast

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  2. KGMom12/4/08, 6:51 PM

    OH OH -- now you have me getting all excited, as I know one of my Christmas items (from my children) is an IPod Nano. What I can do!!
    I will have to come to you for expertise.

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  3. Ruth12/4/08, 7:03 PM

    I got a new iPod Touch (8gb)but really have not used it much. There is lots of music on it, but I am not a head phone person. I would use it more this way.

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  4. Lynne at Hasty Brook12/4/08, 7:11 PM

    I love my iPod. Check out Laura Erickson's podcasts- I enjoy them.

    http://web.me.com/chickadeewhisperer/FTB/Podcast/Podcast.html


    BirdJam BirdJam BirdJam!!!
    Hi Jay!

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  5. Shelley12/4/08, 7:54 PM

    I want one of these!! I would love to birdJam!!

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  6. LauraHinNJ12/4/08, 8:35 PM

    Hey, I know those faces!

    Enjoy your new gadget Ruthie!

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  7. Anonymous12/4/08, 9:22 PM

    Is this what you were talking about at supper tonite/ That is so amazing and live pictures [almost]. What will they think of next. Could I learn to work an ipod at my ancient age? Have fun.

    MOM

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  8. Mary12/4/08, 9:25 PM

    Nice gadget! Way above my head...

    Enjoy!

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  9. Susan Gets Native12/4/08, 10:23 PM

    Jay and the BirdJam crowd hear about it when someone talks about it online.
    Birdjambirdjambirdjam
    bird jam
    bird jam
    bird jam!
    (One of the greatest inventions this century!)
    : )

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  10. Jayne12/5/08, 5:55 AM

    How fun Ruthie!! ENJOY!

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  11. Dana and Daisy12/5/08, 7:28 AM

    I hope Santa brings me one too!

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  12. RuthieJ12/5/08, 7:57 AM

    Hi Kallen305,
    Thanks much for the link to more podcasts.

    That's exciting Donna -- sounds like you raised those kids right!

    Hi Ruth,
    I have to try and find a small & portable external speaker for this Nano....after a while those earbuds are kind of uncomfortable.

    Hi Lynne,
    I remember we talked about BirdJam last year on the way up to SaxZim but you never got a chance to demonstrate it for me. It will be nice to have the bird songs right in the palm of my hand!
    Thanks for the link to Laura's podcasts too!

    Hi Shelley,
    Start dropping hints now--there only 18 shopping days left! ;-)

    Hi Laura,
    I thought you might. It was great to hear Jay's voice again!

    Hi Mom,
    Yup, that's what I was talking about. I was going to bring it along and let you listen to Julie's story, but I figured it would have been too loud and I was right. I'll bring it along to show you the next time I see you. I think you could probably figure out how to use it with not much trouble.

    Listen Mary, you've figured out how to use that swell new camera, haven't you? This iPod would be a breeze for you! We'll include it with knitting lessons in WV.

    Thanks Susan. I think I have Jay's e-mail address at home somewhere too, so just in case they miss all this coverage, I'll have to send him a note.

    Thanks Jayne. You can help coach Mary in WV too, can't you?

    I hope so too Dana. I think I'm going to have lots of fun with this little device.

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  13. Bill of the Birds12/5/08, 11:25 AM

    Ruthie:

    You are too kind! Glad you like the "This Birding Life" podcasts. The next one (about to be uploaded) is an interview I did with Phoebe about the Young Birder's Guide.

    Thanks for shining your light this way! See you in WV!

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  14. RuthieJ12/5/08, 8:14 PM

    Hi BOTB,
    Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to hearing you and Phoebe talking about birding.
    Looking forward to WV!

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  15. NCmountainwoman12/6/08, 12:34 PM

    If you love your iPod half as much as I love mine, you are one lucky woman. Mine is quite old (even before the color screens), but it would be one of the things I would want rescued in case of fire. Enjoy!

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  16. Mel12/6/08, 6:48 PM

    Wow, cool!!
    Should try it soon...
    Anyone knows of bird -nature related podcasts in Spanish??

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  17. Mary C12/6/08, 8:23 PM

    I love my Ipod Nano, too. Dave (DH) and I listened to some of my downloaded podcasts while we were in New Mexico. I had bought an icable to connect my Ipod to the car's audio speaker system. Way cool! Glad you are enjoying your new "toy" Ruthie!

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  18. RuthieJ12/8/08, 6:47 PM

    Thanks for the endorsement Carolyn. Maybe once busy December is over, I'll have a chance to figure out more things I can do with this iPod.

    Hi Mel,
    It's a cool little device, I just wish I had more time to fiddle around with it.

    Hi Mary,
    Glad you're enjoying your iPod.

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. Even though I don't always get a chance to respond right away, please know that I (and many others!) enjoy reading them.