How To Get A Podcast On Itunes

We're not big fans of talk radio. Not enough variety, and we prefer to listen TiVo-style -- when we feel like it. Enter podcasts: free audio and video you can download from sites like iTunes. Browse until you find one you like, click a button to subscribe, and new episodes will automatically save to your computer as they're released. Cue them up when your schedule permits. We sorted through thousands of podcasts to find these elite seven. Transfer them to your MP3 player -- check out the new models on the next page -- then tune in and listen up.

You say "I'm sick of recycling barely read newspapers."

Now hear this - NYT: Front Page
Every morning a New York Times reporter plays your personal assistant, summarizing the day's headline stories in a 4- to 8-minute audio podcast. If only he'd fetch your latte, too.

You say "No hablo Español."

Now hear this - Coffee-Break Spanish
In less time than it takes to catch up on Penélope Cruz's love life, you could learn to speak her mother tongue. This ongoing series of 15-minute lessons starts with the most basic "Hola!" and builds up to simple conversations.

You say "I spend more on Thai takeout than on shoes!"

Now see this - Start Cooking Videocast
These 3-minute videos make picking up new recipes a cinch. You get step-by-step instructions from a home-ec teacher -- complete with onscreen ingredient lists -- for simple yet satisfying dishes like ham-and-cheese quiche and chicken-and-broccoli stir-fry.

You say "Romeo who?"

Now hear this - LibriVox Audiobooks
Catch up on the classics during your commute. New chapters (ones you may have missed in CliffsNotes), read by a pleasant-voiced volunteer, come out a couple of times a week. Selections include Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales and Selected Poems by Robert Frost.

You say "That's a pretty wine label."

Now see this - Wine Library TV
Never again wander aimlessly through your local depot de vino -- or let those clerks get you over a barrel. These near-daily videos star a wine uber-geek who tells you which $10 bottles to snap up and which $100 choices to splurge on.

You say "The contents of my iPod are staler than the CW's Thursday-night lineup."

Now hear this - Podrunner
Nothing gets you moving like a killer running playlist. And unlike your Best of Suzanne Vega album, these weekly mixes will keep you in motion. Podrunner's selections of club-style techno music maintain a steady tempo for an entire hour, so you can pace yourself for an easy 130-beats-per-minute jog or a bumpin' 180-bpm run.

You say "I am so over the Goo Goo Dolls."

Now hear this - IndieFeed: Alternative/Modern Rock Music
To discover the next breakout band (think Arcade Fire circa 2003), you used to endure long-winded, half-baked college-radio hosts. Now just subscribe to IndieFeed and get one free under-the-radar tune delivered to your computer every few days.

Great Listeners

Mind your multimedia with these new players

1. The Simple Hottie
Loading up most MP3 players involves burdening your computer with sluggish software. But the sleek 2-gig Samsung YP-U3 makes it easy. Just plug the U3 directly into your PC's USB port and fill it up with tunes -- no software installation required. ($80, samsung.com)

2. The Video Savant
Lots of music players support movies, but their displays are Post-it tiny. The Archos 605 Wi-Fi has a 4.3-inch touch screen and 160 gigs, which is enough space for 200 feature films. Plus, you can browse the Web, check e-mail, or stream flicks from any ?hotspot. ($400, archos.com)

3. The Long-Haul Traveler
Nothing turns your music machine into dead weight like a blown battery. The 8-gig Cowon iAudio 7 player packs 60 hours of juice, making it the perfect camping or cross-country companion. You don't have to miss a beat just because you didn't have a plug. ($220, cowonamerica.com)

4. The Gym Buddy
Music makes workouts easier, but sweaty fingers leave streaks on touch screens and gunk in buttons. To navigate the 4-gig iRiver Clix player, simply tap its edges. You'll hear a satisfying click as you glide between tracks without mucking up player innards. ($200, iriveramerica.com)

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