School Technical Support

The following online instructions are available to help you download your podcasts to your school network. You will need iTunes to install and run your podcasts. You may like to view our quick help guide when installing your files.

Technical guidance

To download a Revise on the Move podcast, you need a computer with a decent internet connection and iTunes.

iTunes is freely available from Apple.

Many of the Revise on the Move podcasts include integral images, that is to say, the image is essential to understanding the topic being discussed. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you view them on digital equipment with a screen, like a computer or video iPod, to get the most out of them.

To listen to the Revise on the Move podcasts you will need iTunes and speakers or headphones. Anyone with a computer connected to the internet can download and play the podcasts, as long as they have speakers or headphones and iTunes installed onto their PC or Mac.

Minimum specifications

Hardware (required)

  • PC capable of running Windows 2000 or XP (typically a P3 1Ghz processor or above); or
  • PC capable of running Windows VISTA (typically a P4 2Ghz processor or above); or
  • Macintosh capable of running OS X 10.3, 10.4, 10.5 (typically a 1Ghz single or dual processor or above).
  • Internet connection.
  • 800x600 colour display or higher.
  • 256Mb RAM or higher.
  • 126Mb of hard disk space for the Biology podcasts.
  • 123Mb of hard disk space for the Chemistry podcasts.
  • 134Mb of hard disk space for the Physics podcasts.

Hardware (optional)

  • iPod (all generations, video recommended). Please contact your iPod manufacturer directly if you experience difficulties downloading your podcasts from iTunes to your iPod.
  • Mobile phone that is capable of storing and playing MP4s.

Software

  • Windows 2000, XP or Vista.
  • Macintosh OS X 10.3, 10.4 or 10.5.
  • iTunes for Windows; or
  • iTunes for Macintosh OS X

To install iTunes please go to http://www.apple.com/itunes/ and install free software.

Internet Browser

  • Internet Explorer v6 or above; or
  • Firefox v1.5 or above; or
  • Safari v2 or above.

Installation process

We recommend that you download and install the latest version of iTunes before downloading your podcasts - visit http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

The following steps should help when using iTunes to download and use your podcasts:

  1. Check your email and find the message with a link to the download site.
  2. Log in using the details we have sent you and click launch to download your podcasts; this will open up iTunes.
  3. In the iTunes library on the left, select 'Podcasts'.
  4. You will now see a list of your purchased podcasts on the right. Next to each title you will see a small triangle.
  5. Click this once to expand the selection and reveal a button labelled 'Get all'
  6. Click the Get all button to download the Podcasts in their entirety

For more help and support about using iTunes in general please refer to the Apple Support website - http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/

Accessing your podcasts from your school network

Once downloaded onto a school network or intranet students can access the podcasts.

Students can copy the podcast(s) to a portable device capable of playing MP4 files, e.g. an iPod. Alternatively, they can play them on a PC or Mac.

Revise on the Move podcasts are MP4 files. Not all digital music players support this format.

The Revise on the Move download system uses the ITPC protocol to automate the download process using iTunes.

Each portable device will be different but, basically, students need to plug their player into the computer (usually via a USB cable) so that it appears as an external device.

  • If they are using an iPod they can use iTunes to synchronise the podcasts with their player in the normal way.
  • If they are using another media player, they simply locate the podcast(s) that have already been downloaded onto the computer, and then 'drag and drop' them onto their portable device. The files will normally be stored in the \My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Podcasts directory
  • Once the files have transferred, students will be able to disconnect the iPod-compatible personal playback device and listen to and watch the podcast(s)

If students have a mobile phone that is capable of storing and playing MP4 files, they will be able to play Revise on the Move podcasts.

There are a number of ways to transfer MP4 files onto a phone:

Via a USB lead

The simplest way is to connect the phone to the computer using a USB lead, and then 'drag and drop' the MP4 files across onto the phone. Many phones are supplied with a USB lead.

On a memory card

If a phone has a removable memory card (e.g. a micro or mini SD card) students could remove it and insert it into the computers card reader (if it has one). They should then be able to drag and drop podcast MP4 files onto the card. When they re-insert the memory card into the phone, they should be able to browse and play them.

Sync between phone and computer

Students may be able to synchronize their mobile phones with the computer so that any podcasts that have been downloaded onto the computer are automatically copied to their phones. Generally this requires special software, and students should consult the phone's manual or contact the manufacturer for more help.

iPhone users

If students have an iPhone, they can purchase and download the podcasts directly onto their phones.

Technical Support Helpdesk

If you are having trouble either during the installation process or once your podcasts have been downloaded, please refer to the troubleshooting section on this site.

If you continue to experience difficulties you can contact our Technical Support Helpdesk at enquiries@lettsandlonsdale.com or call 015395 64914.