Hello Everyone, 

Many, many people have asked me if there is a reliable Windows Mobile pod catcher that is compatible with Code Factory’s Mobile Speak software for the blind and low vision. 

After searching high and low, in and out, up and down, back and forth, left and right, over and under, hither and yonder, I finally discovered such an application. 

First, boys and girls, lets do some house cleaning:

1.
DEFINITION OF POD CAST (WikiPedia)
A podcast is a series of audio or video digital-media files which is distributed over the Internet by syndicated download, through Web feeds, to portable media players and personal computers.

Though the same content may also be made available by direct download or streaming, a podcast is distinguished from other digital-media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added.

Like the term broadcast, podcast can refer either to the series of content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also called podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster.

The term is a portmanteau of the words “iPod” and “broadcast”,[1] the Apple iPod being the brand of portable media player for which the first podcasting scripts were developed.  Such scripts allow podcasts to be automatically transferred from a personal computer to a mobile device after they are downloaded.  As more devices other than iPods became able to synchronize with podcast feeds, the term was redefined by some parties as a acronym for “Personal On Demand broadcasting

2.
DEFINITION OF PODCATCHER
A podcatcher is an application you can use to subscribe to podcasts; the podcatcher automatically downloads podcasts as they are posted to a site.  Podcatchers can also transfer downloaded podcast files to a portable media player.  A podcatcher is a special type of news aggregator; while news aggregators retrieve several types of syndicated web content, podcatchers are geared specifically toward podcasts.

WHOO!  Now that we’re done with the boring stuff, on with the show.

Introducing Ilium Software’s NewsBreak

NOTE 1:
Although you may use the full version of NewsBreak free for 30-days, the application costs approximately $19 USD.

In short, NewsBreak allows you to download podcasts, news, and BLOGs directly to your mobile phone or wireless device.

(See important links at the bottom of this post.)

From Ilium’s website:

1.
Take a news break! Follow the news, listen to podcasts, and read your favorite blogs. Put wasted time – in airports, waiting rooms, lines and meetings – to good use with this news and RSS reader.

2.
Listen to your favorite podcasts, watch vidcasts, and view attached files and images!

3.
Save your podcasts to listen or view when you have the time, and schedule them to download however you choose.

4.
Tell NewsBreak what news to search for – save keywords and let NewsBreak find stories you’re interested in.

5.
Get the news you care about as it happens! Have NewsBreak scan your feeds and notify you about important stories by setting up alerts.

6.
Spot the headlines that matter to you by using keyword icons.

7.
Enjoy all your favorite news with no ads and no spyware.

COMPATIBLE WITH:
Windows Mobile 6.0/6.1 Professional, Classic and Standard.

Windows Mobile 5.0.

Windows Mobile 2003SE: Windows CE 4.21.

Windows Mobile 2003 (touchscreen devices only): Windows CE 4.20.

NOTE 2:
Every Ilium Software purchase includes free upgrades for 90 days, plus all minor version upgrades, our world-class, toll-free tech support and customer service, and our no-questions, 30-day money back guarantee.

Click Here to view the NewsBreak Users Guide on the web.  Please note that I have removed all graphics from this version of the manual. 

Click Here to go to Ilium’s official site where, among other resources you may download the original NewsBreak Users Guide in PDF format.

Click Here to go to the location where you can download your trial version of News Break, immediately.

You may contact Ilium Software by dialing
(888)632-5388 or (734)973-9388.

Enjoy,

Mark