Webcasts
Since March 2006, all webcasts are available as a multi bitrate streaming Windows Media file. This requires Windows Media Player, or the relevant plugin.
The file can handle bandwidths ranging from dial-up speeds of 30kbs to broadband at 700kbs. The video is embedded on a webpage and is at a set width of 400 by 224 pixels. The settings for lower bandwidths specify smaller frame sizes that are blown up to this larger size. To view these streams at their preset frame size, click the open in player option*.
Podcasts
The Scottish Executive at present provides two regular podcasts:
- First Minister's Questions
First Minister's Questions occurs every Thursday at 12pm and lasts for approximately half an hour. The podcast is audio only and available in an mp3 audio format. - Ministerial Events
Short films of Ministers at various events across Scotland. This podcast is video only and available in an mp4 video format.
To subscribe to our podcasts - please follow the steps below.
Get some podcast software
You need to install a piece of software which will search the web to find the latest episode and automatically deliver it to your computer. You need to use a program that supports mp4 video as well as audio podcasts.
This software is usually free, some popular programs can be found at:
iTunes
podcastingnews.com
Subscribe to podcasts
If you have iTunes
You can subscribe to some podcasts through the iTunes Podcast Directory.
If you can't find the podcast that you want in iTunes then you can follow the same method as outlined below for other podcast software.
If you have other podcast software
You need to add the "feed" of the podcast to your software. The feed is really just the address of the podcast, which the software will go to each time it wants to check for a new episode.
You can find the feed for any Scottish Executive podcast by clicking on the 'subscribe' link. The feed address will appear in the address bar of your web browser. It will start with http://www.scotland.gov.uk/podcasts/...
You will need to copy this feed address and paste it into your podcast software. How you do this will depend on your software, but you should look out for buttons, links or menu options that say "Add" or "Subscribe".
Watching/listening to the podcast
When a new episode becomes available for the podcast you have subscribed to, your software will automatically download it. You can then watch the episode on your computer or transfer it to your portable player to view later.
You may want to check the settings of your podcast software for details including how often it will check for new episodes, whether it will keep old episodes for you etc. This will vary depending on the software you have chosen, and your personal preferences.
If you decide that you no longer want to receive podcast episodes then it should be very easy to unsubscribe. Again, how you do this will depend on your software, but you should look for "Clear" or "Unsubscribe" options.