Frequently Asked Questions

iTunes U is a free hosted content distribution system from Apple that enables colleges and universities to make audio and video material from lectures, interviews, audio books and other sources more available to students with the ease of the iTunes Store. It allows users to download the content to their Mac or PC, transfer the information to their iPod and listen to it or view it any where and at any time.

iTunes U is used primarily by Texas A&M students, faculty and staff. However, the service is open to the public. iTunes U is a great way to reach prospective and former students too.

iTunes U simply provides another option. If you already post content to the internet using other venues, iTunes U can be a great secondary location. Many current, former, and prospective students already visit the iTunes site to download music and video into their iPods. The growing popularity of iTunes makes iTunes U an attractive location for your content.

To let your target market know how to find your podcasts at iTunes U, you may use the iTunes logo found in the iTunes Marketing Kit on your brochures, flyers, Web sites, and other materials and media.

You may enjoy our content on a personal computer or a CD. If you have a third-party .mp3 player, you will not be able to play .mp4 AAC files. To re-encode the AAC (.mp4) files into the .mp3 format, download the content first into your iTunes application. Second, in the iTunes preferences, click on the "Advanced" icon and navigate to the "Importing" tab. Next, select "MP3 Encoder" in the "import using" menu. Finally, highlight the file(s) that you wish to convert, go to the Advanced menu, and click on "Convert Selection to .mp3."

"Coursecasting," or "Podcasting" is the latest trend in educational technology. It allows students and the general public to download audio and video recordings of class lectures to their computers, iPods or other MP3 players and listen or view them whenever they want and at their convenience.

No, your content can be downloaded automatically, using an RSS feed.

RSS is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated digital content, such as podcasts.

Content can be most anything of importance to the students, faculty, and staff of Texas A&M University as well as the campus community. Podcasts include course-related materials as well as general interest pieces on a host of campus services and resources.

Content must:

• Reflect the Aggie Code of Honor
• Contain no profanity
• Complies with all copyright laws

Send files to:

The Division of Marketing & Communications
TAMU 1372/204 Bizzell East Hall
Email: itunes@tamu.edu

You can also post content directly to iTunes U by becoming an administrator. Download, fill out and email the iTunes U Administrator Request Form (PDF) to itunes.tamu.edu. Qualified content providers will be able to add podcasts, a course description, links to other websites, and album artwork to their course section.

You have two options. You can upload your content to the Apple server since Apple provides free server space (up to 500 GB). If you prefer to keep your content on your own server, you can do so and simply update iTunes U via RSS 2.0 feeds. This option allows your content to appear in iTunes U and other podcast aggregation destinations without multiple efforts.

Yes. You are encouraged to create a link on your website to tell your audience about your content on iTunes U. With just a few clicks, your audience will be able to download your content onto their computer or portable device.

• Faculty may contact the Internet Media Services Department for assistance with creating a podcast.
• The Marketing & Communications Department offers a wide-range of production services, such as video filming, audio production, editing and streaming. You will receive a price quotation and time estimate shortly after your request.
• Faculty may contact Instructional Technology Services for information on the availability of podcasting development workshops and to arrange for one-on-one consulting on effective ways to use podcasting in their courses.
• To create your own audio podcast, you can use any audio/video recording software — providing it will convert your recording to .mp3 format. While many new computers come with podcast creation software pre-installed (such as GarageBand, Windows SoundRecorder and Media Player), there is also a free software application called Audacity. You can download the version that's right for your operating system as well as the optional LAME MP3 encoder if you want to use this for your podcasts.

• Audio — AAC, MP3, with .m4a, .mp3 extensions
  Data Rate: 128kbits/sec
  Channels: Stereo Output
  Sample Rate: 44.100 kHz
  Encoding Quality: Better
• Video — MPEG-4, H.264 with .mp4, .m4v, .mov file extensions. File type H.264 will work best with iPods for those of you anticipating that your files will be downloaded to an iPod.
  
  Data rate: 256 kbits/sec
  Image size: 320 x 240
  Frame Rate: 30
  Key Frame: every 24 frames
• PDFs — .pdf extension

Choose the option that fits your needs:

• If you wish to convert files using your own computer, several application software programs are available on the market for purchase. Please consult with your IT representative.
• The Texas A&M Marketing & Communications Department can convert your files. You will receive a price and time estimate shortly after your request.
• The Internet Media Services Department provides transfer services from one media to another. These services are free if the content is related to course material or promoting your educational program. All other purposes have a cost associated.

Not at this time. All content is publicly accessed. We are working on authentication of content providers, so that you may restrict access to your content in the near future.

Apple has the right to store Texas A&M content that is uploaded to Apple servers and to serve Texas A&M content through the Texas A&M on iTunes U site. Apple also has the option to use Texas A&M public content for promotional, marketing, and demonstration purposes. However, individual faculty and Texas A&M retain all ownership rights, including copyright, patents, trademarks, and other intellectual property of the content uploaded to Texas A&M on iTunes U. More information is available in the iTunes U Terms of Use agreement.

As a content provider, you select the content to load to Texas A&M on iTunes U. You also have the right to remove your content from Texas A&M on iTunes U at anytime. Contact your department's iTunes U administrator, Instructional Technology Services, or itunes@tamu.edu for assistance with content posting and removal. Apple has the nonexclusive, worldwide right and license to use, reproduce, modify, distribute and display your content, in whole or in part, only on the iTunes U site. For example, if a podcast from your section or course is a popular download on iTunes U or contains interesting and unique educational material, Apple may feature this podcast in the Top Download section or Highlights Section of the iTunes U Store.

Yes, you will need a signed Media Release Form (PDF) from all participants. This step is especially important if you are recording students or guest speakers (PDF).