FAQs

Question: Who is Hill Associates?
Answer: For better than 25 years, Hill Associates, experts in data networking, telecommunications, and information security, has been a premier developer and provider of training and marketing services, focusing on the needs of service providers and industry suppliers. In addition to leading training classes in the classroom and over the Web, we perform needs assessments and testing, develop training paths and programs, and create and deliver presentations as “industry experts” for webinars, tradeshows, and roadshows. Whether it is strategic sessions, executive mentoring, intense hands-on with equipment workshops, or core technology training, turn to Hill Associates.

Question: Do I need an iPod to listen to podcasts?
Answer: Although the name might lead you to think so, the answer is no.  Most “podcasts” are simply audio files that use the Motion Picture Experts Group Layer   3 Audio (MP3) format. They can be played using any device capable of playing MP3 files. That includes Windows Media Player and iTunes on your laptop or desktop computer, any MP3 player on the market, and (of course) an iPod. The simplest way to listen to a podcast is to go to the website, find the podcast, and click on the link to the MP3 file.

Question: What is RSS and how can it help me?
Answer: RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. RSS provides a mechanism for “publishing” podcasts to subscribers. RSS makes it possible for you to subscribe to a podcast series, and have the new podcasts in the series automatically download to your computer when they are published. To take advantage of this, you need an RSS reader to keep track of your subscriptions and periodically visit the websites you have subscribed to, checking them for new podcasts. If you have an iPod, iTunes for Apple is highly recommended because it is designed to synchronize with your iPod. Otherwise several free and commercial readers are available. FeedDemon is one of the more powerful commercial readers. RSS is not only useful for podcasts but can also be used to subscribe to blogs and video casts (vodcasts).