Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers)

Will I have to pay to access Lamar on iTunes U?

All of the public content from Lamar on iTunes is free to preview and download. However, some content (such as course or training material) may be accessible only to students, faculty and staff of the university.

How do I access Lamar on iTunes U?

To access Lamar on iTunes U, you must have the most current version of iTunes downloaded and installed on your computer. If you have a Macintosh, go to the Apple menu, launch software update, and install the update. If you use Windows, go to www.apple.com/itunes, download and install the iTunes software. Once you have verified that your iTunes installation is up to date, make sure that you are running the most current update to your system software. Finally, launch your iTunes application and click on “iTunes Store” in the source list. Then select "iTunes U" in the top left navigation area, and click on “Lamar” on the resulting page.

Is Lamar on iTunes U part of the iTunes Music Store?

Yes! You may now access Lamar on iTunes U directly from the iTunes Store. Look for Lamar in the “iTunes U” section.

Is the Lamar on iTunes content under copyright protection?

While we do not implement any digital rights management (DRM) for Lamar on iTunes content, we do use Lamar University copyright releases to protect each piece of content on the site.

What are podcasts?

Podcasting is in reference to the push-pull delivery technology (namely RSS feeds) of digital media files for consumption on personal media devices or personal computers. Lamar on iTunes U content downloaded via these subscription feeds will be marked as podcasts and will be displayed in the podcast section of the iTunes application accordingly.

Where in iTunes is the content I downloaded from Lamar on iTunes U?

Currently, users may access Lamar content in the custom iTunes U directory via direct download and progressive download previews. Content downloaded in this manner from Lamar on iTunes U appears in a smart playlist called "Lamar" in the playlists section of the iTunes application.

Why did Lamar and Apple collaborate on this project?

Lamar University continually seeks cost-effective ways to provide information to alumni. Apple provides us with a means of easy distribution, as well as the storage and bandwidth for our content. However, you do not need a Macintosh, iTunes, or an iPod to play the audio files. All you need is a player capable of playing .mp4 AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) files (AAC is not exclusively Apple's, although Apple prefers it to alternative file formats). Apple does make a free Windows version of iTunes available for download at http://www.apple.com/itunes.

Can I access Lamar on iTunes U directly from the main iTunes Music Store without first opening a browser?

No. There are no direct links from the main iTunes Music Store to get to the Lamar on iTunes site. You must first visit itunes.Lamar.edu to access Lamar on iTunes.

Why did Lamar choose to implement AAC encoding?

AAC has better sound quality and smaller file sizes than .mp3. You may use either iTunes or Quicktime for Windows to play .mp4 AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) files in addition to a number of other open source and shareware players that can be downloaded from the web. In addition, there are a growing number of portable devices that can play AAC files.

Can I use other .mp3 players with iTunes?

There is moderate support in iTunes for some third-party .mp3 players, but they will not be able to play .mp4 AAC files (including content purchased from the iTunes Store.) Apple offers a full line of iPod products and accessories which will give you the best digital experience. Otherwise, you may enjoy our content on a computer or a CD, or you may convert the 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."