More details about video in the new Apple Podcasts in this post on Podnews:
…this is the first time Apple Podcasts has ever announced a feature that forces you to be a customer of a few large companies to use it.
So disappointing. Micro.blog already uses HLS for video and could support this tomorrow if Apple had just used RSS. This is why open formats matter. Apple has instead chosen lock-in.
@manton –
Great; now I have to learn.
I believe I know that HLS is like a smart alternative to having to download entire video files just to play them, so it makes sense to support that.
But serving through Apple Podcasts (from anywhere) required ranged requests, at least according to them. Is that not… similar to HLS for audio? I gather that ranged requests wouldn't work for video even in theory?
@Starfia It goes beyond ranged requests because HLS also allows multiple video resolutions so that playback can automatically switch based on available bandwidth. For every video uploaded to Micro.blog, for example, we save it at 480p and 1080p.
@manton –
Oh, I guess that's a point. Audio podcasts traditionally do that with separate feeds, I suppose.
(It hadn't occurred to me because the only video podcast format I've ever really considered doing myself is deliberately low-bandwidth and low-res.)
@manton A long way from the days when they were just the benevolent, negligent host of the world’s podcast directory. Missed opportunity for Apple to support the open system as an end-route around the more closed Spotify and YouTubes. But I guess the reality in the era of “Apple wants its cut” rather than “Apple wins on quality of experience”
@manton @rpmik Apple is concerned with just one thing: its bottom line. It no longer cares about its customers or usability. It’s all about getting users to PAY, PAY, PAY.
My beef is using the Stocks app and having it display related news stories that I have to subscribe to Apple News to read. (And then people sharing those links, which are useless to non-subscribers.)
I’ve been an Apple user since 1984 and still use MacOS and iOS, but that’s only because I don’t want to learn new systems.🤷🏼♀️
@manton – the only places i listen to podcasts are places where my eyes have other work to do. it’s too bad they’re using the same term and the same software for the two media, very different things imho.
@dave I try to avoid using the word “podcast” unless the thing is actually based on feeds. Spotify- or Apple-exclusive shows aren’t podcasts. This feels like a losing battle but I’m sticking with it.
@AndySylvester Good posts. Another way I’ve been thinking about this… Does the “podcast” work in multiple podcast players? Can it be hosted on different platforms? If so, it’s a podcast.
@manton – this comment appeared in my new feed so i fell compelled to reply so you know it’s working. ;-)
