Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by robmcm on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @12:53PM
(#8043047)
> 2) At least one or two podcasts I deleted a long time ago got imported. I haven't examined the opml file but Downcast doesn't show them anymore. So either Downcast is doing something wrong or the import is.
Would you care to hazard a guess as to how Overcast could be getting that data if it's not in the Downcast export :p
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by geuis on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @01:27PM
(#8043250)
I can't even guess without looking at the OPML file.
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by nicky0 on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @01:56PM
(#8043439)
Seems pretty obvious that it must be in the OPML file. Bet you $100 it's in there.
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by NickWarner775 on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @04:36PM
(#8044400)
Bet you $200!
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by robinsta on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @12:09PM
(#8042775)
I believe the account is so that Overcast's servers can look for new episodes and push background updates so new episodes are there when you open it.
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by jonny_eh on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @12:26PM
(#8042881)
PocketCasts has the same feature without an account. The app can auto-generate a server account using the device's uuid.
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by ZitchDog on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @12:56PM
(#8043065)
Take it from someone who has gone down that path, it's a support nightmare, especially when you want to allow cross-device sync. Much easier to just require the account up-front.
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by geuis on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @01:29PM
(#8043257)
It may be easier from the engineering perspective, but its a major turn off for the user. Building good user experiences is often harder than the engineering part.
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by guywithabike on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @01:44PM
(#8043368)
Overcast has a web client, too. If Overcast used the UUID, it wouldn't be able to give you the web client side of things easily.
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by robmcm on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @12:55PM
(#8043057)
You can't get a device UUID anymore I don't think.
There is also a web view/player I think.
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by dsuriano on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @01:54PM
(#8043426)
There is now `[UIDevice identifierForVendor]`.
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/uikit/...
Re:Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player
by Tyrannosaurs on Wednesday July 16, 2014 @12:29PM
(#8042900)
Re old podcasts - I found something similar with Instacast. It imported things where I just had a single episode imported but also a few things I just have no subscription to at all.
Feels like more like a glitch in Instacast and what it's sending to the OPML rather than Overcast though.
1) Didn't import all of my subscriptions. Specifically The Patch from Roosterteeth. Considering the opml file contains the URL, I don't see why this happened.
2) At least one or two podcasts I deleted a long time ago got imported. I haven't examined the opml file but Downcast doesn't show them anymore. So either Downcast is doing something wrong or the import is.
3) I read the Skeptics FAQ. That's really helpful.
4) Despite the FAQ I still don't see why the account is needed. I very nearly didn't create an account. If not for knowing who Marco is I never would have. I feel very strongly about this with apps. Unless there is a clear and compelling reason to need to signup for a service then I don't.
The design is nice. But there's nothing compellingly different about this app compared to Downcast. It also has voice speed. It has lots of fiddly bits if you want to tinker with individual settings. Pay a couple dollars and get Downcast and you don't need an account.