Do ad hoc users get updates?

There has been a lot of confusion on whether the ad hoc users will get the updated version of Podcaster. Well I have good news. You DO get the updates.

Ad hoc users, if you go to nextdayoff.com and login. You will be presented with a download link and an activation code. Please use this link to download the latest version of Podcaster (verison 1.1.2 as of this post). You can update your existing version by dragging the files into itunes. Podcaster will continue to work until it expires in a little less then a year.

So you may be wondering how you can still use ad hoc installer even though Apple has stopped me from making provisions. Well, Apple blocked me from making future provisions. All existing provision will keep working and are unaffected.

I just want to remind users to rate the app and post a review. You can also subscribe to reviews via rss feed at http://www.nextdayoff.com/reviewsxml.aspx

Any questions can be sent to our mailing-list group at iphone-podcaster@googlegroups.com

Podcaster 1.1 Update Now Available

Podcaster 1.1 is ready.

Available for install using a jail broken device. We are located in the Cydia installer. Listed in entertainment by modmyi. For those of you that are not familiar with Cydia, it is an alternative to the AppStore. You can use QuickPwn (windows download or mac download) to jailbreak your device and get Cydia store and Install.app store. It only takes a few minutes and preserves all settings and apps. Users that already have Podcaster, you will be able to download an updated version and use iTunes to install it. If you didn't get an email about the update, you will very soon.

We are releasing the app as a 14 day free trial. You can purchase an activation code at http://www.nextdayoff.com

What did we update?
We had several reports of podcasts not playing after being downloaded. We have build in a way to play podcasts using the quicktime media player. This solved the problem until we can find a more elegant solution. We also brought back the "play in safari" button. I'm not sure if I can get audio to play in the background but at least this is a step in the right direction. We also made several minor UI changes and added a Pause Downloads button.

We will continue to work hard on this project so if you have suggestions, email them to me at almerica@gmail.com

In other news, I have been a guest on several podcasts over the past few weeks. Check out iPhone Alley Podcaste episode 22 and MyMac podcast, espideo 201. It was really a good time and I am glad that I had a chance to talk to then.

As always, you can follow what's going on with development of Podcaster at twitter.com/iphonepodcaster.

Podcaster rejeceted because it duplicates iTunes functionality

Today I finally got a reply from Apple about the status of Podcaster.

Apple Rep says: Since Podcaster assists in the distribution of podcasts, it duplicates the functionality of the Podcast section of iTunes.

That's right folks, it duplicates the functionality of the desktop version of iTunes.
Therefore, it was denied from sale in the app store. Although my app does allow you to listen to podcasts (like iTunes), it also allows you to download them directly to device and that is something Apple does not offer.

I find this a bit strange considering there are numerous apps that duplicate the functionality of other apps. For example, any calculator app is duplicating the functionality of Apples calculator app. Any app that tells you the weather is duplicating the Yahoo weather app. Any app that let's you listen to music is duplicating the iPod portion of the iPhone.

There are also several apps that simply allow you to listen to a podcast (Diggnation and Mobility Today just to name a few) that are not denied from the app store.

Apple had nothing in the terms prohibiting developers from duplicating features currently available on desktop application. I followed all the guidelines and made sure everything is in the correct place. Yet Apple denies me because I allow users to download podcasts just like iTunes.

I have emailed them back to find out what I must do in order for the app to be approved. I still have not received a reply. In the mean time, I have started to distribute the app via the Ad Hoc Method. If you would like to purchase a copy, please head over to http://www.nextdayoff.com and submit your UDID.

UPDATE: I used the word donation instead of pay because that's how I had it for the web app (podcaster.fm). The price of this application is $9.99.

Still waiting, No word from Apple

It has been almost 3 weeks since I first submitted Podcaster to the App store. Since then, I have made numerous improvements. They include correctly reading redirected url, abiliy to download any length file, no more 40 MB limit, resuming partial downloads, a more user friendly podcast directory, an auto sync feature that will download the most current 10 podcasts while deleting any older items, downloaded audio podcasts now play in the background so you can browse show notes. That doesn't include the dozens of bugs that I had to work out. I really want to give it up to the testers. You guys really came through and got this app worked out. So to sum it up, Podcaster is working great. All the functions seem to be performing the intended function.

Now for some bad news, Podcaster is still waiting to be approved. It has NOT been rejected. It's just sitting there, wont let me push an update until it is approved. Apple needs to get a few more employees, I think, so they can test apps faster. I don't feel that it's really fare to me or to you (The users). Podcaster is actually something useful. I don't really need my phone to tell me how fast I am going in the car? I suggest there should be a new approval process. 100 users get the app and get to use it and vote on it (Similar to testing it, but each user votes Ready or Not Ready) Once the majority of the users says yes, it gets approved. I am sure that would eliminate a lot of waiting and improperly executed apps.

I have also been given a shout out on several podcasts. They include episode 785 or Buzz Out Loud, Episode 39 and Episode 40 of Australian Talk. In the upcoming weeks, I will be appearing in another mac podcast this time talking about Podcaster and macs in general. Previously, I spent an entire Episode talking with Cami Kaos and Dr Normal about podcaster web app on this episode of Strange Love: Tech Edition.

One last thing, I don't have any open ad hoc spots left. Please stop sending me requests. I have been just keeping them "just in case" I get more spots later. I have been thinking of a good way to rotate users that become inactive so tell me what you think of this. I will setup a page that you enter your UDID into, then you have to check in 1 time a week(or so) and reenter the UDID, this way, if you don't come back, the key gets reset and someone else gets it. Nothing like this is currently in place so this is a great time for comments.

Let's hope Podcaster gets approved soon.
Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/iPhonePodcaster

UPDATE: Now is a great time to setup your podcast list so when Podcaster does get released, you can quickly import. Just sign up for an account at http://www.podcaster.fm, then follow instructions at http://www.podcaster.fm/import to import from iTunes. You will later use this account to import to Podcaster iPhone app.

Podcaster submitted to App Store

Last Friday I submitted Podcaster to the App Store. It was a long and tedious process. I put it in the international store for the price of $4.99. Since then, I have made some reliability improvements but I am not able to post any updates yet so expect an update very soon after release.  If you are a beta tester or want to try Podcaster now, email me for instructions. I still have some Ad Hoc spots left. Hopefully it wont take too long to get into the store. I am hoping to see it there this week. Let's hope for the best.