Alleged iPhone 2.2 leak shows direct podcast downoads
An apparent new slip from Apple's upcoming iPhone firmware update shows the device gaining a long requested ability to download podcasts directly from the device instead of relying on an iTunes sync.
The claimed leak of iPhone 2.2 beta features handed to TUAW shows a list of episodes from a podcast with a new "Get More Episodes" item added at the bottom.
Tapping the option doesn't perform any actions in the current build of the software but implies that iPhone and iPod touch owners will have the option of picking and downloading individual podcasts, though whether subscriptions are also possible isn't mentioned.
While no other discussions of this feature with iPhone 2.2 have surfaced until this point, casting a certain amount of doubt, the appearance would potentially explain Apple's decision to pull Podcaster from the App Store.
At the time, Apple had described the podcast download utility as replicating an iTunes feature despite other iPhone music and podcast apps with streaming-only features -- either of which are possible in iTunes -- surviving the cut.
If part of the final release, podcast downloads would make the in-development firmware one of Apple's largest outside of the landmark 1.1 and 2.0 releases. The California electronics giant is set to expand Google Maps with Street View, directions for public transit and walking, and location sharing. It should also carry text auto-correction, support for Japanese emoji symbols and the ability to rate App Store listings.
The claimed leak of iPhone 2.2 beta features handed to TUAW shows a list of episodes from a podcast with a new "Get More Episodes" item added at the bottom.
Tapping the option doesn't perform any actions in the current build of the software but implies that iPhone and iPod touch owners will have the option of picking and downloading individual podcasts, though whether subscriptions are also possible isn't mentioned.
While no other discussions of this feature with iPhone 2.2 have surfaced until this point, casting a certain amount of doubt, the appearance would potentially explain Apple's decision to pull Podcaster from the App Store.
At the time, Apple had described the podcast download utility as replicating an iTunes feature despite other iPhone music and podcast apps with streaming-only features -- either of which are possible in iTunes -- surviving the cut.
If part of the final release, podcast downloads would make the in-development firmware one of Apple's largest outside of the landmark 1.1 and 2.0 releases. The California electronics giant is set to expand Google Maps with Street View, directions for public transit and walking, and location sharing. It should also carry text auto-correction, support for Japanese emoji symbols and the ability to rate App Store listings.
Comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj6ahH1SRhc
Seems quite great !
don't care. i want to see push notification
I don't care you don't care, so I thought I'd post a reply about it
Will this update be free for iPod Touch?
Yes. They charge for big jumps like 1.X to 2.X but 2.1 to 2.2 etc are free. Anyone know why they charge for Touch but not iPhone?
I find this useful, glad to have it, but I'd much rather have a subscription system like iTunes gives.
On the AppleTV I have to specifically browse my favourite podcasts, then pick an episode to play or download. Lets hope both the AppleTV and iPhone allow you to check all your subscriptions (or check your favourites) for new episodes.
Yes. They charge for big jumps like 1.X to 2.X but 2.1 to 2.2 etc are free. Anyone know why they charge for Touch but not iPhone?
The iTouch doesn't have a telco contract and drives residuals to Apple like the iPhone.
don't care. i want to see push notification
and for Apple to enable the full functionality of the bluetooth chip (both iPhone and Touch have the same 2.1 chip)
and for Apple to enable the full functionality of the bluetooth chip (both iPhone and Touch have the same 2.1 chip)
It is a software issue. Not hardware. Apple crippled the BT stack. That is why there is no A2DP, or OBEX, or any other reasonable "smartphone" feature.
BTW: direct downloadable podcasts are not new. Other phones have had them for years.
one step closer to wireless sync!
Now this would something to be excited about. Direct downloadable podcasts? Does Apple really think these dribs and drabs are innovative or impressive?
don't care. i want to see push notification
Me to. I don`t care about pointless eye candy like street maps and google earth and all the other stuff that keeps getting added.
Give us practical things like Push Services and Cut&Paste. Jesus, how hard can it be?
Subscribing to new podcasts on the phone would be nice as well. Probably not a huge deal to extend the iTunes app to list the podcasts. Bonus if you can do that over the cell network and not only WiFi. Also, it would probably support the "subscribe in iTunes" links on webpages.
Also: is it only me that figured Apple denied the podcaster app because they were working on this? I agree it would have been better had they told the developer not to bother developing a podcast app, but then that gets back to how much of their future plans do they have to reveal.
Frankly, I'm now worried that by Apple not rejecting any of the todo apps, they are tacitly saying they are not going to make one that syncs with iCal. However, there are a couple of apps that will email a Google maps link of your current location, but I think I saw that feature was coming, and they didn't reject those apps.
This is not to say that you don't need this feature ever. You certainly need it for when there is nothing else, but once developers get used to not relying on it because it is there, then it will reappear just as the arrow keys on the Mac keyboard did once developers explored the mouse rather than ignore it because they had the trusty old arrow keys they'd always used. John Gruber has a nice analysis of this: http://daringfireball.net/2007/08/clipboard_and_arrows
Me to. I don`t care about pointless eye candy like street maps and google earth and all the other stuff that keeps getting added.
Give us practical things like Push Services and Cut&Paste. Jesus, how hard can it be?
In many cases, it is precisely because it is hard that you don't see a particular feature right away and instead see other, eye candy like features come out ahead of it. Not every programmer at Apple can be working on each feature at once, so it stands to reason that some of the simpler stuff will come out first. Certainly, in the case of Google Earth, those were Google programmers working on it over at Google. It's a 3rd party app - not an Apple produced one like the Maps app is.
Personally, I would rather see a system search feature before cut, copy and paste. At least a search feature within apps that have many data files like Mail, Notes and iTunes.
Me to. I don`t care about pointless eye candy like street maps and google earth and all the other stuff that keeps getting added.
Give us practical things like Push Services and Cut&Paste. Jesus, how hard can it be?
Last time I checked, GoogleEarth was an OPTIONAL app. You don't have to put them on your phone if you don't feel them worthy. Other people however, do feel that way. That is the nice thing about choice right?
Cut&Paste does not seem to be the end-all-and-be-all for most users. I certainly am using my iPhone just fine without it as well as the several dozen friends of mine that also have one and have nothing to complain about. I would prefer Apple continue refining their product.
I'm sure Cut/Paste will come one day when they are able to implement it in an elegant way.