8 tips for download manager maximisation.

Thought I'd post a few tips on how to use the download manager. As of 2.2.34 MyPOD has support for multiple file downloads at the same time.


* Use pause downloads (it's at the top to the downloads screen & the notification). This is useful if you need to get bandwidth back quickly to do something else or if you are worried about the app downloading on a paid network (by default MyPOD only downloads over WiFi).
* Note "Download now" will work while downloads are paused. For a quick one off download. it may change the power/wifi options to suit the devices current conditions.
* Use the podcast rating - this is used to determine the order in which items go in the download queue (higher = better). So your highest rated podcasts get downloaded first.
* The top graphic shows overall data (cumulative bandwidth, # download/queued).
When the top progress bar is visible, the cumulative progress is shown total bytes downloaded/ total size.
* An error message is displayed when a download fails and an "!" shows in downloaded progress. (red box) Opening the episode and going to info (bottom) shows the download status and the download location.
* There is also a check for a WiFi logon page - this is still a bit experimental but it simply checks for returned HTML when a multimedia file is expected. Get in contact if you have problems (bugs at my-pod.org)
* Check you storage (settings > storage), MyPOD will aim to fill up to the storage allocation - it may go slightly over in some circumstances. and it doesn't include temp files..
* You can do power/wifi setting for bulk selection from the ... (top right) menu when in bulk mode. As well as dequeue & move to top/bottom.

2.2.34 released

This version has the new download manager that supports multiple file downloading.

Here is some of the release info for the last few releases as it appears there has been some slackness going on:

2.2.34: bugfixes for multi-download
2.2.32: multi-downloads, bugfixes galore, trash messages fixed
2.2.30: bugfixes and more playlist improvements
2.2.28: playlist streamlining and backup fixes

Welcome to MyPOD V2

Welcome to MyPOD V2 - I hope you like it ... there are getting started videos below.

The ramble - scroll to features for meat....
While it is still possibly a little early - I have been working on MyPOD V2 for well over a year. My aim was to make the best internet player - MyPOD V1 went a good way but it was not possible to make it go 'all the way'. I think podcasting is the best model for free and open media but many 'podcasts' are blogs with embedded YouTube or SoundCloud feeds. The aim with V2 is to get the best value out of free media wherever it resides - be it on the open internet, blogs, or one of the content silos. The user is the only one who can harvest the message they are looking for and find the knowledge they need.

So your feedback is key. Tell me what irks you the most. Nothing is too stupid or obvious. email us on feedback at my-pod.org.

Features

All of the core features V1 are in:

• Podcast playing/updating/downloading w. auto download, power/wifi
  
• Remote service - it's much better now...
  
• UI Upgraded - it's ongoing work.
  
• Filtering & bulk function everywhere.
  
• More powerful Search - including YouTube and iTunes search.
  
• Better reading functionality and support for embedded video in blogs. The web player allows you to play anything that can be played in a web browser .

Whats still missing from V1 (coming next month)

• Website browsing & download.
• Local file listening.

MyPOD V1 is available in a new slot on the play store. it will be maintained

Upcoming features:

• ChromeCast support (1 mth).
• Bluetooth (1 mth).
• Player speed control (2 mths).
• Remote play via remote service (2mths).
• More online options (3 mths).

Some random tips

• Most functionality is included in the overflow menus (the 3 dots on the side of a tile or the top of the screen) - so don't waste time jumping between screen - check the overflow menus first.
• You cam import OPML in the tour or in settings > import > import OPML files.
• You can paste a link in the search box to add a RSS or ATOM URL (or use share from the browser).
• Settings is in the bottom bar of the Nav pullout.
• Long press to engage multi-select. Select all is on the actionbar.
• Long press the overlay to see a description - press modify to change it.
• Star the podcast (the star on the actionbar) to add it to favourites and auto-download, etc

Getting help

There are lots of ways to get help:

• Use the Help option in the top bar overflow menu (the 3 dots) - these detail each screen
• Take a look at the tour option in the Nav menu (esp. setup)
• Ask on the G+ communty or Facebook page
• Post on the discussion forums
• Email us on feedback at my-pod.org

Reporting bugs

• You can use the settings>about>send report function. Use "send memory" if things are getting really sluggish.
• Use the help channels above.
• Check the bugtracker : sometime workarounds are posted there.
• Email us on bugs at my-pod.org

Demo videos

There are some quick getting started videos in this feed - take a look by swiping left & right

• Episodes : Downloading and playing using overflow menu. YouTube

2.2.24 released

Released 2.2.24 today to beta. Fixes for the bugs sent in yesterday.

Seem to be a bit of a problem with the downloader controls - I am looking at this this week. And implement parallel downloading finally. 

This has been released to the beta channel only i will test it for a couple of days. before pushing further


Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. - Albert Einstein

2.2.22 released.

2.2.22 - overlay updating improvements - fix the trash function - UI tweaks - bugfixing This releases video supplement is "ducks being blown over in the wind" - very cute https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEBLt6Kd9EY

Tips: Managing podcasts

• Managing podcasts: updating, bulk select & feed settings.
  YouTube 

Remember:

• Press the tile/row to enter the podcast.
• Use the STAR at the top to make it a favourite (hence auto-update & download)
• Long press a tile to enter bulk select (select-all is on the actionbar)
• Press back to exit bulk select.

Tips: Importing OPML

Import OPML: Importing OPML via settings.



You can also use the Setup option in the Tour

Tips: Managing playlists (2.5min)

Playlists Example: Adding to playlists, creating new ones. BUG Note here: when a playlist is created the setting open up for the current one. So just check you are on the right playlist before editing (swipe/left right). This will be fixed ASAP.

Tips: Switching views (30s)

Switching Views: demo showing different layouts available.

Different views are handy at different times. eg. a list row shows more text whereas a tile is better for images.

2.2.20 released

Getting ready to release 2.2.20:

• Bug-fixing ahead of switch.
• Overflow menu in playlists.
• Podcast parsing fixes.
• Custom activity launcher.
• MyPOD News feed - it is auto added to favourites.

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." - Albert Einstein

Links

• Tips
• Quick Intro Video
• V2 Beta App
• G+ Community
• BugTracker
• MyPOD Testing page
• This Feed (Atom)
• Tips feed (Atom)
• Releases feed (Atom)
• This Feed (RSS)

Where to get help ... and give feedback

We hope you like the app - its still undergoing a lot of building but like all the great sculptures of yore we chisel out the details as we go. MyPOD is a release early and release often product.

People like to see the app evolve and also it gives them the opportunity to provide input into the app and help make it ideal for them. MyPOD evolves and we love feedback on how to make it better all the time.

If you get stuck or want to give feedback you can ask questions on these channels:
The discussion forum
The G+ Community
Facebook
Email: Bugs at my-pod org (just use settings>about>feedback in the app)

V1->V2 Cutover date moved to 14 June

I have decided to move the V1 cutover date to the 14th June, 2014.
This is to allow for some changes due to feedback and also to do some more testing. Some other markets have already been switched over without issues.

Again if you want to stay with V1 installed, download the V1 app form its new location (it copies the database over so you will be up straight away):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.my_pod.mypod.v1

There are now a few hundred using V2 every day. So i hope you like it ...

Links

• Tips
• Quick Intro Video
• V2 Beta App
• G+ Community
• BugTracker
• MyPOD Testing page
• This Feed (Atom)
• Tips feed (Atom)
• Releases feed (Atom)
• This Feed (RSS)

2.2.18 released ...

2.2.18:

• Emergency bugfix: 4.5k errors in a day is definitely a new record - hopefully never to be repeated...
• The external SDcard works on android 4.4 now as well - i forgot to mention...

2.2.16 released

Just released 2.2.16: 

• Bug-fixing. 
• Overflow menu changes. 
• Download queueing changes. The downloader would replace some items with newer ones if they hadn't been downloaded yet. I have disable it in favour of some much better queuing. For the moment everything just gets added onto the queue as it should.

Thoughts regarding the download queue
What I am thinking for the queueing ordering is that it should be linked to the podcast rating or # items listened to in the feed if no rating, so that your more favoured podcasts get priority. This would be done as items are added so that the queue can still be ordered. Then age out items that are less popular. This should ensure your space is filled with the things you like best.

Possibly also an option to only download the latest episode - useful for news items. i.e. replace / remove previous items ass new ones are queued.

What do people think?

2.2.14 released

2.2.14: -

• Some emergency player & updater fixes - apols.
• Overlay configuration 
• Playlist improvements
• There are some chromecast testing links in there they just link to the plugin which isn't uploaded yet.

2.2.12 released

Just released 2.2.12: - Fixes for crashes and some reported issues. - Refactor player to fit in chromecast (still todo though) - maybe you can try playing some stuff to see if the player breaks - if you get time.

2.2.8 released

released 2.2.8 which is mainly bugfixing. - filter playlists, podcasts(in rempote import & playlist feed select) - hide trashed entries (use the filter to show them) - cutover functions I am going to release V2 into to main V1 slot next weekend 1st June. wish me luck !

Quick Intro Video

Here is a quick intro to the app - it's all home made (well, obviously) ...



There is a better one coming soon ... I promise.