Updating feeds and Downloading Podcasts
BeyondPod keeps a local (cached) copy of each subscribed feed, so you can view the
feed content even if you are offline. To get the latest feed content, you have to
tell BeyondPod to update (synchronize) a particular feed or feeds. BeyondPod lets
you update a single feed or all feeds in a given category.
There are 2 ways to download podcasts for a given feed:
- To download a single podcast just click on the Download button that is
displayed for every episode in the feed’s content. (Clicking on the 'Stream'
button will try to directly play the podcast without downloading it first)
- If you want to regularly download new podcasts, you can configure the feed to
automatically download episodes during its update. To configure automatic downloads
select the feed, then Menu > Feed... > Edit Feed. Once Feed
Properties dialog opens, and select 'Download Newest Episodes' in the 'Feed Podcast
Episodes' box. You can optionally enter a number of episodes to download. Next time
you run a feed update it will automatically download latest episodes (up to the
maximum number of episodes to keep).
Keep in mind that if you invoke a feed update from the refresh button (a circular
button on the right side of the post's view header), it will do a quick (feed only)
update, and will not download any available podcasts. Use one of the Menu >
Update...options to both update the feed and download any new episodes.
Podcast Download Logic
BeyondPod offers 2 different algorithms for downloading podcast episodes. (You can
select the desired algorithm in the "Feed Podcast Episodes" dropdown of the Feed
Properties Dialog):
- "Download Newest Episodes" - This algorithm is designed to always give you the
latest available episodes (useful for News feeds where you always want the latest
news). When using "Download Newest Episodes", BeyondPod first looks at
the list of all available episodes, and then takes the 3 most recent (newest) episodes
(this number can be configured for each feed in "Get XX episodes" in the feed properties).
Out of the 3 it checks if any has been previously downloaded, ignores it, and downloads
the remaining episodes. Before any episode is downloaded, BeyondPod will also check
and delete any "old" episodes for that feed. You can set rules for which episodes
are considered "old" using the Episode Cleanup settings in the properties of that
feed. "Stream Newest Episodes" uses the same logic except instead of downloading
the episodes it creates a "stream-able" versions of each episode (e.g. episode is
downloaded as it is being played).
- "Download Episodes In-Order" - This algorithm is optimized for feeds with episodes
that are designed to be listened in order (for example audio books or lectures).
When a feed is set to "Download Episodes in Order", it will start with the OLDEST
available episodes and download the first (oldest) 3 (this number can be configured
in in "Get XX episodes" in the feed properties). As you listen (and delete) any
of the downloaded episodes, you "make room" for the next episodes to be
downloaded. (For example if initially Lecture 1, 2 and 3 were downloaded,
you first have to delete Lecture 1 to "make room" for Lecture 4 to be downloaded
during the next update). "Stream Newest Episodes" uses the same logic except instead
of downloading the episodes it creates a "stream-able" versions of each episode.
As podcasts are downloaded, they are added to the "download history" (marked as
"Downloaded") so they are not downloaded again even if they are deleted.
You can exclude some podcasts from automatic download by manually marking them as
"Previously Downloaded". Long press on the podcast's post in the Feed Content View
and select 'Set as Downloaded'. (If the distinction between "Read" posts and "Downloaded"
podcasts looks a bit confusing, take a look at this
brief overview in our Knowledge Base).
Podcast cleanup settings can be set globally for all feeds or specified for each
feed individually in the feed properties.