BeyondPod for Tablets - 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 tap on the push-pin
button that is
displayed for every episode in the feed’s content. (If the episode is
not downloaded, clicking on the episode icon will 'Stream' the episode - play it directly from the internet) - 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, you can change the Download Options for the feed. 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 , it will do a quick (feed only)
update, and will not download any new available podcasts. Use Menu > Feed... > Update...
option to both update the feed and download any new episodes. Alternatively you can tap on the
"Update category" button 
in the Action bar to update all feeds in the
current category.
button , it will do a quick (feed only)
update, and will not download any new available podcasts. Use Menu > Feed... > Update...
option to both update the feed and download any new episodes. Alternatively you can tap on the
"Update category" button in the Action bar to update all feeds in the
current category.
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 Latest 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.
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'.
Podcast cleanup settings can be set globally for all feeds or specified for each feed individually in the feed properties.