iTunes Downloading Issues

[schep22]

Has anyone else had issues downloading the podcast through iTunes?

Best Show Gems doesn't show up at all anymore, and the official show podcast sometimes seems to disappear without me deleting it, and sometimes it downloads multiple times on its own.  It's strange.

Any suggestions or similar experiences?  I don't want to lose last week's podcast, and it's no longer on the Best Show page on iTunes.

(Yes, I'm worrying about this during the Super Bowl.  I need to re-focus my attention to all of those Doritos and Pepsi adds.  They've been delightful.)

[mackro]

Does the wfmu.org site not work for you?

[schep22]

Does the wfmu.org site not work for you?

Well, not for what I need.  I subscribe through iTunes so that it downloads every week on its own, and I can keep it on my iPod.

Is there a way to download each week's show as an MP3/Podcast that I can listen to away from my computer?  (A way that doesn't involve using other programs to convert it from something to something else.  I'm a Luddite.)

[fonpr]

I have a different problem, equally perplexing in its unpredictability.

Periodically iTunes scrambles everything.  I lose all pod casts and my music is purged.  I can use the finder and reconstruct the library, but that is a pain.  Does the program have a limit regarding storage capacity?

Where's Yes/No when you need him?

[yesno]

schepp22, have you subscribed to the WFMU feeds through the iTunes listing of podcasts? I have no difficulty doing things this way.  iTunes will periodically stop updating some podcasts, but this is always indicated by a ! next to it, and is caused by it not thinking you are listening to them.  Podcast-related settings are found on a button on the bottom of the podcasts view in iTunes, also, not in the normal preferences box.  And you will find that the most recent shows remain in mp3 format in the archives for some weeks, so if you know how to download archives you can do that.  In any case, just delete your subscriptions and re-add them.  Unfortunately, WFMU podcasts don't stay put in the podcast feeds; you can usually only d/l the most recent one.  This is in contrast to podcasts like Jessup Thune's where if you can "Show all available episodes" and "Get" particular ones.

fred/ricks, in iTunes -> Preferences -> Advanced, do you have "Keep iTunes Media folder organized" and "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" checked?  It is better to have iTunes manage files and then sort them using the metadata that is internal to the various files.  Any files you have added to iTunes, delete from their original location.  If you do not do this, iTunes retains only a pointer to your original files and doesn't file them away.  On modern file systems it is possible to refer to a particular file in a permanent way not depending just on its name and location, so sometimes iTunes will be able to keep track of files you have added and then messed with, but there's a limit to this. (And don't add playlist files such as .pls or .m3u to iTunes in addition to tracks the playlist refers to; that causes duplication.)  Finally, if you have a Mac google for "Doug's Applescripts" for a number of handy ways to munge and correct file information.

There is no limit to how much iTunes can store, but it does get bogged down after a while.  I have about 600 gigs of music and about 300 gigs of audiobooks and other content, and I have been continually using the same iTunes library since 2003, all without any serious problems. 

Unrelated, but you should make sure you have a complete backup of everything always.

[schep22]

schepp22, have you subscribed to the WFMU feeds through the iTunes listing of podcasts? I have no difficulty doing things this way.  iTunes will periodically stop updating some podcasts, but this is always indicated by a ! next to it, and is caused by it not thinking you are listening to them.  Podcast-related settings are found on a button on the bottom of the podcasts view in iTunes, also, not in the normal preferences box.  And you will find that the most recent shows remain in mp3 format in the archives for some weeks, so if you know how to download archives you can do that.  In any case, just delete your subscriptions and re-add them.  Unfortunately, WFMU podcasts don't stay put in the podcast feeds; you can usually only d/l the most recent one.  This is in contrast to podcasts like Jessup Thune's where if you can "Show all available episodes" and "Get" particular ones.

I subscribed to the Best Show by going to its page on iTunes, then clicking "subscribe."  It worked for a long time, but it's been messing up lately.  I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that I'll periodically go in and download the show from the iTunes page before it automatic downloads through my subscription?  Also, I'll occasionally download the show, then go back and change the name of it after listening so that I know what the episode contains. 

It's weird, if I go to the Best Show page on iTunes right now by clicking on the arrow next to it in my podcasts, it shows that the most recent episode is the Julie Klausner one, even though I had previously downloaded last weeks.  It's like it wasn't there, and I'm wondering if it was a three hour show consisting of Tom reading off a list of Apple trade secrets.  I don't know how it went in and erased it from my list. 

Thanks for the help.  I appreciate it.

[schep22]

Whoops.  The above post isn't all a quote.  My reply is in there somewhere.

[SJK]

I have a different problem, equally perplexing in its unpredictability.

Periodically iTunes scrambles everything.  I lose all pod casts and my music is purged.  I can use the finder and reconstruct the library, but that is a pain.  Does the program have a limit regarding storage capacity?

Where's Yes/No when you need him?

fonpr-

If you choose to automatically update your ipod(a default setting I think), itunes effectively uses the ipod to mirror the itunes music library from your computer . When you change the music library on your computer, itunes updates your ipod automatically when you have it connected. So, delete or alter the itunes library on the computer...the ipod will sync up with those changes.

My suggestion based on what you said, manually manage your library on the ipod. Drop and drag on there what you want and delete stuff when you want or when you need room.

Does that make any sense?

...sorry, just saw yesno came to the rescue...what he said!

[yesno]

I actually recommend you set up specific playlists, some of which you can manually manage, and having those sync to an iPod, rather than manually managing the iPod.  This is the best way to keep playcounts in sync for music. For podcasts, of course, you just use the built in feature to select which sync.

[fonpr]

I don't have an iPod.

I like cassettes!

[SJK]

I made a leap there, sorry fonpr! Ignore everything I said.

I like cassettes too!