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Some feedback. I'm a heavy Downcast user. 1) Didn't import all of my subscriptions. Specifically The Patch from Roosterteeth. Considering the opml file contain
by geuis 12y ago
Some feedback. I'm a heavy Downcast user.
1) Didn't import all of my subscriptions. Specifically The Patch from Roosterteeth. Considering the opml file contains the URL, I don't see why this happened.
2) At least one or two podcasts I deleted a long time ago got imported. I haven't examined the opml file but Downcast doesn't show them anymore. So either Downcast is doing something wrong or the import is.
3) I read the Skeptics FAQ. That's really helpful.
4) Despite the FAQ I still don't see why the account is needed. I very nearly didn't create an account. If not for knowing who Marco is I never would have. I feel very strongly about this with apps. Unless there is a clear and compelling reason to need to signup for a service then I don't.
The design is nice. But there's nothing compellingly different about this app compared to Downcast. It also has voice speed. It has lots of fiddly bits if you want to tinker with individual settings. Pay a couple dollars and get Downcast and you don't need an account.
- robinsta 12y agoI believe the account is so that Overcast's servers can look for new episodes and push background updates so new episodes are there when you open it.
- jonny_eh 12y agoPocketCasts has the same feature without an account. The app can auto-generate a server account using the device's uuid.
- robmcm 12y agoYou can't get a device UUID anymore I don't think. There is also a web view/player I think.
- dsuriano 12y agoThere is now `[UIDevice identifierForVendor]`. https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/uikit/reference/UIDevice_Class/Reference/UIDevice.html#//apple_ref/occ/instp/UIDevice/identifierForVendor https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/uikit/...
- ZitchDog 12y agoTake it from someone who has gone down that path, it's a support nightmare, especially when you want to allow cross-device sync. Much easier to just require the account up-front.
- geuis 12y agoIt may be easier from the engineering perspective, but its a major turn off for the user. Building good user experiences is often harder than the engineering part.
- guywithabike 12y agoOvercast has a web client, too. If Overcast used the UUID, it wouldn't be able to give you the web client side of things easily.
- Tyrannosaurs 12y agoRe old podcasts - I found something similar with Instacast. It imported things where I just had a single episode imported but also a few things I just have no subscription to at all. Feels like more like a glitch in Instacast and what it's sending to the OPML rather than Overcast though.
- robmcm 12y ago> 2) At least one or two podcasts I deleted a long time ago got imported. I haven't examined the opml file but Downcast doesn't show them anymore. So either Downcast is doing something wrong or the import is. Would you care to hazard a guess as to how Overcast could be getting that data if it's not in the Downcast export :p
- geuis 12y agoI can't even guess without looking at the OPML file.
- nicky0 12y agoSeems pretty obvious that it must be in the OPML file. Bet you $100 it's in there.
- NickWarner775 12y agoBet you $200!