Re: windows issue

J-

There are several issues here.

1. From your previous thread, I figured you were going to target itunes users. if that's the case, then for the most part all users will have quicktime. I do not believe that Windows users can install itunes without installing quicktime as well. My company is 100% Mac, but I use Windows virtualized on my Mac Pro, so I should fire up a PC copy of itunes sometime.

Granted, they may be using an older version of itunes with QT 6, but that would be very old. Chances are, the majority of your audience is using a more current version with QT 7.

2. If they are not using itunes, then you do have a larger problem since they do not necessarily have QT installed at all. Therefore, you would need a more universal format as you mentioned before.

3. Almost 95% of my audience (PC+Mac) get my episodes through iTunes. I have no idea what you're finding, but I would imagine the statistics are very similar.

4. I also find that a great deal of my audience prefers to view the episodes directly on their iPods. Personally, I almost never view any video podcasts on my iPod, but then again, I don't have to commute to work on a train. I'm also in front of my computer ALL DAY, so I watch the videos directly inside of iTunes while on a render break, etc. iTunes is very forgiving in terms what it can play back. The iPod is very specific.

5. In order to play back 640w content on an iPod, the iPod must have it's firmware updated to the latest version. Older video iPods may not have the latest firmware and therefore will not be able to play back 640w h.264 content and can only play h.264 content at a maximum of 320 pixels wide. If you're audience is using iPods, ask them to update the firmare by clicking the update button in itunes on the page that shows up when they plug their iPod into their computer. It's very easy, even my mom was able to do it....seriously.

6. There's a bug affecting some viewer's iTunes-iPod syncing on the PC. In my experience, it's fairly random, but some viewers have trouble syncing 640w h.264 content to their iPod. It is random in that it doesn't affect all PC installations of iTunes, and it's also random in that it doesn't affect all of the videos. Some people have problems only with episode x, some only with episode y and some with BOTH x AND y. That being said, it seems to be a small percentage of my audience. Certainly not the numbers you are experiencing.

7. The "solution" to the syncing issue seems to be having the viewer try syncing several times consecutively. After several tries in a row, the episodes in question make it to the iPod and play back without issue,

I don't know if any of this addresses the problems your audience is having, but I thought I'd jot them down anyway.

If you find a solution that works best for your audience, let us know.

Jon




TreeLine Productions
Fort Collins, CO USA

Currently producing these popular podcasts: