Undocumented Tweaks in 3.0

hmm ... the new controls under the Podcast Time Bar sound interesting, but I do not see those. I am using an iPod Touch, not an iPhone - but wouldn't think that would make a difference for this tidbit.

 

I have the bar.

Also another "undocumented tweak" (so I think) is when you are looking at the Slide To Unlock screen, and double press the home button it displays more info about what you are listening to. Song name, artist, and album

 

Great - I can see the more song info.

But is there something specific you need to touch on the screen to show the new bar in the Podcasts?

 

Hey, the thread is asking for undocumented tweaks. I never said it was a cool one lol. I dont know if I want to tell you about the podcast thing.

If it aint showing up you have to REALLY not be trying, blind, or your ipod is messssed up.
See the top slider?
Normal..

Podcast..


WHICH leads me to my next undocumented findings..
The fast forward and rewind.. "Scrubbing"
When sliding the bar at the top to a spot in the song, you can choose how fast and slow you want to do it.


It goes Full > Half > Quarter > Fine

 

Get more podcasts over wi-fi finally works

I am so happy that with 3.0 when you download enhanced podcasts such as GDGT, engadget, and Macworld directly on the iPod touch they will play correctly and the chapters are recognized.

 

Okay, figured out the problem. All of my podcasts are video - not audio. So, they automatically configure to landscape and have different controls.

Mystery solved.

 

You know, I think you're right and wrong. What is GREAT is the new shuttle control speed variance, the rewind 30seconds, and the 0.5x-2x speed control change.

What is NOT great, is the email a friend feature. How many times have you emailed a friend about a podcast? In fact, the only reason I can imagine wanting to email a friend about a podcast, it's about maybe the specific episode I'm listening to- but, unless I misunderstood, when I tried it on my ipod, it just sends the itunes store subscription button to the podcast itself, not the episode. So... To me, this is not at all worthwhile.

AND. in fact, for me, and for the way I listen to podcasts, the loss of the Shuffle button within the podcasts is excruciating and very very frustrating. I build playlists of podcasts and then listen to them on shuffle throughout the day while I work, mixed with music in the same playlist.

However, to start the day, or task, or whatever, I'll often want to listen to one specific podcast. i.e.: "hmm, today, I think I'll check out that cool new Sound of Young America!" or whatever, and then let the list continue from there. This capability is completely lost, and, frankly, I'm really really frustrated by it.

I love the new search and playback features, but the email a friend is useless, and ultimately, all of them are completely silly without being able to play the podcasts as I wish to (shuffle within a playlist). I wish they would update the software with a simple preferences tweak to allow us to place whichever function we found most useful. I'd replace email with shuffle, but that's just me.

It is, actually, the first time since I've bought the ipod Touch (first generation) that i've considered jailbreaking. Just because I could at least keep what I like about the new features but maintain my system.

 

Can't you just make a smart playlist with "podcast = true," then add whatever criteria you need to exclude podcasts you don't want, and shuffle that?

 

As far as I can tell, you only get this option after your podcasts have been backed up to iTunes. So it's not a problem for me.

 

New tweak

Maps app on ipod touch now has street view. Before 3.0 only the iPhone had street view.

 

I havent seen anyone mentioning this feature yet but now we can "hide" selected videos or apps using the Parental Restrictions in Settings. Now we dont need to buy an app that'll hide some videos from being displayed to whoever plays our iPods. From the mouth of Cartman, "SWEET!!!!".

 

Why do we need more than one of these threads? Especially when the other thread is pages and pages long and has every single feature in this thread mentioned already documented.