Author Topic: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!  (Read 4405 times)

switters

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Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« on: February 09, 2011, 02:02:04 pm »
My podcast was in the iTunes store at "http://web.me.com/myname/podcast.xml".  I wanted to change the iTunes URL to http://thehealthyskeptic.org/feed/podcast as suggested in the Blubrry documentation.  So I went to PowerPress > Settings > iTunes and chose "New Feed URL".  I entered "http://thehealthyskeptic.org/feed/podcast" and saved the changes.

But I don't understand these two statements:

1) "Please navigate to the 'Custom Podcast Channels' section to set the new-feed-url for your podcast only feed (http://thehealthyskeptic.org/feed/podcast)."  What does this mean?  I thought my podcast was by default at "http://thehealthyskeptic.org/feed/podcast".  When I enter that address into a feed reader, my podcast shows up.  Do I have to do anything else?  Am I supposed to do something in the "Podcast Channels" section?

2) "The New Feed URL value below will be applied to the Main RSS2 feed (http://thehealthyskeptic.org/feed)."  I don't get this either.  I didn't just screw up my main RSS feed by making this change, did I? 

Now I'm really worried I screwed something up.  How do I find out if I did this correctly?

switters

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2011, 03:49:32 pm »
Okay, so I manually opened up the XML file on my MobileMe server (the feed iTunes was pulling) and added the <new-itunes-url> tag.  I unsubscribed to my podcast from within iTunes, deleted it, and then re-subscribed.  It is now pulling the correct feed: http://thehealthyskeptic.org/feed/podcast.

However, in the iTunes settings window in PowerPress it still shows the old feed address (MobileMe) where it says "Update iTunes Listing", and it says "Last updated November 15, 2010"

When I ping iTunes from within the iTunes panel in PowerPress settings it directs me to the generic home page of the iTunes store instead of telling me what feed iTunes is pulling.  What's happening?  Do I have to wait until I publish a new episode for it to update the iTunes feed?  Why doesn't the ping work?
« Last Edit: February 09, 2011, 04:35:51 pm by switters »

mgdell

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #2 on: February 11, 2011, 03:29:51 am »
However, in the iTunes settings window in PowerPress it still shows the old feed address (MobileMe) where it says "Update iTunes Listing", and it says "Last updated November 15, 2010"


What you need to do is go to the itunes tab in your powerpress settings and at the bottom of that page, there is "iTunes New Feed URL". In that section you need to put your new feed address for itunes (http://thehealthyskeptic.org/feed/podcast/).  Then click the "test update iTunes listing" checkbox.  and then "save changes" at the bottom of the page.  When you hit the save changes, you will get a notification at the top of the page that says "iTunes Ping Successful. Podcast Feed URL: "  If you get that, you are all set.

When I ping iTunes from within the iTunes panel in PowerPress settings it directs me to the generic home page of the iTunes store instead of telling me what feed iTunes is pulling.  What's happening?  Do I have to wait until I publish a new episode for it to update the iTunes feed?  Why doesn't the ping work?


It looks to me that Apple has changed the URL to that ping page.  We will look into that and fix it for the next version of Powerpress.  As for updating your Feed URL with iTunes... It will have no effect on any of your feeds. All you are doing is telling iTunes where to find your podcasts.  You are not changing your feed address on your site. 

It will update the date and url in the itunes tab once you put up another episode..  Itunes can take a few hours to a few days to get everything updated on their end.

After you have done everything above, try re-subscribing in iTunes and make sure your feed is up to date with them.  If that doesn't work after a week or so, we can try a 301 redirect of your old feed (if you have access to the old webserver)

-Mike

switters

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #3 on: February 11, 2011, 12:31:33 pm »
I ended up changing the iTunes Feed URL manually in the old feed.  I've confirmed that the change was successful in iTunes.

However, PowerPress is still displaying the old feed address.  Should I enter the "http://thehealthyskeptic.org/feed/podcast" address again in the New iTunes Feed URL, and check the "test update iTunes listing" box, and then save changes - even though the feed has already been updated in iTunes?  (I think I didn't have the "test" box selected the first time I tried to update the feed).

mgdell

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #4 on: February 12, 2011, 02:29:20 pm »
If iTunes is pulling the correct feed, you are all set.

Apple has changed how they update feeds and we will be revising the plugin soon, to reflect those changes.

Happy podcasting!

-Mike

switters

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #5 on: February 12, 2011, 02:39:51 pm »
Thanks, Mike.

One more quick question: I updated the picture for my podcast, and it now appears in the iTunes store.  But it does not appear in iTunes on my computer when I subscribe to the podcast.  I've tried unsubscribing and re-subscribing several times, but all I see is the grey box (no picture) for my podcast in iTunes on my computer.  If it's appearing in the store, why not on my computer?

mgdell

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2011, 02:44:33 pm »
The picture that would show up in the iTunes App is NOT the same pic that will be in the store.  You have to embed the picture in your media files for them to show up as "album art".

Check out this page: http://www.podcastfaq.com/creating-podcast/audio/id3-tags/ It will explain how you would do that with an MP3 file.  If you are using another format or using video files, there are different ways of doing it.

-Mike

switters

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2011, 07:51:32 pm »
Thanks, Mike.  So basically I need to include the image I want to appear in iTunes app each time I upload an episode? 

In the link you sent, it says I can use the same 300x300 image I'm using in the iTunes store.  What if I'm using a 600x600 image in the iTunes store.  Can I also use that?

mgdell

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2011, 11:35:01 am »
Yes, you can use your 600x600 image if you would like.  The mp3 image can be just about anything.. it's not as critical.

-Mike

switters

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #9 on: February 13, 2011, 12:03:32 pm »
Great.  I think I FINALLY understand how this all works, and I've got everything set up correctly.  I guess the next version of the plugin will fix the issue of the feed address not displaying correctly in the PowerPress iTunes tab (due to iTunes changing their ping address).  But otherwise I'm ready to go!  Thanks for all of your help.

angelo

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Re: Need help with new feed URL ASAP!
« Reply #10 on: February 13, 2011, 06:08:08 pm »
It looks like Apple iTunes didn't change the ping address, they took it down completely. We've posted about it on our blog, if you want more details: Apple Drops iTunes Podcast Directory Update Listing/Ping (pingPodcast) Function