An interesting artcile regarding podcasts

[Ric_]

I have just starting reading issue 139 (May 2006) of PC Pro - they seem to arrive earlier and earlier!

 

In the "Real World Computing" section is an interesting point about how iTunes uses ALL available network bandwidth when downloading podcasts. I must admit that I have not checked this out myself but magzines are generally pretty reliable about these things.

 

With podcasts becoming used more and more in schools, I can see this leading to problems as user after user updates their podcasts - iTunes is a rather popular podcast client after all.

[DMcCoy]

Doesn't most software use all available network bandwidth?

[MkII]

Uses all available CPU too!

[ZeroHour]

Just dont install iTunes

Its a download, of course it receives as fast as it can. Its just a mp3, nothing fancy.

[CyberNerd]

VLC is pretty good for audio/video streaming

http://www.videolan.org/

[apeo]

Adds to our argument of why we shouldnt have iTunes in school

[E1uSiV3]

iTunes on the PC sucks. Period.

 

On the mac however it works really well.

 

Why do the kids need iTunes anyway?

[DMcCoy]

I have a mac, I must say it sucks on the mac as well. And my ipod kills the mac when using the usb 2 cable that came with the ipod, a known problem - have to remove the dock or use the firewire cable (which came with an old ipod)

[NetworkGeezer]

Just dont install iTunes

Its a download, of course it receives as fast as it can. Its just a mp3, nothing fancy.

 

Although the iTunes can play mp3 aren't downloads from the Apple music store actually some kind of proprietary format. AAC or somem't like that?

[ZeroHour]

Yeh AAC but Podcasts are usually in MP3 format

 

Also Apple generally dont host the podcasts either I believe. They just link there RSS feed into there index and you download from the podcast creators servers.

[Ric_]

The point is that a background process should not use all your computer's resources - it defeats the point of running it in the background!

 

From what the article implies, it siphens your entire network's bandwidth if you aren't too careful.

[ZeroHour]

Yeh it will, its not background though. Its just like windows updates really. If you are running iTunes it downloads, if you aint it dont. It tells you in iTunes that its doing it and u can cancel. Bandwidth settings though would be nice (got I love my winks lol )

[kingswood]

No problem with iTunes on Windows or Mac here. It does use some bandwidth- but think about what you are asking it to do: download a file (or lots of them at once if you are me) and save them to your disk for listening to later. I download/update around 20 podcasts at once with no problem. While I'm surfing the internet and listening to music (through the same iTunes...)

 

:-)

[GrumbleDook]

iTunes requests for files are QoS compliant (built in when they created the iTunes share feature) and so you can throttle them at switch / router level.

 

This does not help everyone because they either have older switches or it would be a complete pain in the rear to get this sorted.

 

Personally ... I block the ability to get to the music store or podcasts on our Macs ... and iTunes is a restricted exe on the PCs.

 

But I am a nasty piece of work who does not like staff or students to have any fun (a quote from a year 10 student who has found that his favurtie chat room is blocked).

[kingswood]

LOL!

 

Yes- blocking iTunes is something we have done too. And those pesky chatrooms...Mmmmmm...love blocking them ;-)

[ZeroHour]

But I am a nasty piece of work who does not like staff or students to have any fun (a quote from a year 10 student who has found that his favurtie chat room is blocked).

 

I am one of those too LOL