Updating Feed on Previously Released Podcasts

[eslpod]

I want to make some changes on my feed for podcasts that I've already released, such as add more information in the iTunes summary tag. Will this cause the podcast to download again for those who already have it on iTunes?

Ditto for the new Podtrac.com service. They have you put a piece of code in your enclosure so that it pings their server every time there's a download (if I understand correctly). Does this cause the podcatchers to think that it's a new podcast? Just what can be modified in the feed without it being thought of as new by iTunes etc.?

Thanks for any help on this.
Jeff

[JasonVanOrden]

Anyone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that it is the file name that usually triggers the new download. I think as long as your enclosure data stays the same, you are OK.

It might be different for each aggregator, but that is how most work to my knowledge. I've changed my show notes before without re-triggering download in iPodder...excuse me.....Juice or iTunes.

Jason

[SPThom]

iTunes uses the filename. So if you change the filename, it'll probably show up as an unread/undownloaded file. However, iTunes will only auto-download the topmost episode... Anything below that will just be greyed out with the option to "GET".

But if you're just changing the summary tags & what not, iTunes won't force a re-download. Nor will it update the changed information for those who've already downloaded, so the change really only affects subsequent dl's.

Not that anyone asked, but Odeo appears to use the <guid> tag of the RSS item. I had the permalink URLs messed up for my first few episodes, and when I corrected the mistake, Odeo detected the corrections as "new" episodes.

[eslpod]

Thanks for these answers! Podtrac's new service does in fact have you put a piece of redirect code in front of the filename in the enclosure, so it looks like that would cause a problem.

Thanks again.

[SPThom]

What I'd suggest doing is wait to release your next episode, and when you do so, stick that podtrac code in from the get-go. Afterwards, you can go back and change the previous episodes. Like I said, it'll only auto-download the latest episode. iTunes will list duplicate entries, but it should be fairly obvious to most users that they ARE in fact duplicates, not new content.

[eslpod]

I understand. Thanks again for the suggestion.