Transferring Podcasts to Ipod and Deleting Them

SilverLiz

I have never done anything so complicated as managing podcasts within ITunes. I just can't get my head around it.


I download Radio 4 podcasts and the downloading part is quite easy at first as you just click on the Programme Podcast and click on 'subscribe to Itunes' - no problem there.


However within ITunes I find great difficulty in downloading past programmes and deleting the ones I have finished with on the ipod.


I go to the Podcast section right click on a programme and tick 'Add to Liz Ipod' When I go to the section which shows programmes on Liz Ipod - they are often there. However when I click on sync nothing happens.
Same with deleting. I right click on a programme in LizIpod and press delete - then find that they are all still in the Ipod.


It drives me mad - could ITunes make it more difficult??


Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong. I have got the 'Manually Manage' box ticked in Summary page.

jenniewb

I don't have an ipod anymore (it was stolen in June whilst on the tube ) but if I remember correctly, within each podcast list (list meaning the radio 4 programme you've subscribed to auto-download) you should be able to (on the ipod itself though you can probably do this on iTunes too) click on the programme and mess with things like oldest first/newest first and also to keep all unplayed or delete all unplayed and so on. I had an ipod touch 4 (the one out in 2010) and this was how my ipod worked anyway.

buglawton

I do everything manually inside the BBC iPlayer app. Here you can now download podcasts as well as almost all other BBC radio programs. That at least is simple, just no option as yet for auto downloading. iTunes is truly horrible and a major reason for rethinking whether to own an iPhone in future.

Ant555

I understand the confusion as I went through it myself however once set up its quite straightforward.

in iTunes right click on the podcast and 'get info'
One of the options is 'delete played episodes' - this will sync with your ipod and know when a podcast has been listened to then delete it from your computer library.

There are also options for how many episodes you want to download.

THEN - attach the ipod and let itunes do its thing for a few seconds...
Towards the top left the icon for your ipod/iphone will have appeared - click on it.
You will then see two sections on the left. - the top one called 'settings' is management of podcasts/music/apps in general
the bottom one 'on my device' shows podcasts/music/apps already on the ipod

In the top section on the left select podcasts
Make sure the master options for 'Sync Podcasts' is ticked at the top of this screen - if this is not ticked then you have to do everything manually.
If you select to sync all podcasts you subscribe to then thats fine and this bit is done. If you only want to sync certain podcasts then post back and i'll add the extra step here.

Set this according to your listening and things should sync each time.

Using the above settings I open iTunes once a week, let it download the 6 podcasts I subscribe to and then attach the ipod.
Itunes syncs and copies the latest version of all my podcasts and then I leave it connected for a while to charge.
I disconnect and I am good to go for another week. Nowadays I don't even pay attention to itunes and have the program minimized at the bottom of the screen.

I hope this helps.

SilverLiz

Thanks Ant - you have put an enormous amount of helpful material here which I will work through. The difficulty seems to be a) whether to work with the ipod attached or not, which I did not consider and b) which area of podcasts to work in.


iTunes couldn't have made it more difficult. I will have a serious try tonight and report back - but thanks so much for your time and trouble.

SilverLiz

I tried everything you advised Ant but I think there must be something wrong with iPod as programmes will NOT delete.


As suggested I went into iTunes - found the Programme and deleted the episodes I had listened to. The window on right showed no episodes.


I attached iPod and waited a while but nothing showed as syncing (that box on top WAS ticked) I went to LizIpod and clicked sync - then I clicked sync at bottom of Summary page.


However when I looked at my iPod, the episodes were still there and working. It just defeats me!!


I have not tried adding old episodes yet!!!!