RssPlayer development process past and future

This post is about how I created RssPlayer. I went into this thinking, this app would be rejected. It took about a week to get it to version 1, compared to Podcaster that took 2 months. This meant that I had to get the core functions working properly. They are still a bit buggy, but I am confident, that I can iron it out rather quickly. Now that the app has been accepted, I will be devoting a lot more of my free time to development and you can expect to see UI enhancements and features that seem to be missing. I will be going over reports from users for the next few days, then I will prioritize everything and make it happen. At that point, it will be up to Apple as to how quickly they can post the updates.

I want to say a few words about the bug that prevents users from listening offline. Apple rejected the app pending a fix that checked for connectivity, I quickly threw something together and it didn't work out as planned. I will loosen up a bit on how we prevent you from clicking the play button when the app thinks you are offline and simply display the warning. Plus, we will do some background optimization as well.

I have added a way to import from a link in Safari or Mail. This will allow someone to build a netcast directory and it can contain links to import to RssPlayer. This is in version 1.1.1. Find out more from the read me file on google groups.

I will be updating Podcaster users to RssPlayer when version 1.1 posts to the app store. I will be sending emails to everyone that has a paid account on www.nextdayoff.com with instructions on when and how to get your copy.

Please go to http://groups.google.com/group/rssplayer to post a report. Please search first to make sure your question has not been answered. If you have a jailbroken device or have Podcaster installed, please make that clear because it makes a performance difference.

#### posting to Google Groups is public and will allow everyone to see - so keep personal information out. If you need to send a private email, send it to almerica@gmail.com

I just want to close up by saying, I use RssPlayer on a daily basis, I think of it as my companion to and from work, so you can expect that I will not let it lag in development. You can be confident that I will make it awesome.

Subscribing to Password-Protected Feeds

There is a simple url trick that can be used to subscribe to password-protected feeds. I found the direction son http://manila.userland.com/passwordProtectedRss

To subscribe to a password-protected RSS feed in Radio UserLand or NetNewsWire, use the following format for the RSS URL:

http://[username]:[password]@[domain]/[path]

For example, if the RSS feed is here:

http://www.example.com/xml/rss.xml

...and your username/password is me@foo.com, and xYz, then use this URL to subscribe to the feed:

http://me%40foo.com:xYz@www.example.com/xml/rss.xml


Note that the '@' character in the username must be replaced with %40 (the URL-encoding for the '@' character). This is important for Manila sites, since members use their email addresses as their logins, and email addresses contain '@' characters.

Make sure that when using this URL format, that you replace the '@' character in your email address with %40.

I hope this helps everyone that has been asking for this feature.

Rss Player iPhone App Available Now!

Download from iTunes

The app was release earlier today. I have setup a google groups page so please go there and post to the forums. Create pages and upload files. If you need help, you can post to the group or email me at almerica@gmail.com

Enjoy the app

Alex

Creator of Rss Player

Rss Player - Native iPhone App

Specifically designed to play audio files attached to rss feeds.

Start by entering an rss feed url or opml url into the import screen, then the program crawls the feed and displays the items it finds in an easy to read table. If the program finds an audio file attached to the feed, it will automatically download the most current one. This makes it easy for iP

od Touch owners to listen when they are offline.

This is a really great app with high standard. We will keep improving it and adding features in future releases. If you purchase this app, we are sure you will love it.
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You cannot discover feeds using this app. You must find them online on your favorite blogs.

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This app is $1.99 for a limited time. Regular price is $4.99. Get it before the deal is over.