Podcini is launching on Google Play and needs closed testing

[XilinJia]

Please support the launch by participating the closed testing.

You will first need to join this Google group: https://groups.google.com/g/podcini

Then the testing can be accessed:

from Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ac.mdiq.podcini.R

or from the web: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/ac.mdiq.podcini.R

Signing key on Google Play is now the same as with Podcini apks elsewhere, so you can install the app from Google Play over an existing install (either the free or the play app) and continue to use, , so it doesn't give you much interruption by joining the closed testing, which is required for the formal launch on Google Play.

[toofyspooder]

Happy to help. Would prefer not to post me email though. Can I send another way?

[XilinJia]

Thank you. Well understood. Would it be better to do it through a google group?

[toofyspooder]

Whatever works for you really. Just not comfortable with posting my email for all to see.

[XilinJia]

Violates some family policy, will need to revise. stay tuned.

[Thunderhawk2001]

Link for play store is not working, but searching for podcini brings up this app:

Is that it? If so: can't import my current database. If I try to import , it says that the file(PodciniBackup-2024-11-26.realm) is not a database.

[XilinJia]

Thank you for your effort and message.

The app you got must be of version 4 that I tried to launch long time ago but abandoned.

For the current app (Podcini.R), Google complains of violation of some family policy, so I need to sort it out. Will update the status shortly.

[XilinJia]

• Previous violation of some family policy has been cleared. Please proceed to the testing.

[XilinJia]

6.15.2.1 on Google Play now has the same signing key as Podcini here, so it can be installed over an existing install (except if you installed 6.15.2 from Google Play, in which case, you need to uninstall it and install the new update).

[Thunderhawk2001]

Hi.

Hate to be that guy, but sadly it's not working. Getting the same "Podcini.R" cannot be installed" error message, when trying to update GitHub play version 6.15.2 via the Google Play store to version 6.15.2.1.

[XilinJia]

Hum, sorry about that.

6.15.2.1 is clearly using a different key from 6.15.2 on Play: I needed to uninstall the existing 6.15.2 from Play to install 6.15.2.1. Let me find out why it can't install on an existing install from Github.

[XilinJia]

So Google Play's signing is complicated: it requires 2 sets of signing keys: app signing key and upload signing key. While I have both ready, approval for resetting upload signing key may take a couple days. So we will wait a bit for getting a new version with compatibly signed apps.

[XilinJia]

Podcini on Google Play now has the same signing key as Podcini elsewhere, so it can be installed over an existing install.

[Thunderhawk2001]

Can confirm. It's possible to upgrade from GitHub version to Google Play store version.

[krjones91]

Two comments on this post. If it's preferred to split them, happy to do so.
I just saw the comment regarding the 4.x abandonment and found the 6.x app on Google Play. Regarding aesthetics: the menu on the version 4 of the app looks more refined than version 6 (smaller font on v4, makes it less cramped). I'm not a developer, so I have no idea what goes into tweaking stuff like this, but from an end user standpoint, I prefer how the text and menus are rendered on the v4 app.

I also have a feature request (again, not a dev so I have no idea what it would take to implement), it would be nice to have an option to limit the number of simultaneous downloads, which I find to be helpful either on lower-end devices or slow connections.

[XilinJia]

the menu on the version 4 of the app looks more refined than version 6

Which menu are you referring to? Can you describe or post a screenshot?

[krjones91]

Screenshots attached.

[XilinJia]

I see and agree with you. The new fonts are chosen on the first step of migration to Jetpack Compose. I plan to refine them (and also the color scheme) later when most parts are migrated (Video player remains a major one now.)

[XilinJia]

have an option to limit the number of simultaneous downloads

I checked the setup on this. It's using the default provided by Android (supposedly Android knows about the condition of the device and provides an optimal number, max at 4 I guess). This number can be made to be reset by the user, but I'm not sure if it actually can make it more optimal.

Have you noticed any problems with this?

[krjones91]

I wouldn't call it a "problem" necessarily. I just have noticed that on my current data connection (can be occasionally intermittent and lower data rate) that downloading one or two files at a time is more reliable than 3-4. However, this is a non-issue with a consistent network connection.

[IcedQuinn]

What is a "pre-IPO" member? Is Podcini issuing financial securities?

[XilinJia]

Anything is possible.