Unable to fast forward through podcasts

Although not an ideal solution, using the "Fix VBR MP3 Header" option in Foobar2000 works.

Steps:

1. Delete podcast episodes that needs to be fixed.

2. When prompted, select "Keep Files".

3. Sync iPod (to delete the subject files).

4. Use Foobar200 to Fix VBR MP3 Header.

5. Drag the files back to your library -- they will automatically be re-added as episodes of the subject podcast.

6. Sync iPod to sync the fixed files.

C'Mon Apple. You need to fix this!!!

Same issue on my iPhone 4 running iOS 4.01.

I see the problem with several podcasts, not just NPR. For example, I can't scrub in the 'MacBreak Weekly' or 'You Look Nice Today' podcasts.

I download ALL my podcasts directly to the iPhone via iTunes on the iPhone - I don't mess with syncing them from my Mac desktop via iTunes.

I can see the scrubber but it won't move at all . It's stuck at the beginning of the time line. It plays fine but I can't fast forward at all...

I don't think this has anything to do with what is used to encode the file.

I have podcast files that have always and still do play fine on my 30gb iPod Video.

I try to play the same podcast back on my iPhone 4 (actually any podcast that I have tried to play) and the time line at the top shows the file as if it is 00:00. So it is impossible to fast forward and the file cannot resume playback from where I left off.

I did download the file directly to the iPhone from the built in iTunes instead of on a computer.

What happens on mine is - if you download a podcast using just the iPod, there are no problems. If you then use iTunes via a computer connected to the iPod, any podcasts on the iPod are "updated" so that you are unable to fast forward.

What I do unfortunately, is delete them and redownload when not connected to the computer.

This is absolutely RUBBISH. (And would never happen with Microsoft software ;-))
How they can get away with this stuff, I don't know.

The only podcast in my collection that I've discovered with this behavior is NPR's "All Songs Considered," and its encoding is LAME3.97 (ID3 Tag v2.3). My contribution to this thread is that, unlike my 2G iPhone running iOS 3.1.3 that does exhibit this behavior, my older 30G Video iPod handles the same NPR podcast without any issue that I've noticed.

well i can't say i've had any problems

same problem for me. I verified that "remember playback position" is checked.

I have the same problem with my iPhone 3Gs (OS 3.1.2).

But my ipod Touch have no problems fast forwarding in the same podcast, with the same encoding. So proably has nothing to do with LAME.

Restart, reset, restore - One of those is going to correct this problem.

One tap in the center of the screen should bring up the top menu items (which vary between music and podcasts). If they don't show up, use iTunes to restore your iPod.

Wow, this is an old thread, but still very much applicable. Anyone got a solution for this... searched for a while, but no solutions.

Still a problem with, for example, the twit podcasts.