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Podcast playlists now not syncing with iTunes 9.

I have a few smart playlists set to contain podcasts. (BBC podcasts for example) My playlist in iTunes contains a few podcasts but after finishing syncing the podcast playlists on my iPod are empty. The playlists that contain music sync ok. This function used to work in the previous version.
I'm using an older 80 gig iPod. Is anyone else having this problem?

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 10, 2009 5:59 AM

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77 replies

Sep 10, 2009 7:41 AM in response to webstereo

I have the same problem.

I have ALL my Podcasts set up to download into different Smart Folders (for my iPod Touch) in my iTunes playlist Library. Example, News related Podcast drop into a news Smart Playlist folder. All the folders are correct in my iTunes Player but they are not syncing with my iPod Touch (32GB, 3.1.1). All my other Smart Playlists (that do not include Podcasts) are syncing ok 'tho.

NOTE: It is interesting because all my Music Podcasts in smart folders are syncing fine.

Sep 10, 2009 10:40 AM in response to pdxnevets

I have precisely the same problem: Podcasts playlists are not being synced. Other playlists (music) seem to be ok.

iTunes library has the correct playlist but shows an empty podcast playlist on the iPod Touch. However, checking the iPod Touch per se shows a playlist that is not current or in the correct order. The actual podcasts do, however, seem to be on the iPod Touch (I have selected "sync all unplayed podcasts").

I have verified all iTunes/iPod preferences, and they all appear to be ok.

It is not convenient to listen to my favorite podcasts without a functioning podcast playlist.

Hoping for an update from Apple soon...

Sep 10, 2009 12:04 PM in response to webstereo

Add me to the list!... I usually have a dedicated podcast playlist, which I have particular list of podcast so I don't have to manually go to a new podcast every time. It is important because I have my ipod nano attached to my headphone, which is not very convenient to take off and push buttons and wheels to navigate.

I really need the podcast playlist back onto my iPod nano. The playlist is fine in iTunes 9, but when the nano get plugged in, just that playlist does not show up at all.... I cannot even select to sync in the iPod preference when plugged in. That's really bad.

Sep 10, 2009 12:38 PM in response to webstereo

In iTunes, under the Podcasts tab on your iPod, try UNchecking “Automatically include _ episodes of _,” and check your playlists under “Include Episodes from Playlists:”. That seems to do it for me.

This is a stupid bug… apparently, automatically including X number of episodes prompts iTunes to DELETE the rest from all your iPod’s playlists. Can’t even report the bug under iTunes 9—the menu on the feedback page only goes up to 8.1 yet.

Sep 10, 2009 7:12 PM in response to webstereo

A slight variant of Sam Martin's solution works best for me. I leave "Automatically include _ episodes of _,” CHECKED, with 'all' selected in the first drop-down and 'selected podcasts' in the second drop-down. Then I check everything in the "Podcasts:" list and everything under "Include Episodes from Playlists:".

This duplicates the behavior I had in iTunes version 8, where podcast episodes show up in both created playlists, and also under the 'Podcasts' library folder.

So, what works is "Automatically include all episodes of selected podcasts", with everything checked in the "Podcasts:" and "Include Episodes" lists. What does NOT work is the seemingly equivalent "Automatically include all episodes of all podcasts".

Sep 11, 2009 3:33 AM in response to Gene Fisher

Thank you both for finding the root of this problem! As someone who uses a podcast playlist for use everywhere (divided into video and audio as "Vidcasts Today" and "Podcasts Today"), I went to the iPod to play my podcast videos tonight on my TV via the Dock and was surprised to see "0 Items". I unchecked all on the Podcast pane, then I created a "Podcast" smart playlist which encompassed all of my Podcast library. Synced it back up and I have my playlists back, and the iPod Podcast menu retained it's usual functionality.

Hopefully 9.1 addresses this bug.

Podcast playlists now not syncing with iTunes 9.

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