The podcast itself is passed to the directory server along with your avatar links, etc, but the media remains on your PC.
That's the part that had me confused, though the reasoning does make sense. So here's what I see as the process:
1. MC allows the user to create a podcast of a playlist (or playlists).
2. This podcast (simply an RSS file with enclosures) is hosted on JRiver's webserver (
www.perbcast.com), but the enclosures are URIs to media items on the user's own server.
3. The users own "server" is a service run through MC that listens for something on the designated port (11180 is the default) and redirects the URI for the media item (gotten from the podcast enclosure) to the location of the item based on the MC library entry.
The significance of item 3 is that there is not a separate copy of the media item stored on my computer. Right?
So... my big question, which you already pointed out: how do I keep the media police from knocking? This is a difficult topic to discuss... Oh, and how do I know there aren't security implications?
If my above understanding is correct, what does JRiver really offer other than a directory structure of sorts for finding podcasts? I mean, the process of creating a podcast is simple. Though it's nice not to have to copy the media files to my webserver.
The most basic rule of podcasting seems to be: "Keep your podcast feed on a for-life URI" (i.e. buy a domain name).
www.perbcast.com breaks that in a serious way.
One other observation. "Podcasters" are about *creating* media content, not just distributing it. So I see your work in this area as something decidely different (and unique!). You're focusing solely on distribution. I still must confess I don't see the big picture.
And a question: How is perbcasting any better than a MC plugin that simple creates the RSS directly on my own file server? Other than the directory function and avoided duplication of media item (which could be fixed with virtual directories on the webserver), of course.
Bottom line: this seems like good stuff and it's great to be involved in the innovation.