Video bloggers receive email from Apple

Kichigai said it,

ALL iPods with video have been able to play video up to 640x480 since last September.

Also considering that people went out and complained when the initial video settings maxed out at 320x240, you'd think people would jump at the chance to improve the video quality and clarity. One of my favorite video podcasts; HomeStarRunner.com, still posts new episodes in 320x240 and you can really see it when you go from vector-based flash episodes on their website to stretched, pixaled, and blurred MPEG videos offered on iTunes running at fullscreen.

If I recall correctly, Amazon S3 supports bittorent to allow you to distribute data with the help of shared bandwidth. Google for S3 and BitTorrent

I don't think Apple hosts the podcasts and vidcasts. They just serve up links. It is up to the producers to host and serve the actual files (and pay the bandwidth costs).

Which is why it would be great if iTunes could have a mini BitTorrent client (or something like it) built-in, so that smaller producers could distribute episodes without paying a lot of money for bandwidth.

Andreas: bandwidth wouldn't be a concern for Apple, but whoever is hosting the podcast would care. 720p is a decent chunk of storage. I've got a 720p copy of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force trailer, and it's 105 MB. I'd hate to imagine how large a 5, 15, 20, or 60 minute long show would be. However, I agree that Apple ought to be encouraging that. Then again, if Apple did that, then they'd look a little hypocritical encouraging people to upgrade their videos, on their own dime, but not be willing to spend the cash to provide high-def stuff on their own store.

BTW: The iPod can play 640x480 videos, even in H.264. In a way, it really is kind of... out of date to provide a low-res video if you're concerned about iPod-compatibility.

Well that's nice and all, but I would really like more people to add HD versions (720p would do). After all, if a file is in the iTunes podcasts section, isn't it being hosted by Apple? So bandwidth wouldn't really be a concern? (for the podcasters anyway)