Yesterday, Apple sent out an email to podcasters who distribute their videos through iTunes that they might want to reconsider their current format to match the video iPod and the new Apple TV.
Their three suggestions were to:
1. Encode the podcast at either 640×480 or 640×360.
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2. Have only only feed with one definitive resolution for the podcast so that the iTunes rankings are more accurate.
3. Don’t add letterboxing, since it looks ridiculous on the widescreen screens that Apple now touts. So keep the aspect ratio at 16:9.
I’m waiting on my tippy toes here to see whether or not this marks a sea change in the formatting for mobile and multiplatform video podcasting, since if it does or if it doesn’t will say a good deal about Apple’s continuing presence in the vlogging community.