Spotify And Its Hosting Platforms Are Adopting Apple’s Tech For Video Podcasts

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Spotify has announced that its podcasting platforms — Spotify for Creators and Megaphone — are adopting Apple’s technology for video streaming, HTTP Live Streaming (HLS). Apple shared in February that it was adding support for HLS to its own Apple Podcasts app with the release of iOS 26.4, so Spotify hopping aboard means that formerly Spotify-exclusive video podcasts can be distributed to Apple’s app.

Apple created the HTTP Live Streaming protocol years ago to make video streaming easier on devices like the iPhone. Switching to the standard also offers key benefits to video podcasts, as Apple already outlined in its own announcement. Podcasts distributed with HLS can switch back and forth between video and audio-only streams and offer offline downloads. Critical for anyone trying to make money from their show, HLS also supports dynamic ad insertion.

HLS is proprietary tech that’s developed by Apple, which means it’s naturally not open in the same way RSS is, and it could concentrate power in the podcast industry in a way it wasn’t before. That possible negative comes with a positive: it’s generally convenient for users when big companies all agree to use the same standard. Microsoft, Google, Twitch and more use HLS. Adding Spotify to that list is not necessarily a bad thing.

Spotify doesn’t have an official timeline for when Spotify for Creators and Megaphone will implement HLS, but did confirm that audio-only RSS podcast feeds will be available for anyone listening through an app that doesn’t support it. Spotify is also opening up who can distribute to Spotify via its Distribution API, which is now officially supported by podcast hosting platforms Audioboom, Audiomeans, Podigee, Podspace and Libsyn. Supporting the API allows platforms to distribute video content to Spotify, use the company’s video monetization programs and view its video analytics. Whether they’ll offer all of Spotify’s features is up to them. The company says “API partners can choose which of these features they’d like to support in their platforms.”

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Stephan Dorsey

Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.

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Recent Reviews

Can You Bring Flowers on Planes? (TSA 2023 Rules)

Airlines allow you to bring a bouquet of freshly-cut flowers on planes. But there are certain restrictions that you should know about.

Cut flowers are treated identically to any other plant. They’re allowed on domestic flights but not on most international ones. That’s because they may contain pests or diseases, or the flower species itself may be invasive. These bans exist because most countries want to protect their ecosystems from these risks.

Rules for Bringing Flowers on Domestic Flights

On almost all domestic flights across the world, you’re allowed to bring flowers in hand and checked baggage without any extra restrictions. If packed in hand luggage, they must be free of any water to be in line with the 3-1-1 rule for liquids in hand baggage. But other than that, there are no restrictions.

For example, when traveling within the US, TSA allows bringing flowers on planes. There only are some exceptions for flights to or from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. That’s because they’re island states with unique and fragile ecosystems.

For example, Hawaii has banned the import of orchids, gladiolus, and a few other flowers. On flights to Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, the rules are a bit more relaxed. Only citrus leaves and cotton plants are banned from flower bouquets.

Traveling with Flowers Internationally

Cut flowers are banned from many (but not all) international flights. The exact rules depend on each country’s agricultural and border/customs regulations. Generally, common flower species, like roses, lilies, peonies, and tulips are allowed if they’re free of soil, roots, and diseases.

Contrary to popular belief, airport security (before boarding the flight) doesn’t care about cut flowers. They don’t pose any security risks on the flight, so you’ll be allowed to pass through.

But upon landing, you’ll have to go through Customs and Immigration, which handles screening plants and animal products. You’ll have to declare that you’re transporting fresh flowers. You may be able to pass through, but not always. You won’t get into trouble for transporting cut flowers but you may be asked to discard them in the nearby trash bins.

On flights between the US and Canada, most flowers are allowed. A lot of common additions, like ferns, baby’s breath, and other ornamental grasses are also allowed.

On flights between the EU and the EU economic zone (EEZ), you’re also allowed to travel with freshly cut flowers. The only rule is that the flowers must originate from the EU (or EEZ).

If you’re dead set on transporting flowers to a certain country, you’ll have to go through some legal hoops. Most countries ask you to apply for a permit no later than 30 days before the flight. You’ll also need to get a Phytosanitary Certificate that shows the flower’s origins.

How to Pack Flowers for Travel

Prepare the bouquet. Cut off any excess leaves and shorten it as much as possible to save space.
Carefully wrap them in some newspaper.
When going through security, the flowers must be free of any water. So after going through security, dampen the cut ends to keep them from drying out. Go to a toilet in the airport and wrap a bit of damp toilet paper around the cut ends. Then put it all in a plastic bag and seal it with an elastic band.
Remember that flowers are always counted towards the hand baggage allowance. So they must follow the size restrictions for hand and checked baggage.
If possible, pack flowers in your carry-on bag. If you’re carrying them separately, place them in the overhead bins only after everyone else has already stored their bags. This will ensure that they won’t get squished.

Summing Up – Traveling With Flowers

Traveling with Flowers may seem complicated at first, but it actually isn’t. If you want to gift them to someone as soon as you land, you’re most likely allowed to do that. Bringing common, freshly-cut flowers, like roses, tulips, and lilies usually doesn’t cause any issues. Just be sure to transport them carefully and wrap the cut ends in damp napkins after going through security.

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