In the search for an alternative for iTunes I came across Miro. This is not the first time I have came across this software, but it is the first time I’ve found it useful. Over a year ago I used this software when it was still called Democracy Player. At that point in time it was unstable and not worth the time. It is now much more stable and does a great job at managing online videos.
Miro is a wonderful little tool that works great for administering podcasts. It is advertised as “Better than Joost“, but it really is hard to compare the two pieces of software. Both players do play video as their primary function, but the types of video are completely different. Miro is for managing free online content, while Joost plays DRMed content from many non-free video providers.
If you are a podcast watcher such as myself miro is a great solution to managing lots of subscriptions. It does have its own quirks though; such as not being able to play content while seeing what is currently downloading. This is the same as the default setting in iTunes, but in that program you are able to have a new window for video content. This allows you to still use the program while watching a video.
Miro is technically a video player, but it also will work with audio as well. The built in searches in the program will not help you locate new audio podcasts, but will allow you to add the RSS and it will do the hard work for you in managing it. 
The previous issue with not being able to do anything else in the program while watching a video are only exaggerated with audio. Seeing that there is nothing to watch with audio its really quite annoying not to be able to do anything else while listening.
Miro is advertising their product wrong; it is the best podcast manager I’ve ever used. it should be advertised as such and not trying to compete with Joost. What Miro is replacing for me is iTunes for playing podcasts, not Joost.
For someone who is an avid podcast viewer then Miro is defiantly worth a look. On the other hand if you do not watch podcasts on a regular basis there is no real reason to use this software. Something like Joost would probably appeal to you more.
