PeerTube 8.1 adds better podcast support, domain-restricted embeds, 3x playback, and more

PeerTube 8.1 is now available, bringing key upgrades to this free, open-source, ActivityPub federated video hosting platform. In this release, podcast creators benefit from improved compatibility: administrators can now force the generation of optimized audio files, addressing most prior issues with HTTP Live Streaming and podcast app support.

Alongside these updates, video creators gain greater control by restricting which domains may embed their videos, improving the management of content distribution. The update also provides improved video thumbnail quality, especially for podcasts, adds support for WebP and PNG image formats, and introduces groundwork for future migration of images to object storage, setting the stage for enhanced performance and scalability.

Following the introduction of the Lucide player in version 8.0, all new PeerTube installations now use it as the default, shaping user experience going forward. Additionally, PeerTube now allows watching videos at up to three times normal speed, meeting a frequent demand from viewers.

Additional improvements group notifications by date and streamline collaborative channel management. PeerTube 8.1 boosts compatibility with other Fediverse services, refines video search optimization, accelerates video publishing through optimized transcoding queue management, and enhances synchronization reliability for channels.