I was wrong about the Apple Podcasts app

0:00 - Welcome
0:43 - Now Playing is the 🐐
1:47 - Discovering new shows
2:54 - Sync
3:58 - Apple Watch app
4:33 - Too many taps
5:09 - Timestamps
5:41 - No Import/Export Options
6:17 - Final thoughts

Follow Matt:

[mikerisner]

I don't really know why, but I love the idea of the smart playback speed where conversation dead spaces are eliminated, saving a decent amount of time. Years ago, this feature was noticeable and distracting at times, but it has become incredibly subtle since then. Overcast's implementation is just about perfect, even with background music. I wish Apple Podcasts had this feature.

[RuanViljoen]

Great video, Matt! I was experimenting with the Apple Podcasts app as well during the beta season, mostly to test interactive widgets (which are great!). I was surprised by how far the app has come. I think for most users this app is now more than capable. I was surprised that I did not really miss the power features (trim silence, voice boost, etc.) as much as I thought I would. My single biggest annoyance is with the queue. If an episode is playing and you start another episode, it removes the previously played episode from the queue even though it is not finished yet. Having to constantly add unfinished episodes back to the queue was driving me crazy!

[KrishnaMamunuru]

I would switch to Apple Podcasts but pocketcast has the skip first and skip last which are very very useful & multi select the podcast to mark them as played which isn’t available in apple podcast. You cannot multi select anything on apple podcast

[MichaelAlderete]

Not supporting timestamps is a complete non-starter for me. Most of the podcasts I listen to regularly use (embed) chapters and timestamps very well, and I use them all the time. Like, a half-dozen times in the last day. It's an essential feature for me, won't live without it.

Castro isn't perfect by any means, but they're better enough that it's more than worth the annual subscription for me. (I'm looking forward to Overcast's new UX, maybe it's back to being the "best for me" podcast app. Time will tell.)

[randomsixty]

I agree with you. I am a daily user of Podcasts on iOS - and have similar gripes.

1. When switching between macOS and iOS I want the currently playing episode to sync. It doesn't. The time listened is synced, but I want to pick up exactly where I left off on iOS and it doesn't do that.

2. My queue. I don't want or need the "Up Next" section at all. Switch that out for my Queue.

[CurlysCurated]

It doesn’t do time stamps in the description but it does do chapters which is pretty much the exact same thing. Go to now play screen. Click on the queue. Click the down arrow to expand the chapters.

[taylowendy]

I’m still not happy with the latest episode list. It was nice to be able to remove an episode from the list but now you can’t? Now, you have the never ending list of episodes you need to listen to. I just want to create a list of the shows I normally want to listen to everyday and not have a problem pulling them up.

[Captain-Chats]

Been using pocket casts for a long time and just gone back to Apple Podcasts. One thing I’m missing are time stamps. Where are they in Apple Podcasts ?

[tfa]

think you got this "custom artwork" wrong, such artworks doesn't mean the player screen change color matching with the artwork background colour (like your examples shown) as done by Apple but "custom artwork" means a episode specific artwork displayed during the play or in the episode list depending on this episode and not using a podcast subscription generic artwork (like your examples) for sll episodes, nothing new by the way, lot of (non apple) podcast players have this functionality, some of them even ket you customize your experience: you can toggle for episode/custom artwork or podcast artwork in antenna pod/overcast)pod bean...

[PierlucF]

I always listen to podcasts in Spotify. What are the main benefits of using a dedicated app just for podcasts as opposed to using the same app you use for music?

[UltraPatate]

what's the background music at the beggining ?

[josegoncalvesdias]

I ended up coming back to the Apple Podcasts app because, for some reason, it uses much less battery on my cellular watch when I am out for long runs without my phone.
Even when comparing previously downloaded episodes

[sergpryimachuk]

For me the default app always was good enough. I couldn't get why people are seeking for an alternative.

[johncutler]

I'm a back and forth Castro and Overcast user (currently on Castro). I'm planning to give it another try again, but I have a feeling there will be enough annoyances persisting that it won't last. Castro is near perfect for me, just wish it got more resources from its new(ish) owners.

[RichardAllum]

Another good video Matt. Really enjoy your style. Look forward to testing this later. I've been a long time Castro user but moved to PocketCasts when Castro seemed to be dead. Castro's triage is the best by a long way IMO and the chapter selection too. But, CarPlay and Apple watch not as good as Pocket casts. Could never get on with Overcast.

[murtadha]

One of the reasons I didn't use (and will never use) Apple Podcasts is the inability of exporting my podcasts list. No data portability? No thanks!

[MichaelBond]

I got tired of managing the queue on separate devices and went back to Pocket Casts as soon as it updated with all the new iOS / iPadOS 17 features.

[AngeAlexiel]

i also love apple podcast app, you have chapters on some podcasts and also animated cover or waveform for audio only podcasts too and you can now search a term with the full transcript done on device to look up for a specific word or conversation ....
but one thing is really weird, cos in the past i was able to watch ( not just listen ) Joe Rogan or Lex Fridman like other video podcasts, but since i'm back on this app some video podcast just play the audio like the 2 i've mentionned ... but before i'm quite sure they had a video feed also on apple podcast ... since Joe Rogan came back everywhere, it's the same i only have the audio ... i wonder if i have this issue cos i'm on the beta, or if someone can help me on this ... thx a lot for your recommandations.

[IleaneSmith]

Great video Matt. The timestamp this is a huge deal for me so I'm sticking with Overcast for now. Thanks!

[VishnuPadmanabhan]

Great video! I do like many aspects of Apple Podcasts app, but the lack of import/export is the biggest reason I am not transitioning. I have many podcasts I am subscribed to and it just doesn't seem worth manually adding everything. Also, timestamps. So for now, Pocketcasts!