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Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

itunes.apple.com

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Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#61

Post by smackfu »

jaysonelliot wrote: post #51

I understand why Apple felt the need to create this app. The current method of managing and listening to podcasts is split between iTunes and the Music app, and holds on to old models of syncing between the computer and the iPhone / iPod. It's a mess, and that, of course, is why there are third-party apps that have been doing a better job for podcast enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this is bad news for the makers of the…

I wonder though, because you still need to download the app. I think the previous position in the Music app was much more prominent for someone who wasn't already a podcast listener. So now someone searches the store for "podcasts" and sees a free Apple app with 3 stars and a $1 third-party app with 5 stars, and that's pretty competitive.

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#62

Post by ZeroGravitas »

jaysonelliot wrote: post #51

I understand why Apple felt the need to create this app. The current method of managing and listening to podcasts is split between iTunes and the Music app, and holds on to old models of syncing between the computer and the iPhone / iPod. It's a mess, and that, of course, is why there are third-party apps that have been doing a better job for podcast enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this is bad news for the makers of the…

Coverflow got bought by Apple, but your general point stands.

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#63

Post by pohl »

solsenNet wrote: post #57
jaysonelliot wrote: post #51

I understand why Apple felt the need to create this app. The current method of managing and listening to podcasts is split between iTunes and the Music app, and holds on to old models of syncing between the computer and the iPhone / iPod. It's a mess, and that, of course, is why there are third-party apps that have been doing a better job for podcast enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this is bad news for the makers of the…

I use Stitcher. and they've put a lot of work into it...

I have been using Stitcher too, and love it. Interestingly, after The Talk Show moved from 5by5 over to Mule Radio, I contacted all of the parties involved to try to get the new version of the show on Stitcher, so that all of my postcasts are managed in one app.

I got a reply from someone at Mule (whose name I didn't recognize) that said that they did not like Stitcher's business model. This strikes me as strange because I figured that the larger the audience, the better deal the podcast is giving its sponsors. But, no, apparently they don't want Stitcher to host their podcast and then serve iAds (which I ignore) in the app. But yet they have no problem with Apple hosting the podcast on their servers.

This really sucks because Stitcher does a lot of things that lend to a great user experience including (but not limited to) transcoding the podcasts so that they can be efficiently streamed.

Hopefully this new app from Apple will allow me to gather my podcasts under one umbrella.

Edit: Ugh...no, this new app is nowhere near as pleasant a user experience as Stitcher.

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#64

Post by theguycalledtom »

smackfu wrote: post #61
jaysonelliot wrote: post #51

I understand why Apple felt the need to create this app. The current method of managing and listening to podcasts is split between iTunes and the Music app, and holds on to old models of syncing between the computer and the iPhone / iPod. It's a mess, and that, of course, is why there are third-party apps that have been doing a better job for podcast enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this is bad news for the makers of the…

I wonder though, because you still need to download the app. I think the previous position in the Music app was much more prominent for someone who wasn't already a podcast listener. So now someone searches the store for "podcasts" and sees a free Apple app with 3 stars and a $1 third-party app with 5 stars, and that's pretty competitive.

Yep, podcasts will remain niche if there is no built in support with a home screen app. Just as smartphone apps were niche until apple added the app store on the home screen.

Now if a podcaster wants to tweet "check out my podcast" with a link, they have to preface it by saying "make sure you already have a podcast app installed". A lot of friction for users unfamiliar with the medium.

Of course, Apple, even in a built in app, would never add all the features serious podcast listeners would need, so Pocket casts would still healthy exist. In fact, with the increased exposure podcasts would have on the home screen, Pocket casts would have even more people searching for "pro podcast apps".

Now all Pocket Casts has is the chance to compete with a free Apple podcast app tucked away in the app store.

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#65

Post by theguycalledtom »

jonny_eh wrote: post #55
theguycalledtom wrote: post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ok, if someone tweets to you "Check out this cool podcast" and provides a direct link, how many steps does it take for you to subscribe?

The podcast app is an improvement to the old way, requiring a person to go to their computer and load up iTunes, then to sync.

But a much better way would have just been to add a "subscribe" button to podcasts in the itunes store, even if they were still in the music app, (which was once called the "iPod" app). Just as magazines in Newstand are allowed to let users subscribe and download new issues in the background.

Being in the music app also allowed them to be searchable by spotlight, which even gave you a blue indicator of what episode was un-listened.

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#66

Post by LVB »

jaysonelliot wrote: post #51

I understand why Apple felt the need to create this app. The current method of managing and listening to podcasts is split between iTunes and the Music app, and holds on to old models of syncing between the computer and the iPhone / iPod. It's a mess, and that, of course, is why there are third-party apps that have been doing a better job for podcast enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this is bad news for the makers of the…

I think there is plenty of room for multiple podcast apps to do well, even with Apple's version present. Podcasts really do make up an important part of many people's day (not unlike an audiobook, or NPR, H. Stern, Rush, etc.), and the way people want to consume and manage podcasts varies substantially and that opens up possibilities for multiple apps.

I don't even see it as that far-fetched to imagine this addition helping 3rd party apps. Say Average Joe doesn't even know what a podcast is, but the Apple app is interesting enough that he tries it/them out and suddenly "podcast" is on his radar. He is now a new potential customer for a 3rd party app that has a feature he'd like but is missing from the Apple app.

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#67

Post by hrktb »

jaysonelliot wrote: post #51

I understand why Apple felt the need to create this app. The current method of managing and listening to podcasts is split between iTunes and the Music app, and holds on to old models of syncing between the computer and the iPhone / iPod. It's a mess, and that, of course, is why there are third-party apps that have been doing a better job for podcast enthusiasts. Unfortunately, this is bad news for the makers of the…

This app only covers very basic needs, so even midly interested users would go try a third party app I think.

The feature that strikes me the most is the lack of shownotes. I guess these are not part of the itunes hosted resources.

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#68

Post by towelrod »

siglesias wrote: post #11
pavel_lishin wrote: post #9

I assume that Music will still support podcasts? I'm miffed that videos were moved to an entirely different app; I'm subscribed to the TED talks video podcasts, but have to launch an entirely different application to listen to them (and yup, I listen to 99% of them as I'm walking around instead of watching them.)

It won't. Podcasts are removed from Music in iOS 6.

Are you kidding me? Currently my car radio can control the music app and let me listen to podcasts. Why would they take that functionality away?

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#69

Post by mcfunley »

smackfu wrote: post #43

I use Downcast every day, not even as an advanced user, but just because I need to download podcasts on-the-go. This sucks in comparison. * Catalog (aka Store) is very slow and clunky. Takes 5-10 seconds to flag episodes as "Downloaded" after I click on a podcast I have episodes for. * Clicking download button takes 4-5 seconds to react. Progress of download is not shown in store, but only in Library. * No connection…

If you add podcasts by URL, you are probably an advanced user.

Re: Apple Releases Dedicated iOS Podcasts App

#70

Post by michaelbuckbee »

smackfu wrote: post #43

I use Downcast every day, not even as an advanced user, but just because I need to download podcasts on-the-go. This sucks in comparison. * Catalog (aka Store) is very slow and clunky. Takes 5-10 seconds to flag episodes as "Downloaded" after I click on a podcast I have episodes for. * Clicking download button takes 4-5 seconds to react. Progress of download is not shown in store, but only in Library. * No connection…

I had a significant (and expensive) issue with Downcast where it would continue to download podcasts from wifi -> 3g.

I'd get in my car and my phone would be still connected via WiFi to the house, start Downcast to listen to something and then drive off - switching it to 3G and incurring mobile data overage charges.

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