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Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

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Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#31

Post by k-mcgrady »

w4 wrote: post #10

I've never seen the tab bar put in the navigation bar before, and I really dig it. I'm actually in the process of designing an education app that plays audio, and have been debating how to avoid a hamburger/basement menu or gestures since the main audience for the app is older, and assumably less tech savvy. Putting the tab bar on top is a clever, and in hindsight incredibly obvious, compromise, since it provides for…

>> "I've never seen the tab bar put in the navigation bar before"

I don't think it's a tab bar in the navigation bar. It just seems to be four buttons on a UIToolbar equally spaced.

Edit: Strange that this was down voted...care to explain why? It's almost certainly not a tab bar. A tab bar switches view controllers. The buttons on this bar present new ones modally leaving the current view controller in place.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#32

Post by k-mcgrady »

MBCook wrote: post #12

Glad to see this is out, it looks nice. If you look at Federico's review/interview [1] you can find clips of the voice enhancer and gap shortener, they sound quite good. I know a few people who will probably jump on this. I fight with the Podcasts app (and podcasts in iTunes) on a weekly basis. I would love to replace it with something by a developer with a good track record like Marco, but I do about 80% of my podca…

In the FAQ it mentions a 'basic web app'. I haven't looked into it but you may be able to play on your desktop through that.

https://overcast.fm/skeptics_faq

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#34

Post by runjake »

personZ wrote: post #30
pflats wrote: post #2

Overcast's settings page encourages you to try Marco's competitors if you don't like his app, right above the export option. Ballsy and classy. ( http://i.imgur.com/xO09x8d.png ) It's a shame his two tentpole features (Smart Speed, Voice Boost) are locked behind the paywall, though. I'd have liked to try them out before dropping a sawbuck. Not sure if that's part of Apple's "no time-limited demos" policy, a business…

Ballsy and classy. It's also perhaps a bit manipulative. I'm not in any way saying this in a critical or dismissive fashion, but rather given that many here are learning from software like this, and I do think there is a lesson to be drawn from that. Persuasion and social norms are powerful forces. Giving direct links to your competitors not only demonstrates confidence in your product (e.g. it must be better given t…

You're comparing this "tactic" to that Comcast fiasco? If you listen to any of Marco's podcasts, he feels really strongly about independent developers and even his independent competitors, who he compliments often (esp. the Pocket Casts and Downcast people).

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#36

Post by runjake »

pflats wrote: post #2

Overcast's settings page encourages you to try Marco's competitors if you don't like his app, right above the export option. Ballsy and classy. ( http://i.imgur.com/xO09x8d.png ) It's a shame his two tentpole features (Smart Speed, Voice Boost) are locked behind the paywall, though. I'd have liked to try them out before dropping a sawbuck. Not sure if that's part of Apple's "no time-limited demos" policy, a business…

His primary competitors, Downcast and Pocket Casts, cost $2.99 and $3.99 up front, respectively. Calling it a "paywall" seems disingenuous.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#37

Post by nnutter »

untog wrote: post #20
pflats wrote: post #2

Overcast's settings page encourages you to try Marco's competitors if you don't like his app, right above the export option. Ballsy and classy. ( http://i.imgur.com/xO09x8d.png ) It's a shame his two tentpole features (Smart Speed, Voice Boost) are locked behind the paywall, though. I'd have liked to try them out before dropping a sawbuck. Not sure if that's part of Apple's "no time-limited demos" policy, a business…

Ballsy and classy. To me it feels a little haughty. Basically, "if you think anything in this app is wrong, you are incorrect, and should go elsewhere" Don't get me wrong, it's Marco so he has earned the right to dictate how an app is. It strikes me as more funny than anything else, but I wouldn't want people to see this and think they can replicate it without having a big name to back it up.

This is probably closer to the truth than either the "ballsy" or "manipulative" arguments. Though, I think this is overly cynical. He just doesn't think it's worth doing support. He has stated numerous times that, if he could, he would rather just refund people'e money than provide any support.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#38

Post by personZ »

runjake wrote: post #34
personZ wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ballsy and classy. It's also perhaps a bit manipulative. I'm not in any way saying this in a critical or dismissive fashion, but rather given that many here are learning from software like this, and I do think there is a lesson to be drawn from that. Persuasion and social norms are powerful forces. Giving direct links to your competitors not only demonstrates confidence in your product (e.g. it must be better given t…

You're comparing this "tactic" to that Comcast fiasco? If you listen to any of Marco's podcasts, he feels really strongly about independent developers and even his independent competitors, who he compliments often (esp. the Pocket Casts and Downcast people).

Yes, I'm comparing persuasive tactics. Is there some reason I shouldn't?

The notion that anyone would read my comment and think they have to defend Marco or silence an obvious, factual comment is rather sad.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#40

Post by huu »

personZ wrote: post #30
pflats wrote: post #2

Overcast's settings page encourages you to try Marco's competitors if you don't like his app, right above the export option. Ballsy and classy. ( http://i.imgur.com/xO09x8d.png ) It's a shame his two tentpole features (Smart Speed, Voice Boost) are locked behind the paywall, though. I'd have liked to try them out before dropping a sawbuck. Not sure if that's part of Apple's "no time-limited demos" policy, a business…

Ballsy and classy. It's also perhaps a bit manipulative. I'm not in any way saying this in a critical or dismissive fashion, but rather given that many here are learning from software like this, and I do think there is a lesson to be drawn from that. Persuasion and social norms are powerful forces. Giving direct links to your competitors not only demonstrates confidence in your product (e.g. it must be better given t…

While I think, in general, a move like this can be seen as manipulative, I think this particular case is an exception.

Specifically, the line "Support independent developers, such as:", endears me to the publisher's genuine intentions. "Support" is the operative word here, and I think the comparison between this and the Comcast ordeal is different because I can't imagine Comcast using those words to describe their competitors.

I don't think what the publisher is doing diffuses criticism. I think it anticipates it and wraps it under a notion of "I know I can't give you everything you could want in a podcast app, so try these ones instead if you want". To me that's very different from, "This is the best podcast app, these other competitors can't possibly give you what I give you."

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