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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

#41

Post by robinsta »

geuis wrote: post #28

Some feedback. I'm a heavy Downcast user. 1) Didn't import all of my subscriptions. Specifically The Patch from Roosterteeth. Considering the opml file contains the URL, I don't see why this happened. 2) At least one or two podcasts I deleted a long time ago got imported. I haven't examined the opml file but Downcast doesn't show them anymore. So either Downcast is doing something wrong or the import is. 3) I read th…

I believe the account is so that Overcast's servers can look for new episodes and push background updates so new episodes are there when you open it.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#42

Post by MBCook »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #32
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

I saw that, but I'm not sure it will fit my needs. More than anything else, I want to be able to use the "play/pause" key on my keyboard to pause the podcast. I also really like the idea of the voice booster and I'm guessing that the web site won't get that (being 'basic' and all).

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#43

Post by jonny_eh »

solutionyogi wrote: post #3

I really love the no-nonsense FAQ: https://overcast.fm/skeptics_faq I wish everyone would write such clear and concise FAQ. I especially love the answer to question 'Why is the app free?' I loved the Instapaper app and will definitely buy this app. The current podcasts app on iOS platform are terrible. The only app I am able to tolerate is 'Downcast'.

I think PocketCasts is pretty awesome. So far Overcast isn't doing that much more for me than PocketCasts.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#44

Post by ZanderEarth32 »

Easily the best user on-boarding experience of any podcast app I've used.

I was afraid I was going to have to manually subscribe to all my feeds again, but they were imported smoothly. Creating an account couldn't have been easier either.

I also really like that there is a "Delete Account" option front and center, letting me know I won't have to jump through hoops to get rid of my account.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#45

Post by gress »

personZ wrote: post #38
runjake wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Your comment is not factual. It's a cynical opinion.

Does Marco hope that this will make you feel good about him and his app? That seems likely. Does he also want to support independent developers? That seems likely too.

Not everything can be simply boiled down to 'persuasive tactics'.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#46

Post by personZ »

gress wrote: post #45
personZ wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Your comment is not factual. It's a cynical opinion. Does Marco hope that this will make you feel good about him and his app? That seems likely. Does he also want to support independent developers? That seems likely too. Not everything can be simply boiled down to 'persuasive tactics'.

You say my comment is not factual, only then you describe his motivations being precisely what I described (rather than "ballsy and classy"). Not sure if you're being ironic or just shockingly naive.

The facts, gress, are persuasive techniques, not Marco's intentions which neither of us can measure. I made this abundantly clear in my OP, however the desperate, sad dogpile of waylaid Arment defenders ("OMG! HE SAID THAT ARMENT IS LITERALY COMCAST!") made that a little too difficult for some of you to read.

There is nothing dishonest in my edits. I have clarified my point (which has remained exactly the same, regardless of your comprehension issues) without providing yet another post for Arment cheerleaders to pummel down in their confusion about what is being discussed. Hacker News is not conducive to conversations when a side (even when "a side" is as bizarre and perplexing as "refutes basic persuasion techniques") is passionate, as evidenced by the fact that the same boorish people feel some perverse need to arrow up/arrow down through an entire already-transparent conversation, force-multiplying their input. It is HN's greatest weakness.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#47

Post by gress »

personZ wrote: post #46
gress wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your comment is not factual. It's a cynical opinion. Does Marco hope that this will make you feel good about him and his app? That seems likely. Does he also want to support independent developers? That seems likely too. Not everything can be simply boiled down to 'persuasive tactics'.

You say my comment is not factual, only then you describe his motivations being precisely what I described (rather than "ballsy and classy"). Not sure if you're being ironic or just shockingly naive. The facts, gress, are persuasive techniques, not Marco's intentions which neither of us can measure. I made this abundantly clear in my OP, however the desperate, sad dogpile of waylaid Arment defenders ("OMG! HE SAID TH…

Are you claiming your comment is factual or not?

I'm stating an opinion. Not facts. You seem to claim some kind of higher authority, and I'm calling you out for that.

[edit: I see that rather than replying, you have dishonestly edited your comment to distort your position and make this followup look out of place. I guess this is not a conversation.]

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#48

Post by rsynnott »

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.

> Basically, "if you think anything in this app is wrong, you are incorrect, and should go elsewhere"

To be honest, that isn't a terrible approach to take with this sort of app. Sure, there'll be some problems that he'll want to fix, but it's the sort of thing where people have differing personal preferences, and you're never going to please everyone.

EDIT: Also, I think I remember him talking before about how he implemented things due to user demand on Instapaper that ultimately didn't really fit, and which he regretted. Was on a podcast, unfortunately, so no link.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#49

Post by smackfu »

jonny_eh wrote: post #43
solutionyogi wrote: post #3

I really love the no-nonsense FAQ: https://overcast.fm/skeptics_faq I wish everyone would write such clear and concise FAQ. I especially love the answer to question 'Why is the app free?' I loved the Instapaper app and will definitely buy this app. The current podcasts app on iOS platform are terrible. The only app I am able to tolerate is 'Downcast'.

I think PocketCasts is pretty awesome. So far Overcast isn't doing that much more for me than PocketCasts.

PocketCasts has those weird popup windows that feel very cross-platform.

Re: Overcast – A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player

#50

Post by jonny_eh »

robinsta wrote: post #41
geuis wrote: post #28

Some feedback. I'm a heavy Downcast user. 1) Didn't import all of my subscriptions. Specifically The Patch from Roosterteeth. Considering the opml file contains the URL, I don't see why this happened. 2) At least one or two podcasts I deleted a long time ago got imported. I haven't examined the opml file but Downcast doesn't show them anymore. So either Downcast is doing something wrong or the import is. 3) I read th…

I believe the account is so that Overcast's servers can look for new episodes and push background updates so new episodes are there when you open it.

PocketCasts has the same feature without an account. The app can auto-generate a server account using the device's uuid.
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