Apple Updates Podcasts iOS App With Custom Stations, Playlists, and iCloud Syncing

MacRumors · Mar 21, 2013, 03:30 PM

Apple has updated its Podcasts*app, adding a much desired iCloud syncing feature along with the ability to create custom stations and On-The-Go playlists.

With custom stations, users can compile their favorite podcasts into lists that will be automatically updated when new episodes are released, and a new option allows listeners to decide whether custom stations begin playing the newest or oldest unplayed episodes.

Podcasts, which was released in June of last year, received significant criticism for its inability to sync with iTunes, a problem that has been remedied with the new update. In its original form, the Podcasts app garnered quite a few negative reviews for its shortcomings, giving the app a two star rating in the App Store. Version 1.2 appears to address many of the issues users had with the app.

Quote:

-Create custom stations of your favorite podcasts that update automatically with new episodes
-Choose whether your stations begin playing with the newest or oldest unplayed episode
-Your stations are stored in iCloud and kept up-to-date on all of your devices
-Create an On-The-Go playlist with your own list of episodes
-Playlists synced from iTunes now appear in the Podcasts app
-The Now Playing view has been redesigned with easier to use playback controls
-Addressed an issue with resuming playback when returning to the app
-Additional performance and stability improvements

Stations are stored in Apple's iCloud and will be synced across all iOS devices. Playlists created in iTunes now sync with the Podcasts app, and a bug has been fixed that prevented playback from resuming correctly after exiting the app.

Podcasts users may also notice a few changes to the app's interface, which is now similar in style to the native iTunes music app. Apple has done away with the skeuomorphic push-buttons and removed the reel-to-reel player hidden underneath the image for finer controls.

Old design on the left, New design on the right

Podcasts for the iPad and the iPhone is a free app that can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Apple Updates Podcasts iOS App With Custom Stations, Playlists, and iCloud Syncing

ps3zocker · Mar 21, 2013, 03:31 PM

And they removed most of the skeuomorphism!

OldSchoolMacGuy · Mar 21, 2013, 03:32 PM

And here Macrumors said Apple was going to kill Podcast and end it.

needfx · Mar 21, 2013, 03:33 PM

not sure if I should kumbaya, hallelujah or yipikaye

Squilly · Mar 21, 2013, 03:33 PM

Fwiw, I haven't touched this app since it's unveiling.

ArtOfWarfare · Mar 21, 2013, 03:35 PM

I used to listen to podcasts back in the days of classic iPods... IDK why, but it seemed every show I listened to got boring or ended so I haven't listened to a podcast in years now...

slffl · Mar 21, 2013, 03:36 PM

Oh wow, the updated looks horrible! They took away the great radio look of it and made it look like OSX Finder. If this is the new look of iOS, I HATE it!

Edit: Nevermind, you can still use the old look by going to 'Top Charts'. Thank god!

talmy · Mar 21, 2013, 03:38 PM

I got sick of this awful app and went with Downcast a month ago. Far faster and more reliable.

PBP · Mar 21, 2013, 03:38 PM

SamGabbay · Mar 21, 2013, 03:39 PM

We went from....

To...

needfx · Mar 21, 2013, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by talmy

I got sick of this awful app and went with Downcast a month ago. Fas farter and more reliable.

sorry, I had to

Casiotone · Mar 21, 2013, 03:40 PM

This looks like a complete rewrite of the app.

Fabian90 · Mar 21, 2013, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamGabbay

We went from....

To...

much better than before

Peace · Mar 21, 2013, 03:42 PM

Find My iPhone has an update too.

CptnJustc · Mar 21, 2013, 03:42 PM

About... friggin'... time on the iCloud syncing.

To tell the truth though, I thought the reel-to-reel skeumorphism was kind of charming. My secret shame!

Stella · Mar 21, 2013, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps3zocker

And they removed most of the skeuomorphism!

And may this continue...

PBP · Mar 21, 2013, 03:43 PM

It begins

Slix · Mar 21, 2013, 03:43 PM

Seeing the change in a decently short amount of time from the old design to the new one, I wonder if we'll see something similar in iOS 7?

We will see, but either way, Podcasts looks better than before anyways. :P

Jessica Lares · Mar 21, 2013, 03:44 PM

Not updating until they add back the skeuomorphism. I'm so used to it now that it just looks weird.

.Asa · Mar 21, 2013, 03:46 PM

Dang it, another badge on the App Store icon, demanding my attention... This happens to me like 6 times a day, not really news.

rhett7660 · Mar 21, 2013, 03:48 PM

I haven't been using this for a while now, but does this app stream from the cloud, download from the cloud? Is there an option for streaming only or download only?

nepalisherpa · Mar 21, 2013, 03:50 PM

I actually like the new design more than the old one.

phillipduran · Mar 21, 2013, 03:50 PM

Scott Forstall would not approve of this.

All these programs being deskumorphisized. Apple needs to get control of the MCP.

ThatsMeRight · Mar 21, 2013, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PBP

Image
It begins

It already started with iOS 6 and updated apps like "Music".

WestonHarvey1 · Mar 21, 2013, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps3zocker

And they removed most of the skeuomorphism!

What was particularly skeuomorphic about it? It had buttons?

Mar 21, 2013, 03:31 PM	#2
ps3zocker macrumors member Join Date: May 2012	And they removed most of the skeuomorphism!
	26

Mar 21, 2013, 03:36 PM	#7
slffl macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Seattle, WA	Oh wow, the updated looks horrible! They took away the great radio look of it and made it look like OSX Finder. If this is the new look of iOS, I HATE it! Edit: Nevermind, you can still use the old look by going to 'Top Charts'. Thank god! __________________ Why waste your time posting how much you hate Apple products?
	0

Mar 21, 2013, 03:38 PM	#8
talmy macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oregon	I got sick of this awful app and went with Downcast a month ago. Far faster and more reliable. __________________ 27" i7 iMac, 15" MacBook Pro, Mac mini with SL Server, 4 other Macs and an Apple TV.
	1

Mar 21, 2013, 03:39 PM	#10
SamGabbay macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2011	We went from.... To... Attached Thumbnails
	8

Mar 21, 2013, 03:43 PM	#17
PBP macrumors regular Join Date: May 2011	It begins
	54

Mar 21, 2013, 03:32 PM	#3
OldSchoolMacGuy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2008	And here Macrumors said Apple was going to kill Podcast and end it.
	1

Mar 21, 2013, 03:33 PM	#4
needfx macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: macrumors apparently	not sure if I should kumbaya, hallelujah or yipikaye
	7

Mar 21, 2013, 03:33 PM	#5
Squilly In Time-Out Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: PA	Fwiw, I haven't touched this app since it's unveiling.
	2

Mar 21, 2013, 03:35 PM	#6
ArtOfWarfare macrumors 68040 Join Date: Nov 2007	I used to listen to podcasts back in the days of classic iPods... IDK why, but it seemed every show I listened to got boring or ended so I haven't listened to a podcast in years now...
	1

Mar 21, 2013, 03:40 PM	#12
Casiotone macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2008	This looks like a complete rewrite of the app.
	0

Mar 21, 2013, 03:42 PM	#14
Peace macrumors P6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Space--The ONLY Frontier	Find My iPhone has an update too.
	1

Mar 21, 2013, 03:42 PM	#15
CptnJustc macrumors regular Join Date: Jan 2007	About... friggin'... time on the iCloud syncing. To tell the truth though, I thought the reel-to-reel skeumorphism was kind of charming. My secret shame!
	7

Mar 21, 2013, 03:43 PM	#18
Slix macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2010	Seeing the change in a decently short amount of time from the old design to the new one, I wonder if we'll see something similar in iOS 7? We will see, but either way, Podcasts looks better than before anyways. :P __________________ Poliwager ~ Poliwager Forums ~ YouTube ~ Twitter
	5

Mar 21, 2013, 03:44 PM	#19
Jessica Lares macrumors 68030 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA	Not updating until they add back the skeuomorphism. I'm so used to it now that it just looks weird. __________________  Have You Hugged Your Mac Today? Daily Expressions \| Power Mac G5 \| Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro \| iPod Nano (7G) \| iPod Shuffle (2012) \| iPad Mini
	3

Mar 21, 2013, 03:46 PM	#20
.Asa macrumors member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!	Dang it, another badge on the App Store icon, demanding my attention... This happens to me like 6 times a day, not really news.
	0

Mar 21, 2013, 03:48 PM	#21
rhett7660 macrumors 604 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny, Southern California	I haven't been using this for a while now, but does this app stream from the cloud, download from the cloud? Is there an option for streaming only or download only? __________________ "It's quite an experience to hold the hand of someone as they move from living to dead." "Times are looking grim these days, holding on to everything, it's hard to draw the line"
	0

Mar 21, 2013, 03:50 PM	#22
nepalisherpa macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: USA	I actually like the new design more than the old one. __________________ Mid-2010 13" MBP/128GB Crucial M4 SSD/250GB Stock HDD/8GB RAM/Dual Boot: OS X 10.8.2 & Windows 7 Professional iPhone 5 32GB Black iPad 2 32GB WiFi Black
	6

Mar 21, 2013, 03:50 PM	#23
phillipduran macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Iowa	Scott Forstall would not approve of this. All these programs being deskumorphisized. Apple needs to get control of the MCP. __________________ That's "Geniuses," not Genii, genius. To err, is PC.
	1

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