Apple Podcasts to Gain Downloaded Episode Controls, Annual Subscription Plans, and Hosting Partnerships

[vvojtek]

i used to use this app years... but recently switched my phone to ip13, and setup as new phone without restore from backup etc. .. and apple podcast lost mark "played" on all podcast what i listened before.
I assume this state is saved on cloud... on mac everything is good...
So switched to spotify... and so far so good! sync is quick between devices and working very good. Also UI is more "friendly"

 

[ChromeAce]

You would think a trillion dollar company would be able to make a Podcasts app that

1. allows your saved downloads to transfer to another device (tired of losing all my saved episodes every time I upgrade to a new phone)

2. allows saved downloads to still play even after the show has removed that episode from their feed

3. allows a user to upload a file of an episode they could only find on the web

4. doesn’t automatically stop downloading new episodes even if you haven’t listened in a while

 

[4jasontv]

I'm guessing the IAP goes towards the cost of the subscription? Purchase it once and it'll charge you monthly until it's done, or you manually cancel it?

LOL! Let me ask the question a different way. Why does a podcast app have a subscription?

Unless they offer exclusive content, I can not think of a single justification for charging a monthly fee for an audio player.

 

[Saturn007]

4. doesn’t automatically stop downloading new episodes even if you haven’t listened in a while

Agreed! That is a major irritation. It’s because I haven't listened in a while — on that particular device — doesn't mean I have given up on the podcast!

Another issue is the icons used for the interface. Downloaded episodes have a down arrow, which looks like an action waiting to happen — that you have to tap it to download the episode.

Then, there’s the ellipsis, which is used differently from Apple OS conventions…. It doesn't mean that it will being up a aet of options, but that the episode hasn't been downloaded. Over in Books, an item in the cloud shows one — OK, that refers to iCloud Drive, but an ellipsis doesn't convey downloadable.

Finally, one pulls down on the Library listing, and it downloads podcasts, even shows which ones have been updates. However, it turns out that many haven't been downloaded at all, yet they now show up in the podcast list. Many a time, I’ve gone for a walk after downloading episodes — or, even started listening to one — only to discover that the podcast is still in Apple's cloud and not on my disconnected device!

This is basic functionality, basic Human Interface Guidelines, and clearly doesn't live up to Steve Jobs's mantra, “It's that simple!”

Alas, Apple, it's not. It's an utter mess!

 

[Razorpit]

LOL! Let me ask the question a different way. Why does a podcast app have a subscription?

Unless they offer exclusive content, I can not think of a single justification for charging a monthly fee for an audio player.

But you'll never have to pay for version 2.0! ?

It doesn't help that stooges on podcasts such as Mac Break Weekly and Twit think subscription models like this are well deserved.

 

[Gator5000e]

LOL! Let me ask the question a different way. Why does a podcast app have a subscription?

Unless they offer exclusive content, I can not think of a single justification for charging a monthly fee for an audio player.

Some of them are audio plays that involve fairly extensive productions. And of those, some allow you to pay a fee to or become a patreon to avoid a few commercials during the episode or to download the season in advance of the weekly episode release.

 

[ackmondual]

LOL! Let me ask the question a different way. Why does a podcast app have a subscription?

Unless they offer exclusive content, I can not think of a single justification for charging a monthly fee for an audio player.

That would depend on the actual content being offered. If they can pull it off, then good for them! I've heard from a podcast about 4 years back telling newcomers that want to develop or create content for the iOS App Store that subscription is generally the way to go. The vast majority of devs on there don't even make back the $144 they need to cover their $99 annual dev's fee (after Apple takes their 30% cut, but before taxes and such). If you're implying that this won't work, then I'll agree as well, as people (even consumers on the iOS side) are generally accustomed to getting stuff for free.

I'm generally subscription averse, so I tend to seek out free podcasts anyways (some of the stuff would be too niche to meaningfully charge for anyways). I have made exceptions over the years, like with streaming services. It's always been free, but have found it worth it to pay $5 to $20 a month for some of them to get desired content, ad free at that, and not have to worry about episodes expiring because you were too busy to get them in.
I use Microsoft Office enough that I'd get into Office 365 if I didn't already have a standalone version I purchased back in 2016.

 

[4jasontv]

Some of them are audio plays that involve fairly extensive productions. And of those, some allow you to pay a fee to or become a patreon to avoid a few commercials during the episode or to download the season in advance of the weekly episode release.

What does that have to do with the app charging a subscription?

That would depend on the actual content being offered. If they can pull it off, then good for them! I've heard from a podcast about 4 years back telling newcomers that want to develop or create content for the iOS App Store that subscription is generally the way to go. The vast majority of devs on there don't even make back the $144 they need to cover their $99 annual dev's fee (after Apple takes their 30% cut, but before taxes and such). If you're implying that this won't work, then I'll agree as well, as people (even consumers on the iOS side) are generally accustomed to getting stuff for free.

I'm generally subscription averse, so I tend to seek out free podcasts anyways (some of the stuff would be too niche to meaningfully charge for anyways). I have made exceptions over the years, like with streaming services. It's always been free, but have found it worth it to pay $5 to $20 a month for some of them to get desired content, ad free at that, and not have to worry about episodes expiring because you were too busy to get them in.
I use Microsoft Office enough that I'd get into Office 365 if I didn't already have a standalone version I purchased back in 2016.

It's a podcast app. A charge of $0.99 upfront is already overpriced.

 

[ackmondual]

It's a podcast app. A charge of $0.99 upfront is already overpriced.

Then we'll see how well things work for them then. [shrug] We've had people who would never "pay for TV", but generations of cable TV proved that wrong. Not sure what else to say, other than I currently don't need to pay for podcasts (although I've donated money to some of them)

 

[4jasontv]

Then we'll see how well things work for them then. [shrug] We've had people who would never "pay for TV", but generations of cable TV proved that wrong. Not sure what else to say, other than I currently don't need to pay for podcasts (although I've donated money to some of them)

I would pay for podcasts in a heartbeat. I won't pay for a podcast app.

 

[CarlJ]

Call me weird but I haven’t listened to a single podcast yet in my life and I’m 36 years old.

Okay, you're... weird? I mean, you asked...

Eh, it's not like you said you don't have a smartphone, or have never had ice cream. I find podcasts are quite nice to listen to on long walks, and sometimes while driving. A bit like listening to talk radio was, in a different age. Get exposed to interesting viewpoints and insights, or get informed on some interesting topic. You certainly don't have to listen to podcasts, but you might find some stuff you really like, if you gave the scene a look.

(FWIW, I haven't touched Apple's Podcasts app in ages, I used Downcast for a long time, and now use Overcast - it's easily worth a few bucks for a good app - much of the content is free.)

 

[jamcgahey]

It really is an incredible feat that apple consistently finds a way to make this app more bad than it use to be. IMO the best version of this app was 2015ish when it was a single simple feed. swipe one direction to download swipe the other to mark as played. I get why they want to add more features but why convolute the UI unnecessarily?

I think the app needs a major overhaul where they simplify the UI and add video capabilities. They do this and they become relevant again.

 

[svish]

Seems like a minor change but still useful.

 

[Gator5000e]

What does that have to do with the app charging a subscription?

It's a podcast app. A charge of $0.99 upfront is already overpriced.

Maybe I misunderstood. I thought it was the ability to pay a fee for a Podcast through the app if you wanted commercial free shows or all episodes at once. If it's a fee just to use the Podcast app, then I agree.

 

[Marbles1]

>users will be able to choose how many recent episodes of shows are downloaded to a device

This is already available, on a per show basis.

A universal setting would be welcome though.

Update: it's a universal setting! At last.

Now they need to remove the 'stop downloading if you haven't listened to a show for a while' 'feature'.

 

[bier-meister]

Update: it's a universal setting! At last.

Nice that always annoyed me

While on the subject of Podcasts, I can never get my media keys (Play/Pause/etc) to work with the Podcasts app. Volume keys work fine. Is there a setting somewhere to enable this? I added the Podcasts app to Accessibility but that didn't help, and the apps I found for managing media keys only support iTunes or Spotify.