Here's What's New in the iOS 17 Podcasts App

[MacRumors]

Apple in iOS 17 has revised several elements of its stock apps, including the Podcasts app. There are a few noteworthy changes to the functionality and design of the app with the update, as detailed below.

The biggest change is a slick new design for the Now Playing screen, which allows the podcast's full show page art – or any episode chapter images – to take over the entire screen.

The playback controls on the bottom half of the screen have also been rejigged. The play speed button has been moved from the bottom left corner of the screen and now sits next to the rewind button.

Podcasts app in iOS 16 (left) versus iOS 17​

The sleep timer button has also been moved from the bottom right corner and is now located next to the fast-forward button, so the main bank of controls is more compact with five buttons in the row instead of just rewind, play, and fast-forward. Some buttons also now take on a neat new glow when activated.

The queue interface has changed, too. Whereas previously you swiped up to see if anything was in the Playing Next list, now there's a dedicated queue button at the bottom next to the AirPlay icon.

Podcasts app in iOS 16 (left) versus iOS 17​

Pressing it brings up a whole new screen showing any queued episodes as a list. You can swipe to remove an episode from the queue or clear the list, and if there are no episodes up next it will tell you that nothing is queued.

The Up Next carousel at the top of the Listen Now screen features redesigned cards that add a color shade to go with the podcast's art, and they feature a new three-dot options menu icon, a new compact playback indicator that shows if you have started a podcast but not finished it, as well as the episode's length.

Podcasts app in iOS 16 (left) versus iOS 17​

The same indicator can also be found in the Up Next screen, where the "Play Next" and "Play Last" options have been replaced with "Add to Queue."

Podcasts app in iOS 16 (left) versus iOS 17​

In iOS 16, if you've completed an episode in a podcast's episodes list, it just says "Played" below the episode summary. In iOS 17, that's been replaced by a replay icon and the episode length. A checkmark now also sits next to the date above the episode title, indicating that you've listened to it.

Article Link: Here's What's New in the iOS 17 Podcasts App

 

[kenny7]

The new UI is a mess. Podcast chapters are hidden away and need so many clicks to change chapters.

 

[japanime]

So, they moved everything around to make it a shiny new kind of confusing.

 

[wanha]

Overcast is the way to go when it comes to podcasts on Apple devices

 

[msackey]

How is the syncing? I’m not too pleased with their current general release version as it doesn’t sync across devices like I think it should. The queues aren’t synched which means device to device, I’m not able to use the same play list.

 

[Vjosullivan]

The biggest change is ... the dominant color of the podcast art ... takes over the entire screen

Is that really what counts as a big change, these days?

 

[tomtad]

Strange that the new mini player design hasn’t been carried over from Music.

 

[frizzelle]

How is the syncing? I’m not too pleased with their current general release version as it doesn’t sync across devices like I think it should. The queues aren’t synched which means device to device, I’m not able to use the same play list.

Yes I completely agree, this is my biggest gripe. I'm happy they're continuing to put effort in with the app, but that seems like a basic oversight.

 

[ugahairydawgs]

How is the syncing? I’m not too pleased with their current general release version as it doesn’t sync across devices like I think it should. The queues aren’t synched which means device to device, I’m not able to use the same play list.

Lines up with the poor syncing in Apple Books and the Want to Read list. Don't get why something basic like syncing in these two apps is so difficult for Apple when the syncing in most of their other apps is pretty rock solid (in my experience).

 

[Reason077]

Podcast makers will likely be pleased with the increased "branding" on the play screen, but I don't really like the reduced contrast of the controls. The "swipe down" bar to close the "now playing" screen is almost invisible in the screenshot above, for example.

Also, hopefully the slight UI rearrangement makes the "play speed" (1x 1.25x etc) button less easy to press accidentally? The number of times I've wondered why everyone's voice sounds funny because it accidentally got tapped either on my watch or phone screen...

 

[zapmymac]

Please carry this over to tvOS. I really would like to have a speed option when I watch a podcast.

 

[PsykX]

The Podcasts app has always been a mess to navigate. I'm still confused after 1 year of use, and I'm usually a power user in everything I use...

I hope it's better with iOS 17.

 

[MilaM]

Try the Overcast app. I switched a year ago because I could not deal with all the annoyances of Apple's app anymore.

Super happy and you can use it mostly for free. Paid tier is only 10 EUR/USD per year.

 

[msackey]

Lines up with the poor syncing in Apple Books and the Want to Read list. Don't get why something basic like syncing in these two apps is so difficult for Apple when the syncing in most of their other apps is pretty rock solid (in my experience).

That's interesting as I haven't noticed the "Want to Read List" not syncing; but I also haven't paid attention to that since I don't use it much. And yes, that list should definitely sync!

Perhaps Apple's idea is that device to device, an individual might have a different read or play list and so it doesn't sync it. If that's the rationale, then they should have some options allowing user to choose whether or not they want their play/read list to sync across device. I would imagine that for most general users they do want those lists synced.

 

[msackey]

The Podcasts app has always been a mess to navigate. I'm still confused after 1 year of use, and I'm usually a power user in everything I use...

I hope it's better with iOS 17.

Are you confused about the play list (the queue) vs. Up Next? I was for YEARS and finally figured it out not too long ago.

The queue is your play list. Up Next is basically indicating per podcast feed, what will be the next episode to play if you select that feed. The terminology is so confusing. Anyhow, don't know if that's what you're confused about...

 

[phenste]

there are some elements of this that would make a lot of sense to carry over to the Music app, just sayin…sleep timer, improved queueing…that’s basically it, but yeah

 

[JM]

The queue interface has changed, too. Whereas previously you swiped up to see if anything was in the Playing Next list, now there's a dedicated queue button at the bottom next to the AirPlay icon.

😵

Ermagerd. FINALLY.

How about they fix Notifications next to just have ONE tank. Not this stupid hidden “other” notifications that pops up the next day.

 

[Schtibbie]

Would it kill them to add a repeat button so I don’t have to download sleep sound podcasts that are literally 8 hours long? So many things are only published as “podcast” and not in Music app which actually has a repeat button. I’d like to loop something all night. Looping should be a standard button just like PLAY is.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Does it stop re-enabling auto-play next episode after I turn it off yet?

 

[KaiFiMacFan]

Maybe iOS could stop resetting my skip forward setting of 15 seconds to 30 seconds. 🤔

I guess that’s a Settings problem rather than a Podcasts problem, but it’s really annoying.

 

[Devnul0]

Have they finally fixed it so that if you choose to subscribe to a podcast that's been around for a while, and want to listen to it in order from the beginning, it will download the next episode(s) that you need to listen to, as opposed to only downloading the most recently-published episodes? I had this misbehavior (only downloads the most recent) confirmed by Apple support and it's incredibly irritating when a stretch of your commute doesn't have service and you're listening to a podcast that should be listened to in order (e.g. a serial story) as opposed to only the most recent (e.g. news).

 

[Sakurambo-kun]

The UI in Apple's podcast app has been such an utter disaster for so long I'm genuinely surprised that anyone who knows that the app store exists still uses it.

I use Pocketcasts. A clean, simple grid of cover art with a dash of colour on the corner if there are new episodes. That's all I need.

I just wish they had a real desktop app instead of the usual bare bones web app garbage.

 

[jfim88]

Pocket Casts is my way to go

 

[nburwell]

Pocket Casts is my way to go

Same here. And still no volume boost. So I’ll continue to stick with Pocket Casts.

 

[iMerik]

I'm a Pocket Casts lifetime Plus member, so it's hard for me to give that up. I should use the browser version more than I do.