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Overcast Podcast Player Update Brings Overhauled Apple Watch App, Improved Siri Support

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In the latest update to the popular podcast player, Overcast has overhauled its Apple Watch app to be more intuitive and bring several features that were previously only accessible on Overcast for iPhone.

The newly designed watch interface ditches the horizontally scrolling panels to reveal features, and instead uses a single screen providing button access to settings, podcast library, and now playing controls. In addition, a sync button keeps podcasts stored on your watch in sync with those on your iPhone.

The new playback controls include the ability to skip podcast chapters (if a podcast supports them) and adjust playback speed. These can be accessed by tapping a button in the bottom-right corner of the now playing screen.

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Above, the old Overcast watch interface​

Version 2021.1 of the app also includes improved Siri support and "tons of under-the-hood improvements and bug fixes," although as a result of the changes, this update drops support for watchOS 6, meaning the app will no longer work on Apple Watch Series 1 and Apple Watch Series 2.

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Above, the new 2021 Overcast watch interface​

Overcast 2021.1 is available for iPhone and iPad from the App Store in the form of an ad-supported free version or $9.99 per year ad-free. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Overcast Podcast Player Update Brings Overhauled Apple Watch App, Improved Siri Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/02/25/overcast-overhauled-apple-watch-app/
as far as I can tell, still no direct downloading of podcasts to the watch over 4G, though? A shame, as sometimes I want to go out for a run with a pod but haven't been able to sync it.
 
I like the app and used it for a few years but it lagged behind in Apple Watch features, functionality, and performance so I switched back to Pocket Casts last summer and won’t be looking back. The watch integration was much better and Pocket Casts offers something Overcast doesn’t...cross platform versions. Nice to see the changes made in case I ever need to switch back.
 
“as far as I can tell, still no direct downloading of podcasts to the watch over 4G, though? A shame, as sometimes I want to go out for a run with a pod but haven't been able to sync it.”

I think Marco mentioned he’d been having issues with the API for downloading to the watch without the iPhone. Or maybe I’m misremembering.
 
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japasneezemonk said:
“as far as I can tell, still no direct downloading of podcasts to the watch over 4G, though? A shame, as sometimes I want to go out for a run with a pod but haven't been able to sync it.”

I think Marco mentioned he’d been having issues with the API for downloading to the watch without the iPhone. Or maybe I’m misremembering.
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I think you're right, but others such as Pocketcasts have it afaik? I'm not too fussed, I still love Overcast for its simplicity and the playback features, but it'd be a nice addition to be able to solely use my watch and not have to think about syncing.
 
IllinoisCorn said:
Also, the "indie dev" has more money than he knows what to do with. The idea this is some "poor indie" is absurd.
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No one said "poor indie". Indie dev just means independent, which he is.

Yes, he's had a very successful career and likely doesn't need any of the money he makes off of Overcast, but that has nothing to do with any of this.

And yes, Marco can be a bit of a whiner, but there's a very easy fix for that—just stop listening to him. It's really that easy.
 
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IllinoisCorn said:
He's a fool. He had made a great content blocker many years ago. He explained the rationale for it perfectly before it's release.

Two days later he pulled it because perhaps the app might have monetarily hurt his friends in the Apple Blogo-Sphere.

And he whined about it.
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So you begrudge someone for having a conscience about possibly hurting the ability of others to make a living at the expense of his own potential income and then immediately infer than no one should purchase his other app because he ‘doesn’t need the money’. Sounds like you’ve ground that axe of yours to nub by now...
 
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boss.king said:
No one said "poor indie". Indie dev just means independent, which he is.

Yes, he's had a very successful career and likely doesn't need any of the money he makes off of Overcast, but that has nothing to do with any of this.

And yes, Marco can be a bit of a whiner, but there's a very easy fix for that—just stop listening to him. It's really that easy.
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Exactly. I enjoy ATP for the most part and am also sometimes put off by Marco’s whining but applaud anyone who’s been able to build a solid career as an indie developer against the litany of mega corps playing in the same space.
 
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Was this the app that was censoring certain podcasts a while back?

Also are these podcast app really that much better than the included solution from Apple? I’ve been listening to podcasts since pretty much the beginning, on my 3rd gen iPod. What makes people want to pay to use these apps?
 
Razorpit said:
Was this the app that was censoring certain podcasts a while back?

Also are these podcast app really that much better than the included solution from Apple? I’ve been listening to podcasts since pretty much the beginning, on my 3rd gen iPod. What makes people want to pay to use these apps?
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The big benefit of Overcast was the ability to download directly to the watch, and at one point it had some features that official podcast app didn't. I frankly haven't kept up with it as much since August as I haven't been listening to podcasts much. The dev made a change to make syncing podcasts "easier" that actually broke it for most, and then went silent for a long time.
 
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Razorpit said:
Was this the app that was censoring certain podcasts a while back?

Also are these podcast app really that much better than the included solution from Apple? I’ve been listening to podcasts since pretty much the beginning, on my 3rd gen iPod. What makes people want to pay to use these apps?
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Not censoring so much as just not surfacing. You can still add whatever podcast you want via an RSS feed since it's ultimately just a player, it just won't show some far-right podcasts in the search results.
 
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Razorpit said:
Was this the app that was censoring certain podcasts a while back?

Also are these podcast app really that much better than the included solution from Apple? I’ve been listening to podcasts since pretty much the beginning, on my 3rd gen iPod. What makes people want to pay to use these apps?
Click to expand...

The first part wouldn't shock me at all. His ATP show can be a little hard to listen to at times with him and his co-host Casey always contorting themselves with the endless disclaimers they throw in to almost everything they say in an effort to not possibly, in some round about way, offend someone with an oversensitive trigger. The fact that he would ban a podcast from the directory that could potentially hurt someone's feelings seems on brand. That said I listen to several podcasts that can best be described as definitely not his ideological cup of tea and the have never had a problem showing up in his directory.

On the second part, the smart speed feature alone is worth using it. But with Overcast you don't have to pay unless you are completely allergic to ads (which I don't even notice in this app) or if you want to be able to upload your own audio files.
 
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WATCH OUT !

I just updated my Overcast app a few hours ago thru the Apple App Store.
To my dismay, when I went for my daily run, I realised the Applewatch companion app had disappeared from my watch.
After thorough research, I learned the updated version the overcast app is not compatible with Applewatch series 1 and 2 running WatchOS 6.

A shame it was not clearly indicated on the update
 
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Blackstick said:
Does his wealth offend you? It's a solid podcast app.
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No, his wealth does not offend me. I wasn't very clear---sorry.

A commenter expressed this "Indie" developer needs our support.

I was pointing out he doesn't need our support, at least not financially.

I am happy for his wealth---truly. He helped create what turned out to be a really successful platform (that I personally have no interest in, but whatever), and God bless him for getting paid for doing it. True American success story.

But I still dislike him and won't pay him a dime.
 
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tbayrgs said:
So you begrudge someone for having a conscience about possibly hurting the ability of others to make a living at the expense of his own potential income and then immediately infer than no one should purchase his other app because he ‘doesn’t need the money’. Sounds like you’ve ground that axe of yours to nub by now...
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No, you either misunderstand or read that out of context. He knew absolutely what he was doing before he did it. He had the conviction to make the app after correctly identifying the problem, released it and then cried in his corner and snivellingly pulled the app after his friends complained.

He helped solve a problem with ad tracking (and what conscience are your referring to---you on the side of the ad trackers and surveillance industry?) and then decided against it when it "hurt" the pockets of his friends.

Super courageous guy.
 
All I know is that a couple of weeks ago Overcast suddenly stopped downloading a password protected podcast feed to which I subscribed and I emailed Marco and explained what was happening and he immediately implemented a server-side fix and everything immediately went back to normal.

I appreciate that kind of customer service.
 
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Canyda said:
All I know is that a couple of weeks ago Overcast suddenly stopped downloading a password protected podcast feed to which I subscribed and I emailed Marco and explained what was happening and he immediately implemented a server-side fix and everything immediately went back to normal.

I appreciate that kind of customer service.
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I wish I could get that out of him. I have one particular podcast that won't play on my watch no matter what, but works on my phone. I've emailed a few times now explaining clearly in as much detail as I can and ... radio silence.
 
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