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Podcast sync
- Thread starter whsbuss
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So real time syncing between iPhone, desktop, and watch works flawlessly with PocketCasts?
Pretty much. If you refresh it on your iPhone it will be refreshed on the watch
Pocketcast have also added support for watch alone usage so it will update on its own via pocketcast plus
As Overcast currently has some issues syncing to my watch, I tried out iCatcher. Do not like the user interface at all but syncing podcasts to the watch is working good. So when I am going for a run and Overcast has not yet transferred the podcast I want to hear, I take iCatcher. Syncs fast when watch is on charger, connected to WiFi and Bluetooth is off.
...Problem with that one is, it requires a costly annual subscription to enable key Watch functionality.
Yeah. Its author is clearly a programmer rather than a designer. There are prettier podcast apps out there but, after lot of testing and paying-for (and then sadly discarding) in-app subscriptions to enable things like side-loading, I settled on iCatcher. No regrets, and you get used to its minor UI quirks quickly. And, no annual subscription for what IMHO should be standard functionality. Sure, it's not as pretty as Castro or Overcast, but it works better in multiple respects, especially regarding the Watch.
Instead of paying for a typically $20-ish annual subscription (that in the case of Castro and Overcast ended up totally wasted for me because they just didn't work well with the Watch), I tip iCatcher's author and recommend you do so as well-- it's the most effective incentive mechanism users have. That's especially stark when he delivers a feature you've requested, which he has in my case. What better way to make a great app even better?
Sideloading of .mp3 and .m4a files such as DRM-free audiobooks and lectures is especially slick with iCatcher, and it's an example of what others make you pay for. Best way, just AirDrop the file(s) and away you go. There are other ways too, but that's the slickest of any app I've used. Once transferred into your desired iCatcher podcast/folder on your iPhone, you can swipe-and-tap to load it into the Watch, or recent versions of iCatcher lets you set any podcast/folder to auto-transfer when new stuff arrives in it. I've posted a few tutorials on examples here. Super-easy, fast, and audio quality is not compromised as it is in some apps that perform nasty compressions.
Okay, so iCatcher costs $3. That's less than 0.2% of what I paid for my iPhone and Watch, but it certainly provides way, way more than 0.2% of my enjoyment of the iPlatform.
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Point taken. Others charge about double that, which I'll grant you is still a pittance, but I get great Watch functionality without that charge with iCatcher. Instead, I tip the author, specifically to thank him for his torrid pace of development and implementing features I've requested. That seems to encourage him. Funny how that works!
As Overcast is still my favorite and main podcatcher, iCatcher will work as a perfect backup solution when syncing did not work.
The UI is really disturbing for me, overly complicated with all the different tabs and somehow a very inconsistent menu structure. But ok for a backup.
Apps seem to fall into two basic categories: (1) gorgeous apps lovingly laid out by talented designers but which may not always work especially well or do what you want them to do, or (2) highly functional but less stylish apps that are customizable but not so pretty.
Overcast and Castro certainly fall into the first category. They're flippin' lovely. But both charge an annual fee for sideloading, and then the sideloading doesn't work well and is kind of painful or limited to accomplish on the rare occasion it works at all. Everyday podcast sync to the Watch was also hit-and-miss in my testing. So frustrating!
iCatcher and Downcast fall into the second category. Alas, Downcast's Watch functionality is limited to remote-control only, last time I tried it.
So began my hunt, which ended with iCatcher. Which does everything very well. Except, arguably, be pretty.
Replying to myself just to state that with the latest release of Overcast this mechanism is not working anymore as Overcast has been changed to a different synchronization functionality.
Is this an issue with all versions of the watch? GPS only? Cellular?
I have a Series 4 cellular and I am having this issue when paired to an iphone 8plus
Has anyone raised this directly with apple support? I have rung them today. Was not able to resolve this over the phone however ran diagnostic tests on phone & watch. These have now been submitted further up within the support team. I've been told I will hear back within 2 working days.
I have a Series 4 cellular and I am having this issue when paired to an iphone 8plus
Has anyone raised this directly with apple support? I have rung them today. Was not able to resolve this over the phone however ran diagnostic tests on phone & watch. These have now been submitted further up within the support team. I've been told I will hear back within 2 working days.
after overcast broke its watch sync and marco refused to acknowledge or help, i went back to the stock podcast app....for about 3 days....then remembered why i stopped using it in the first place. that watch sync was even worse.
so i stumbled across iCatcher and loved it. for only $2.99, it's a steal. i also tipped the dev. but i really missed having cross platform compatibility and the ability to listen on my mac (i was one of the few to use overcasts web player)
but then just a few weeks ago, pocketcasts FINALLY launched offline watch sync too. i had previously used PC (and was grandfathered into their lifetime "plus" program) but moved away from it and to overcast because of watch support.
so now im all in on pocketcasts on my iphone, ipad, watch AND Mac. everything syncs together quite nicely.
i think the "plus" tier that gives you offline watch access is like $3.99/mo though. not worth it just for that, but if you've previously purchased the app, it may be worth seeing if you've been grandfathered in too.
so i stumbled across iCatcher and loved it. for only $2.99, it's a steal. i also tipped the dev. but i really missed having cross platform compatibility and the ability to listen on my mac (i was one of the few to use overcasts web player)
but then just a few weeks ago, pocketcasts FINALLY launched offline watch sync too. i had previously used PC (and was grandfathered into their lifetime "plus" program) but moved away from it and to overcast because of watch support.
so now im all in on pocketcasts on my iphone, ipad, watch AND Mac. everything syncs together quite nicely.
i think the "plus" tier that gives you offline watch access is like $3.99/mo though. not worth it just for that, but if you've previously purchased the app, it may be worth seeing if you've been grandfathered in too.
you’re right. 99 cents/mo or 9.99 year here in the states. I wonder if they lowered their pricing after switching to the plus model...I don’t remember it being that cheap initially.
$10/yr for reliable watch sync and cross platform functionality is well worth it.
Thanks.
Two questions:
1) does Pocketcast sync new episodes in the background so that they are timely on the watch? Eg over night?
2) Is there a manual way to force a sync on specific episodes and how fast is it?
Not sure on number 1 although their support page is detailed
And yes you can force a sync and individual episode download to the Watch. It’s been very fast for me so far
Yes it does
When I go to my watch all the latest episodes are there updates without needing to refresh the phone
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Yeah well worth it if you connect to your watch for podcasts.
Apple podcast app is awful in this regard and never updates in any decent time so you might as well just use your phone to play podcasts
Thanks guys for your feedback about Pocketcasts. Sounds good.
One more question: is the syncing of position markers between watch and iPhone reliable? Meaning when I listen to a podcast on the watch, can I seamlessly pickup the podcast on the iPhone at the correct position and vice versa? Overcast sometimes has issues with it and I have to manually reposition in the podcast. A little bit annoying. This was for me the reason to delete Castro, as this did not work reliable at all.
One more question: is the syncing of position markers between watch and iPhone reliable? Meaning when I listen to a podcast on the watch, can I seamlessly pickup the podcast on the iPhone at the correct position and vice versa? Overcast sometimes has issues with it and I have to manually reposition in the podcast. A little bit annoying. This was for me the reason to delete Castro, as this did not work reliable at all.
Yeah say you have listened to 20 mins on your watch then later you use your phone or iPad or Mac it will show you how long left you have on the episode and can carry on so it’s syncs with all devices
Came here to say I am pissed at Apple for making syncing to the watch so inconsitant and overall a bad user experience for the user.
When going for a run, the watch never seems to have what I need. And waiting 6 mins in transfer time, for a 1 hour podcast is just too damn long! In 2020 I expect faster transfer speeds, or other ways to direct download the files. Syncing a book on audible is a horrendous experience.
A lot of nice tips in this thread though, Ill download iCatcher as a transfer backup for those times. Thanks.
When going for a run, the watch never seems to have what I need. And waiting 6 mins in transfer time, for a 1 hour podcast is just too damn long! In 2020 I expect faster transfer speeds, or other ways to direct download the files. Syncing a book on audible is a horrendous experience.
A lot of nice tips in this thread though, Ill download iCatcher as a transfer backup for those times. Thanks.