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Podcasts on WatchOS 6

sird28 said:
I don't really sync podcasts to my watch, I just use the app as a remote control for the iPhone and I can't figure this app out..... Go to My iPhone and go to Listen Now or Episodes or even stations and its almost like it picks podcasts at random. This should be simple what is on the iPhone shows up on the watch, but instead I get some and then others I have already watched and some that are just plain old......

I used Overcast because it had Infographic complication, but in Watch OS 6 Apple Podcasts now has the complication, I want to use the stock app but man its seems so bad... Not sure if its just a WatchOS 6 thing or if it was always like this.
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I've been a long time user of Overcast basically because I can download podcasts to my watch and go running. But I'm back to using the Apple podcast app as it downloads as long as it's charging.

Overcast recently has been freezing with "transferring" when sync to watch is implemented. I sent requests the developer to fix it but nothing yet. I do like the episode time line circle on the podcast app. Until Overcast gets the watch sync correct I'll be staying with Apple's app
 
I found that Overcast although is a really nice and easy to use app, compromises on sound quality as the bit rate is much lower than Apples Podcast App for Apple Watch. I have done a comparison side by side between the two and there is a very noticeable difference in the audio quality. You might not notice it until you do your own comparison but once you have you will also hear it. I am sure they reduce the bit rate to get around the huge sync times that the Apple version has on its version of the app. But I would rather have to wait to get the high sound quality.
 
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I use the default podcasts app and am having an issue where if I start a podcast on my watch, but don’t finish it, when I go back the next day or a couple of days later, the podcast that is partially played is gone from the watch. It still shows correctly on my iphone/ ipad/ mac, but not on the watch. I can’t figure out how to fix it, but it was working fine in Watch OS 5. Anyone else seeing this?
 
mk313 said:
I use the default podcasts app and am having an issue where if I start a podcast on my watch, but don’t finish it, when I go back the next day or a couple of days later, the podcast that is partially played is gone from the watch. It still shows correctly on my iphone/ ipad/ mac, but not on the watch. I can’t figure out how to fix it, but it was working fine in Watch OS 5. Anyone else seeing this?
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No because I always finish an episode before the next day.... but it doesn't surprise me.
 
mk313 said:
I use the default podcasts app and am having an issue where if I start a podcast on my watch, but don’t finish it, when I go back the next day or a couple of days later, the podcast that is partially played is gone from the watch. It still shows correctly on my iphone/ ipad/ mac, but not on the watch. I can’t figure out how to fix it, but it was working fine in Watch OS 5. Anyone else seeing this?
Click to expand...

I am. I reported the problem to Apple and would suggest you do too. Hopefully a fix is coming down the line
 
Guys do you have problems synchronizing podcasts on your iphone?

it looks like the background update doesn't work.
notifications of the new never arrive...
 
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Jason Hensley said:
I am. I reported the problem to Apple and would suggest you do too. Hopefully a fix is coming down the line
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Thanks. I did submit the issue to Apple already. Glad to know that others are also experiencing it. At least it’s not something unique to my setup
 
I have the same issues. It is a bug with the software. Not sure if the latest update fixed it. I went back to Overcast. It was too buggy. I'll try again sometime after WatchOS 6.1 releases to the public.
 
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mk313 said:
I use the default podcasts app and am having an issue where if I start a podcast on my watch, but don’t finish it, when I go back the next day or a couple of days later, the podcast that is partially played is gone from the watch. It still shows correctly on my iPhone/ iPad/ mac, but not on the watch. I can’t figure out how to fix it, but it was working fine in Watch OS 5. Anyone else seeing this?
Click to expand...

Yep - it's very frustrating. I sync music podcasts to my watch for running, some of the episodes are over an hour-long which takes ages to sync. But the issue is that if for example, you have 2 episodes synched to your watch from one Show, you then part play one episode but then switch to the 2nd episode, the first episode will be deemed as 'played' by Apple and it will be removed instantly. So you cannot switch between episodes on your watch or it will just delete them. - This has to be fixed...

Overcast has everything that Apple Podcast should have in terms of functionality, ease of use and control, but the sound quality is very poor in comparison (they cut the bit rate down massively to get over the long sync times)
 
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I regularly try using other 3rd party podcast players but always come back to the stock Apple Podcasts. Mainly because it has always synced between my watch, iPhone, and iPad the best. I can come back from a run, pause my podcast on my Apple Watch, and start it up on my iPad right where it left off.

Also, it’s great about auto downloading all my episodes.
 
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I have now found a solution to all of the issues experienced on Apple's Podcast. Downloaded an App called Outcast which unlike Overcast, does not limit the bitrate audio (make sure you select 'connect directly to Podcast URL') you can send episodes direct to the watch. I completed a side-by-side audio comparison as its perfect quality audio. And the 161Mb Episode transferred in around 1 minute too! A little tip is that once you have the episode ready to transfer, turn off Bluetooth on your phone and put on airplane mode. Then the watch will transfer using WiFi which is much faster. The App costs £0.99 but it's well worth it.

Link here
apps.apple.com

‎Outcast for Watch

‎A standalone podcast player for Apple Watch. Leave your phone at home and browse, download and play podcasts while you're on the go. * Search for podcasts directly on your Apple Watch * Download or stream episodes over wi-fi or cellular* * Play podcasts when you have AirPods or compatible...
apps.apple.com apps.apple.com
 
Hamster100 said:
I have now found a solution to all of the issues experienced on Apple's Podcast. Downloaded an App called Outcast which unlike Overcast, does not limit the bitrate audio (make sure you select 'connect directly to Podcast URL') you can send episodes direct to the watch. I completed a side-by-side audio comparison as its perfect quality audio. And the 161Mb Episode transferred in around 1 minute too! A little tip is that once you have the episode ready to transfer, turn off Bluetooth on your phone and put on airplane mode. Then the watch will transfer using WiFi which is much faster. The App costs £0.99 but it's well worth it.

Link here
apps.apple.com

‎Outcast for Watch

‎A standalone podcast player for Apple Watch. Leave your phone at home and browse, download and play podcasts while you're on the go. * Search for podcasts directly on your Apple Watch * Download or stream episodes over wi-fi or cellular* * Play podcasts when you have AirPods or compatible...
apps.apple.com apps.apple.com
Click to expand...
I’ve been using this for a while as I can stream to my cellular watch. i Prefer the overcast interface tho so keep going back to it
 
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