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Podcasts Watch v. Phone

T

TRICKorDEVICE

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 20, 2014
854
120
Has anyone figured out in watchOS 10 how to force the watch to play the locally saved copy on the watch rather than playing it from the iPhone?

I frequently listen to podcasts while I’m stretching and then I will go for a run leaving the phone at home. Previously it was easy to select podcasts that were on the watch as opposed to on the iPhone. But now it seems to always force, the episode on the iPhone and then when they are out of distance, I can no longer start that episode on the watch.
 
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This is annoying the crap out of me - if I disconnect manually from iPhone and try to play anything it just failed it loads up the now playing view for a split second and goes back to the main view - trying to use this versus Outcast because I think it’ll work better with multiple watches - but may have to give up on this if it won’t playback locally
 
What the reason it forces playing from iPhone? It just doesn't make any sense. Is there any adult at Apple to supervise on these strange software behaviors?
If it want to force something it should force playing LOCALLY since those already on the device. 🙄
 
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Found the real answer and that is Pocket Casts. Incredible watch support super clear if you are using phone or watch. Watch has full access to your library including filtered playlists. It can stream or download over WiFi or cellular - the now playing will sync play position so you can at any time pause phone or watch playback and start playback on the other device.

Outcast is the other app to use as you can search for new shows on the watch; but it is watch only and no easy way to see what new episodes came out.
 
If I go Podcasts App -> Library -> Downloaded, and select an episode there, then it plays directly from the local version on the watch as far as I can tell. This is how I do when going for a run without my iPhone and it has always worked.
 
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Mr Bungle said:
Same problem here. And I can't even see on my watch which podcasts are downloaded. I have the same problem with Music.
Click to expand...
On my Apple Watch, downloaded episodes have this little arrow present in the lower right corner. It's the same in the Music app.

incoming-91083470-E45B-4847-A207-ED28B3BE9FAA.PNG
 
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Bryan Bowler said:
Sounds like a great app, but out of principle I don’t rent software.
Click to expand...
@drew0020 provided incorrect information. Overcast is free / ad-supported. There's an optional Premium subscription of $9.99/yr to "control banner ads on the playback screen, upload your own files, and support future development"

musicpenguy said:
Outcast is the solution then as a one time purchase
Click to expand...
Not sure if the developer is still active - app store shows Outcast was last updated 11 months ago.

Pocket Casts seems intersting
 
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deeddawg said:
@drew0020 provided incorrect information. Overcast is free / ad-supported. There's an optional Premium subscription of $9.99/yr to "control banner ads on the playback screen, upload your own files, and support future development"


Hadn't Not sure if the developer is still active - app store shows Outcast was last updated 11 months ago.

Pocket Casts seems intersting
Click to expand...

Wow, okay…I very much appreciate it. I’ll check it out then and see if I like it as much as others do. And if it is truly a great app, I don’t mind supporting them by paying for an ad-free version.

Thanks for pointing this out!
 
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So I thought watchOS 10.1.1 solved this issue but it hasn’t.

I still have that problem where in spite of choosing a downloaded episode on my watch, if my iPhone is within connection, the episode will play from the iPhone. The Watch ends up basically being the device to remotely control the iPhone.

I have definitely double checked to make sure I’m playing from the downloaded section. Furthermore, if I turn off my phone and play again the same episode from my Watch, it will then play from my Watch.

This issue with Watch not playing its own download episodes isn’t necessarily always. There are sometimes when it does play from the Watch. I haven’t found a definitive pattern.

Any tricks?
 
drew0020 said:
I guess your stuck with a terrible podcast app then. I’d quit listening to podcasts if I could only use the Apple Podcast app.
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I used overcast for years but the Watch app used to be really far behind as far as downloading and streaming. I went back to Podcasts and it’s just fine. Voice Boost and his other controls are good but not necessary for me. I generally try to use 1st party apps if they offer what I need. Better integration with the OS, Siri and guaranteed versions on all platforms.
 
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TRICKorDEVICE said:
I used overcast for years but the Watch app used to be really far behind as far as downloading and streaming. I went back to Podcasts and it’s just fine. Voice Boost and his other controls are good but not necessary for me. I generally try to use 1st party apps if they offer what I need. Better integration with the OS, Siri and guaranteed versions on all platforms.
Click to expand...
I used to use Overcast too, but I find device integration to be kinda bothersome so went back to Apple Podcast. With the exception of this issue of Watch Podcast playing iPhone Podcast (and its only happened in I think since version 10 of the OS), the Podcast app has been just fine.
 
TRICKorDEVICE said:
I used overcast for years but the Watch app used to be really far behind as far as downloading and streaming
Click to expand...
I find Overcast works exactly as I expect a podcast app should. It's easy to search for and follow podcasts, and new episodes are downloaded to my watch promptly and automatically without it needing to be on the charger. The iOS app is consistent and easy to use on iPhone, iPad or Mac, and syncing is fast and reliable.
 
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msackey said:
I used to use Overcast too, but I find device integration to be kinda bothersome so went back to Apple Podcast. With the exception of this issue of Watch Podcast playing iPhone Podcast (and its only happened in I think since version 10 of the OS), the Podcast app has been just fine.
Click to expand...
I also try to use first party apps, but the Apple Podcasts app is so bad. It’s slow to sync, doesnt want to stream from the watch, and basically not usable since Watch OS10. It may work perfect on the phone but I use my Ultra 2 to stream Podcasts and it’s a huge hassle. Not sure if Apple has fixed this with 10.1 or 10.2?
 
drew0020 said:
Just buy the app - Overcast. The Apple podcast app is terrible. Overcast is amazing and its only $9.99/year which is a steal for what it offers.
Click to expand...
You don’t even have to buy it, it’s free unless you want to upload your own local files and still works the same way on the watch.
 
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drew0020 said:
I also try to use first party apps, but the Apple Podcasts app is so bad. It’s slow to sync, doesnt want to stream from the watch, and basically not usable since Watch OS10. It may work perfect on the phone but I use my Ultra 2 to stream Podcasts and it’s a huge hassle. Not sure if Apple has fixed this with 10.1 or 10.2?
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It is somewhat of a hassle. Until watchOS 10, it has worked fine for my needs.

Streaming still works on the Watch Podcast; you just have to make sure that the iPhone and Watch are not connected. LOL. Yes, said with a bit of sarcasm.

All that said, it looks to me that Watch Podcast app is basically mistakenly giving priority to episodes on the iPhone even when those same episodes exists locally on the Watch.

I've submitted feedback using the Feedback Assistant tool. Does anyone know if there's a way to see if others have reported the same issue in Apple's feedback system? From what I could see if the latest watchOS beta, it doesn't seem like this issue has been either acknowledged or addressed. However, my information is likely very much incomplete.
 
boss.king said:
You don’t even have to buy it, it’s free unless you want to upload your own local files and still works the same way on the watch.
Click to expand...
I try not to switch back and forth between Podcast apps as it's a hassle to keep track of one's list. I'm hoping that this issue will be fixed soon, but of course, if it gets too long in the tooth I may switch over or just use the various workarounds I've found so far.
 
Apple is terrified of giving the watch full functionality, they built a device that can replace another one of their devices, yet they want to make money off selling BOTH devices
I’d expect outside of a really good jailbreak Apple will always cripple the watch enough you need to have a phone nearby to a extent
 
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InvertedGoldfish said:
Apple is terrified of giving the watch full functionality, they built a device that can replace another one of their devices, yet they want to make money off selling BOTH devices
I’d expect outside of a really good jailbreak Apple will always cripple the watch enough you need to have a phone nearby to a extent
Click to expand...
I don't really get what you're talking about.

The Podcast / Music issue wasn't there until watchOS 10.
 
msackey said:
I don't really get what you're talking about.

The Podcast / Music issue wasn't there until watchOS 10.
Click to expand...


Re read what has been written and what I said



Apple is walking a fine line between “innovating” one device without allowing it to replace a similar device

So stuff like this is going to be kinda janky on the watch by design
 
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