Users Despair at Apple Podcasts App After iOS 14.5 Update

[tbayrgs]

I guess this is going to get me to try Overcast, or back to Pocket Cast which I used to use on Android. What a wreck.

I switched back to Pocket Casts last summer when they added offline listening on the Apple Watch and haven’t looked back. Great app.

 

[robertcoogan]

I know I'm in the minority here, but

I really miss iTunes. It was so convenient to have music, podcasts, videos, and even the iOS app store all in one place. A shame that it's gone.

 

[anthogag]

What is the big deal? All your stuff is in the Library tab.

In Downloads you'll see all episodes downloaded to the device. To remove a download swipe left.

When you mark an episode as "played" it removes the download.

In Settings is "hide played episodes"

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Agree that the update is terrible.

 

[1258186]

I’m one of the few who never had a problem with the old podcasts app.
But I just opened the new one for the first time, and oh my God, it is bad. It is horrible.
What were they thinking?
First of all, in the library tab, there are two options for downloaded and saved.
What is the difference? Why are there two tabs that are basically the same thing.
Secondly, why does it sort the podcasts in the order I subscribed? Or followed I guess now. It should go by which podcast was updated the latest, like it used to.
Uggh Apple, why?
And the sad part is, this app could easily be simplified.
Get rid of the separated ”listen now” and ”library” tabs, and combined them into one tab that just has two options at the top, episodes and shows. When you click on episodes, it has all of you’re latest episodes in one long list. When you click on shows, it has all of your shows, sorted in which ever order you want, alphabetically, last updated, or most recently subscribed.
Why did they not do that?
Uggh this is a mess.
Apple! iOS 15! Please fix it!
And while you’re at it, please turn the messages icon blue.

I’ve also not had any problems in the past but this update sounds like a complete nightmare.

 

[jetrois]

This is why I started using Overcast and never looked back.

Same. Just a better overall product. apple should have stayed in their lane with this update just make a basic podcast player to get people into podcasts and move on to better apps when comfortable. I guess they thought they were going to sherlock. Not today sir!

 

[Feyl]

It's amazing how a company who was once a leader in software UI and UX is still not capable of repairing this mess of an app. This app is a great example of what's bad about Apple's software design and quality.

 

[jetrois]

So happy I am using Overcast. Not only is the UI much better and much less buggy than Apple's podcasts, I can't ever give up Overcast's smart speed feature.

Overcast is an example of doing just one thing. Master that ****ing task and do it ****ing well. apple needs to get back to mastering IOS instead of making ****** apps.

 

[Dandoodle]

Honestly needs a ground up redesign. No good shouting about subscriptions and going toe to toe with Spotify if the service doesn’t work. Same goes for Apple Music. If you want to be a service business you have to invest in good design and user experience. Everything from Mail to music is just rough!

 

[mansplains]

They had to break it so when WWDC rolls around they can use the 'new' version as iOS 15 upgrade point!

 

[ugahairydawgs]

If only there was a market, an App Store perhaps, that allowed users who don't like their current option to find an alternative.

 

[brucewayne]

Apple's UI is focused on one thing - sell you more and more stuff. That is why your personal libraries, stuff you have already purchased, and free content all take a back seat to whatever Apple is promoting at the moment. It is why they don't have an effective kids content filter on anything

Apple knows how to design a good UI - it just wouldn't be as profitable.

 

[fncd]

While not ideal, can’t some of these issues be resolved in settings for a podcast that is followed?

Too bad there isn't a global setting for this. Had to go through every show one by one. I haven't checked my iPad, but I'm hoping that those settings sync.

 

[Just sayin...]

Pocket Casts 👍 - works on every platform (including Sonos) I’ve got, remembers my listening position and picks up automatically on whichever device I decide to listen on, and be set to automatically delete listened episodes (I can also manually do it whenever I want).

 

[Philip_S]

What is the big deal? All your stuff is in the Library tab.

In Downloads you'll see all episodes downloaded to the device. To remove a download swipe left.

When you mark an episode as "played" it removes the download.

In Settings is "hide played episodes"

Aside from forgetting which episodes have been played, it sounds like they've changed the defaults and maybe removed the setting to change the defaults back to something mobile-friendly (which you can still change in the mac version).

 

[Porco]

“I am Jack’s complete lack of surprise.”

 

[locovaca]

Do any of these alternatives have a good Carplay UI?

 

[outdevo]

This is why I started using Overcast and never looked back.

I did too, but moved on to PocketCasts, which I like most. I think all the good apps make you pay $10/year now for the good features… for me it came down to which app’s watchOS app actually streams over cellular so I can listen while jogging. Surprisingly, Apple’s never worked. PocketCast’s one works great.

 

[Glenny2lappies]

And the icons have a very small 'clickable' area, so need very accurate fingers

Complete crap in a car.

Oh dear Microsoft Apple.

 

[markyr17]

Can some recommend a good podcast app. This is just terrible.

Downcast is really good.

 

[garbonsai]

Wow, that is a lot of complaints. And every single one of them can be resolved with one action...

Install Pocket Casts.

Seconded. Pocket Casts' Watch app is also the best I've found, particularly when it comes to syncing and standalone playback.

 

[fncd]

Too bad there isn't a global setting for this. Had to go through every show one by one. I haven't checked my iPad, but I'm hoping that those settings sync.

And nope - the settings don't sync. My iPad was in the middle of downloading every single episode of every podcast I subscribe to. You know - just in case the world ends.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Can some recommend a good podcast app. This is just terrible.

Recently switched to Pocketcasts from Overcast. Both are good. Prefer Pocketcasts as it's more customisable and plays with my watch better, but Overcast is good for a very simple solution similar to how Apple Podcasts used to be back in the very early days.

 

[laptech]

Users of the app have forgotten, Apple decides how you use the app, not you.

 

[eicca]

The new Apple seems to be all about taking things that were smart and effective and making them intentionally worse. Soooooo……..