Comments on: Apple’s Podcasts app gets playlist creation, iCloud syncing and custom stations

By: dynamdrew

dynamdrew — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:56:47 +0000

Am I one of the few people who actually liked the reel-to-reel animation in the podcast app version 1.1.2? I deleted version 1.1.2. before I learned they dropped the reel-to-reel animation in the new version and regret doing so! Does anyone know where I can find version 1.1.2 for download? Thanks!

By: Drew

Drew — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:33:24 +0000

I really miss the reel-to-reel animation in the podcast app! Too bad I deleted Post app 1.1.2 before I found out the new update dropped reel-to-reel! Does anyone know where I can find version 1.1.2?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:55:40 +0000

If you delete your podcasts from your computer as you listen to them, then the iPhone app is no longer able to determine if you have listened to them or not. This means everytime they update the app, all your old (listened to) podcast start showing up in your playlist again. I have yet found a way to fix this problem except for using iCloud (of which I am not a fan).

By: Jerry Ballard

Jerry Ballard — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 19:26:37 +0000

2 improvements still needed before I can make it my main casts player…
1) enable links in show notes
2) provide a large button area for skip forward/back for eyes free skipping.

But the syncing between devices makes this a contender now.

By: cmasontaylor

cmasontaylor — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:53:12 +0000

Honestly, I think Apple made a mistake by separating out the iPod app at all. More icons to take up space on my (cramped) home screen and folders (which, unbelievably, are space-limited so I can’t organize sensibly), and, yeah; worse apps. I mean, did they really think I was so eager to keep “playlists, artists, songs, albums” ALL in the main toolbar for the iPod app? Playlists, Artists, Videos, Podcasts was just fine with me.

By: cmasontaylor

cmasontaylor — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:48:38 +0000

I think the “Jony Ive hates skeuomorphism” thing was way, way overblown from a single interview. I suspect this UI change has much less to do with Ive and much more to do with user complaints.

By: dtj

dtj — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:49:16 +0000

The reel to reel thing was literally the only compelling thing about the Podcasts app, which is the most infuriating, sh*tty app I have ever made the effort to “push through”. I spent sooo many hours trying, and retrying, to get this just right, only to have it randomly sync and lose everything. Having moved onto Instacast, I cannot imagine what Apple could do to make me use the Podcasts app again. Hint: not even a free phone would not be enough.

By: Christopher Hickman

Christopher Hickman — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 02:32:13 +0000

Have you actually used the new app? It had usability issues before, but now it won’t even play podcasts I’ve already downloaded without streaming them. It is wasting my bandwidth and won’t play AT ALL in Airplane Mode (which I have to use a lot because of my job). I’m very irked by this update.

By: Court Kizer

Court Kizer — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:25:03 +0000

Can you please fix the article so we can click the screenshots and have a look? In this day in age having thumbnails the size of postage stamps on a web blog is pretty silly and very frustrating.

Erica you did a good job writing the article!

By: Blair

Blair — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:05:05 +0000

It looks better and functions smoother than before. However, as far as I can tell, there’s still no way to rate an episode of a podcast, so I’ll be sticking with Music app. I listen to a lot of short fiction podcasts, and I like to be able to rate them and share the stories I think are particularly well written with friends/family/etc. And I like having a record of what I’ve listened to and what I thought of it. So, until I’m forced to switch to Podcasts, or Apple implements ratings in it, I’ll be sticking with Music app.