Podcasts have already become a part of the lives of many Internet users. Abroad, it has become a habit to listen to the news at breakfast, watch training on a successful career on the way to work, and before going to bed enjoy a documentary podcast about space, games or unsolved murders. Thanks to the built-in Podcasts program on the iPhone, popular entertainment has reached us. But not everyone knows what “Podcasts” are on an iPhone and why this program is needed.
Apple Podcasts (free and obvious)
All Apple devices have a standard Podcasts app. Largely thanks to Apple, podcasts have become a full-fledged genre. According to podcast hosting company Anchor, Apple Podcasts accounts for 52% of all listening.
This is a simple application. In terms of functionality, it is always in the role of catching up. You can subscribe, listen and, in principle, that’s all.
Apple Podcasts is suitable for those who don’t want to bother with settings and searching for something in the App Store. Start there, but know that there are much better options.
Start using the application
What is iTunes on an iPhone - what is it for?
The instructions on how to use podcasts on an iPhone are simple and only include a few steps. They became popular thanks to Apple, so most applications are adapted for this operating system. However, the Podcasts utility is installed on the device by default. To get started, just launch the application and use the corresponding icons located at the bottom of the screen to navigate.
Application Appearance
To play any podcast displayed on the page, simply touch the title of the episode with your finger. To download a file, you need to click on the iCloud cloud storage icon.
Note! In the My Podcasts application, the user can edit their subscriptions (add or delete), as well as play content in the order they specify.
Pocket Casts (convenient and stylish)
The only paid application in this collection, but it is cross-platform. This is a decisive argument for those who plan to listen to podcasts on different devices throughout the day.
In my opinion, Pocket Casts is the best looking podcast app out there. In addition to its modern design, it has many useful features. Here are some of them:
1. Timecode support
2. Smart modes for cutting pauses and increasing volume
3. Fine-tuning notifications, auto-archiving and auto-download.
Download Pocket Casts: RUB 299 in the App Store
Create your own podcast on iPhone
Creating your own podcast is quite easy, but developing it is not. To upload starter media to iTunes, you need to install and understand the functionality of the starter kit.
Unfortunately, you cannot download a podcast directly to iTunes. That is why the file must first be saved in any cloud storage with public access. The next step is to create an RSS feed so that each new episode is automatically displayed in the app’s feeds and podcast showcase. It is recommended to use the SoundCloud application as audio hosting, since it is adapted for this type of content and does not require the use of other third-party applications.
SoundCloud to create your own channel
Note! When registering, the name of the podcast is specified in the “Display name” column.
During the registration process, you need to specify not only the channel name, but also upload a logo (resolution no less than 1400*1400). A brief description of the channel should be placed in the “BIO” section.
After registering and filling out your profile, you need to download the issue by clicking “Upload”. During the download process, you must fill out all fields. In order for the downloaded content to be included in the RSS feed, you must check the “Include in RSS feed” line in the “Permission” tab. Next, you need to go to settings and in the “Content” tab copy the automatically generated link to the RSS feed.
Important! If over time the podcast founder decides to change audio hosting, then the link to the RSS feed will need to be changed in the iTunes settings, otherwise all subscribers will be lost.
To download the episode directly to iTunes, go to the “Podcast” section and log in using your Apple ID. Paste the link to the RSS feed into the window that appears. Finally click “Confirm”.
If all steps have been completed correctly, a green indicator will appear on the screen with the words “Prepared for sending”.
Having found out what podcasts are on an iPhone, a person will be able to understand for himself whether such content is of interest to him. But connoisseurs of the application still recommend trying it, since podcasts are an unlimited world of unique information that can be used completely free of charge. Today there are applications adapted for any operating system, which already indicates great demand and interest in society.
Overcast (free, but subscription available)
Overcast was created by Marco Arment. For those who don’t know, this man was the co-founder and chief developer of Tumblr, then created the delayed reading application Instapaper, and now only develops Overcast.
What's interesting is that he does it alone. Arment also hosts several podcasts himself and understands this topic from the inside.
Like Pocket Casts, Overcast has smart modes for cutting out pauses and increasing volume. Among podcast fans, Overcast is considered to work better in these modes than in Pocket Casts.
Overcast is a free app, but with ads. You can disable it using a paid subscription for 599 rubles per year. The subscription also gives you the ability to upload audio files from external sources to Overcast and change the app icon.
Download Overcast: Free on the App Store
Download on Google Podcast
The vast majority of major companies wanted to take advantage of the recent boom in podcasts. A fairly clear example is Google, which decided to develop an application compatible with Android and iOS. Something that is already mandatory for all of these services is to provide the ability to download episodes to listen to them in any setting. In this case, the process looks like this:
- When you log into the app, you'll see all the programs you're following on your home screen.
- The latest releases of each will be at the top of the list presented.
- An arrow icon surrounded by a circle appears at the bottom right of each description. Just click on it to start downloading in the background.
VKontakte (free, but not for everyone)
All the players that I wrote about above work on the same principle: they download new releases via an RSS feed. Thus, the number of available podcasts is the same for all applications.
VKontakte has the same principle of operation, but authors must send the RSS feed for moderation. Only after this the community will have a section with podcasts.
Due to the fact that podcasts appeared on VKontakte in September 2018, the catalog of available shows is small. Now podcasts are regularly published by more than 500 communities, and in total the authors have uploaded over 19 thousand episodes.
Probably, in the future the situation will change, and all VKontakte users will be able to download podcasts. In the meantime, you won’t be able to listen to, for example, any foreign releases at all.
The functionality of the VKontakte player for podcasts is limited - you can only change the speed.
Download VKontakte: free in the App Store
Benefits of Listening to Podcasts
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Having found out what podcasts are on an iPhone, you need to familiarize yourself with the main advantages of this method of broadcasting in comparison with others:
- A large amount of interesting, unique content from all corners of the globe.
- You can listen while working, driving or doing household chores.
- Foreign channels quite often use interesting additional material to increase engagement.
- Free subscription to an unlimited number of channels. This costs the user absolutely nothing.
- The ability to customize the content consumed, for example, by decreasing or increasing the speed of listening to audio, there is a car mode. If there are tags, you can use a convenient navigation system, fast rewind, etc.
It is also worth noting the almost complete absence of advertising, especially on Russian channels.
"Yandex.Music" (169 rubles per month)
The most controversial choice. Just like VKontakte, Yandex.Music (our review) is a separate world where its own rules reign.
To begin with, I’ll note that the “Non-Music” section (yes, that’s a brilliant name), where podcasts are stored, is working in beta test mode. However, the first conclusions can already be drawn.
Podcast authors must manually add new episodes. At the same time, Yandex.Music has moderators who can reject a podcast. Partly because of this, the Yandex.Music catalog contains only a little over fifty podcasts.
In the web version of Yandex.Music, you can listen to podcasts for free. And in the mobile application you will have to subscribe to the service.
Download Yandex.Music: free in the App Store
Procedure for subscribing to a specific channel
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In order not to search for a specific podcast every time, it is better to subscribe to it. In the search bar you need to write the name of the channel and click search, select the one you want from the available results and tap on “Subscription”. After these simple steps, new issues will be sent to your phone connected to the Internet shortly after publication.
Popular podcasts on iPhone
For users who want to find new and interesting channels, in the Apple Podcasts application for iOS, you can familiarize yourself with thematic selections and top charts. If necessary, different channels can be sorted by specific topics.
Note! If you cannot find a specific channel through the search, you must manually enter the RSS feed address.
iTunes (free)
iTunes has a podcast section. It syncs subscriptions with Apple Podcasts on iOS and tvOS. There are no other advantages or features. You cannot change the playback speed, navigation is inconvenient, there is no support for chapters.
As with the mobile app, iTunes is suitable for those who need a minimum set of functions purely to familiarize themselves with the podcast format itself.
Spreaker downloads
Not only is it an incredible service for recording your new podcasts using Studio from any device, it also includes a channel for playing and downloading them. The resulting quality is quite good and the player that is provided to users has all the necessary tools to provide the best experience. To download, you must complete the following steps:
- Open the Spreaker Player app.
- Find the relevant podcast where you want to download the episode.
- When you go to your favorite program's tab, you'll see all the available episodes with three vertical dots next to them.
- Click on these dots and select the “Download” option from the pop-up menu.
Best of Holidays
The other two podcast apps are good enough to be mentioned, but fall short compared to the apps mentioned above.
Stitcher (free) is one of the most popular podcast apps on iOS. His website hosts a large catalog of podcasts. This is a good app if you want to listen to articles in a form other than podcasts. However, the app itself doesn't offer any standout features.
Soundcloud (free), like Stitcher, is an alternative to iTunes that hosts a large number of podcasts. I've come across some shows that are only uploaded to Soundcloud, so the app is useful for finding and playing those shows. It's also great for music fans who want to follow artists directly
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RSSRadio
A simple, but quite pleasant client for listening to podcasts, which in the free version has all the necessary functionality, limited only to displaying advertising. The application is designed in the strict minimalism of iOS 7 and, in addition to the functions known to us and described above, has several pleasant perks.
For example, a dark theme will greatly delight all night owls and those who like to listen to podcasts before bed. The non-irritating black background will protect your eyes and will not disrupt melatonin production. RSSRadio supports a built-in iOS timer to turn off playback and speed up playback, which becomes useful in some situations. Among other things, you will be notified by a Push Notification about all downloads of new episodes that will take place in the background. Well, the most interesting addition will be the ability to play a podcast with the application of normalization, compression, etc. effects. A suitable application for purchasing it for 99 rubles.
Price: Free (IAP - 99 RUR)
Podster
This application is not a podcast player in the traditional sense. This is more of an amateur podcast community on the Podster.ru portal, where you can create your own audio blog and conduct personal podcasts on various topics. Your friends will follow you, comment, advise, etc. There's a chance you'll even be chosen to publish your personal podcast on iTunes.
The application has the minimum functions necessary for recording a podcast - a voice recorder, uploading to a website and adding a description. Each registered user has his own blog, his own profile with podcast episodes and his own feed, which contains audio recordings of all the users you have subscribed to. The most convenient place to start your audio blog or philosophical conversations about life.
Price: Free
How to automatically delete played episodes
If you don't want episodes left unattended, cluttering up your storage after you've played them, simply set objects to have them deleted automatically.
- launch setup from your home screen.
- Click Podcasts .
- Click switch Near Delete played episodes.
iCatcher [no longer available]
iCatcher is firmly in the nerd-only category. Its user interface uses a little too much text for my liking, but has a wide range of settings - even more than Downcast. One notable example of this is a setting that allows you to restrict podcast downloads to certain WiFi networks. By subscribing to a podcast, you can even hide episodes that contain certain keywords. If you like the show but don't like the episodes featuring one of the panelists, iCatcher allows you to hide all episodes featuring that person.
The app has a few customizable gestures—drawing an “L” in the app moves the podcast forward two minutes, while swiping two fingers forward will rewind the current show. If you prefer function to form, you'll love iCatcher.
Why listen to podcasts?
For a variety of purposes, but mainly for entertainment and education. Most podcasts are thematic and target a specific audience. For example, programmers listen to a podcast about game development, marketers subscribe to advertising channels, and your grandmother can listen to podcasts about gardening. This way you learn news from an area that interests you, listen to the experiences of other people and develop as a specialist or amateur.
Of course, not all podcasts are educational. No less interesting are the “narrative” options, where the hosts and invited guests simply communicate with each other and tell stories, and you listen to them. Or podcast series, like the famous Serial, which has collected more than 5 million subscribers. As you understand, they do not necessarily require intellectual load - they can simply help you pass the time on the road.
Castro ($3.99) [No longer available]
Castro is a great podcast app for experienced listeners, but it may not be a good choice if you're just starting to listen to podcasts. I say this because Castro doesn't have a browseable podcast directory to help you get started, but if you know what podcasts you want, its search feature is excellent.
Besides the catalog, Castro has almost all the features of Pocket Casts with improved storage management. Castro allows you to choose a threshold size for downloaded episodes, which means you can limit how much space downloaded podcasts can take up. If you're considering buying a Castro, check out these tips and tricks.
Downcast [no longer available]
Downcast doesn't have an easy-to-use interface and looks like an app aimed at power users. Lots of advanced customization options include niche elements like the ability to update podcast feeds based on your location. With this, you can download new episodes to Downcast as soon as you reach your home or office.
This app has most of the features of Pocket Casts, including video support, but it's not as easy to use. For example, Downcast has a browseable catalog of podcasts, but it displays them in a long list that you have to tediously scroll through. Downcast has a companion Mac app that lets you sync podcasts via iCloud, so it's a good option if you listen on both your iPhone and Mac.
Castbox
Castbox is another popular podcast player that creates a friendly environment between a social media platform and a podcast app. On Castbox you can not only listen to your favorite podcasts, but also add your comments and likes. On the other hand, you can read user comments to find a popular podcast or a popular episode within a podcast. I also love this Besides podcasts, Castbox also gives users access to free and classic audiobooks. They come in very handy when I travel and have a lot of time to kill.
One of the unique features of Castbox is that it allows users to create their own podcasts and produce episodes . Simply create an account, record your episode, and publish it to the world. Another unique feature of Castbox is audio search, which matches your phrase with episode content to give you the most relevant results. Search takes into account your usage, so the more you use the app, the smarter it will become. Overall, I really like this app and you should definitely check it out.
Installation: Free, $0.99/month
What podcasts should I listen to?
So, when you already roughly understand what podcasts are, it’s time to start getting acquainted with them. Especially for you, we have compiled a small list of interesting programs that you can safely turn on in the background and absorb useful and interesting information.
cloudy
Overcast is undoubtedly one of the essential apps that any casual podcast listener should have installed on their iPhone. It offers a wide selection of programs as well as a player to give you complete control over the playback you are doing at the moment. To have full access to all podcasts, you just need to follow these steps:
- Access your favorite podcast on Overcast.
- Next to the episode you want to download, click "i".
- When accessing release information, you will see an circled arrow icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Click on it and the download will begin.
How to make your own podcast?
Perhaps after familiarizing yourself with the podcast format, you may think: “Hmm, why don’t I make my own podcast? It seems so simple.” By and large, you will be right - to create your own podcast, all you need is a simple phone and the Voice Recorder application built into it.
There are also many services that will allow you to publish your show to all major podcast platforms at once. For example, such a platform is the Anchor project. The main thing is that you have a clearly defined concept and interesting ideas in your head.
Thus, your audio project can become a small media that, with proper development, will have its own audience, eagerly awaiting each new release.
After all, for many listeners, podcasts are a unique form of one-way communication with the host and his guests. The main difference between a podcast, for example, and an interview is that it is the most relaxed conversation possible, during which speakers can fool around, stammer, make mistakes and freely share their thoughts that arise during the broadcast.
Why Apple Podcasts are Bad
- Text description and headings. Before moving on to listening to the next episode, the eye is somehow caught by the title. Incomplete titles in the “preview” with three dots at the end are disgusting. Also, the descriptions for each podcast are horribly implemented. In order to read the description, you need to go into the podcast, then click the “More” button and only then read it.
- Speed of work. This point shocked me. Apple has always been famous for the speed of its devices, but Podcasts is an unpleasant exception here. Pop-up artifacts, low application speed, especially on older devices - all this leaves much to be desired.
Each of us can become the author of our own channel on the podcast platform. We talked about which microphone to start recording blogs and podcasts with in the previous article.
Despite everything I described above, I can safely recommend the Podcasts application to you. Of course, podcasts will never replace books for us, but if you have never listened to podcasts before and often spend time watching evening TV shows, I can only envy you. Discover the “new” and I promise you will not remain indifferent.
