Podcast Thread

[Drumstick]

So Pocketcast, which I paid for as a premium podcast player, is now going freemium, with a subscription model for the desktop app, storage, and custom themes.

On top of this, lock screen controls have totally disappeared, meaning if I want to pause an episode, I now have to unlock my phone, and tab over to the app, rather than just be able to tap the screen to wake and hit pause.

Anyone got recommendations for another player?

Rollback to the last decent version of the app (6.xx) if you are on Android and then disable automatic updates for the app.

[Dual]

I just use the free google podcast app, works for me.

Ta, hadn't realised they had their own app. Don't think it was around last time I was looking for a player. Surprised it took Google that long to launch their own player.

The Google app is shite (sorry preezus) it's lacking basic functionality that are standard elsewhere.

Try podcast addict.

[Knoyleo]

I just use the free google podcast app, works for me.

Ta, hadn't realised they had their own app. Don't think it was around last time I was looking for a player. Surprised it took Google that long to launch their own player.

The Google app is shite (sorry preezus) it's lacking basic functionality that are standard elsewhere.

Try podcast addict.

What's missing?


I can't even remember why I stumped up for a premium app in the first place, except that it was recommended. Are free ones ad supported?

[Preezy]

The Google app is shite (sorry preezus)

u strawberry floatin wot m8

it's lacking basic functionality that are standard elsewhere.

Tell me more

[Dual]

I just use the free google podcast app, works for me.

Ta, hadn't realised they had their own app. Don't think it was around last time I was looking for a player. Surprised it took Google that long to launch their own player.

The Google app is shite (sorry preezus) it's lacking basic functionality that are standard elsewhere.

Try podcast addict.

What's missing?


I can't even remember why I stumped up for a premium app in the first place, except that it was recommended. Are free ones ad supported?

It doesn't do automatic downloads and when I tried it last it didn't have a playlist.

I'll say it does look great. It's all white and clean lines but functionality is crap.

[Knoyleo]

So Pocketcast, which I paid for as a premium podcast player, is now going freemium, with a subscription model for the desktop app, storage, and custom themes.

On top of this, lock screen controls have totally disappeared, meaning if I want to pause an episode, I now have to unlock my phone, and tab over to the app, rather than just be able to tap the screen to wake and hit pause.

Anyone got recommendations for another player?

Rollback to the last decent version of the app (6.xx) if you are on Android and then disable automatic updates for the app.

Wouldn't have a scooby about how to roll back an app on my phone. I just want something that's free and works, preferably with no ads.

[Pedz]

So Pocketcast, which I paid for as a premium podcast player, is now going freemium, with a subscription model for the desktop app, storage, and custom themes.

On top of this, lock screen controls have totally disappeared, meaning if I want to pause an episode, I now have to unlock my phone, and tab over to the app, rather than just be able to tap the screen to wake and hit pause.

Anyone got recommendations for another player?

Rollback to the last decent version of the app (6.xx) if you are on Android and then disable automatic updates for the app.

Wouldn't have a scooby about how to roll back an app on my phone. I just want something that's free and works, preferably with no ads.

I think it was posted in here not long ago when Taf was asking about it.

[Drumstick]

Taf if you're interested I've found a way to get the old version back.

https://www.reddit.com/r/pocketcasts/co ... ep_v6_app/

Firstly backup your current subscriptions and create an account with PC and set it to sync your account if you haven't already because you're going to be syncing your account with the old app. Once you've done all that. Uninstall the new version and hit the link above. Click the link that the user AE-83 posted. It'll load the old version into your device. Install it, open, login to PC and sync your account. It should pick up your subscriptions (and possibly redownload your unplayed podcasts but I'm not sure on that last bit so might be worth making a note of those).

Lastly, go to the Google Play store and search PC. Then use the 3 dots in the top right to untick auto update.

Disclaimer: Unsure if this will still work as this was originally posted in March.

[Tafdolphin]

I ended up completely coming away from Pocket Casts. Although the advice was much appreciated Drumstick I just couldn't be bothered fiddling about with it all and the new version is so gooseberry fool I couldn't put up with it any more. It's the worst attempt to streamline an app I've ever seen and, going off the user reviews, I'm not the only one. Their rating was about 4.7 when I downloaded it, it's now down to 3.3. No wonder they're going free.

Ended up downloading Podcast Republic which is free and great. It does have a tiny ad at the bottom of the interface but I've not found it intrusive at all.

[Drumstick]

I have no idea how or why they managed to monumentally balls-up what was at the time an excellent product. I would not still be using it if I hadn't found a way to subvert the developer's intentions.

Some contractor probably came along and suggested a bunch of 'improvements' as per usual, although I quite clearly remember at the time the dev claiming they had delivered what their users had requested.

[Winckle]

They got bought out by NPR in America and then redesigned the app completely, presumably to try and show they still deserved employment.

[Tafdolphin]

They got bought out by NPR in America and then redesigned the app completely, presumably to try and show they still deserved employment.

Yeah, I assumed they'd been bought out by someone who had forced a change.

Urgh.

[Winckle]

Yeah it sucks. Especially since they're the only one to have my favourite feature which is synchronising my place in podcasts between desktop and mobile. Spotify can maybe do that, but you can't add your own podcast RSS feeds for ones that aren't in their library. Two of my favourite podcasts have premium feeds from patreon whose URLs are unique to your account (to prevent URL sharing).

[Pedz]

Podcast Republic sounds like a good alternative.

[Tafdolphin]

Podcast Republic sounds like a good alternative.

I'm liking it at least. It's nice to be able to make multiple playlists again