While many would consider Apple responsible for for the podcast rotation — the name even come from the company ’s portable audio player — it ’s fair to say that the recentPodcasts app on iOS ( ) has meet with a fair amount of contempt .
antecedently , you would listen to podcasts through the Music app , synchronise them from iTunes and managing them the same style you managed euphony . But now , the Podcasts app is a suffer - alone putz for managing and listening to podcasts . Here ’s a look at how you could work with the iOS Podcasts app , but also how you could work without it , if you ’d favor work back to the sure-enough method .
A stand-alone app
First , if you select to support to and download podcasts from the Podcasts app , you’re able to do so . The Podcasts app can even synchronise your podcasts and fiddle position and place with another iOS equipment ( between your iPhone and iPad , for example ) . However , it wo n’t synchronise with your Mac ( or PC ) , so the Podcasts app is an island unto itself . In addition , it wo n’t sync with an Apple TV , which , since you contract into it with your Apple ID , should be simple-minded . This may be a step toward rive up content that is currently stored in the iTunes app on a Mac or PC . Apple has already released Video and iTunes U apps , and it ’s possible that , in the next edition of iTunes due to be unblock by the end of this month , this content will no longer be finagle by iTunes .
However , if one of your iOS twist syncs podcasts with iTunes , then , by all substance , don’tturn on iCloud syncing , because you ’ll notice a whole slew of different contentedness on that equipment . It wo n’t be there physically — you’ll have to download the episodes if you want them — but you ’ll see both those episodes you ’ve sync and those that your other twist has in its lists of podcasts and episodes ( some of which you may have already listened to ) . The app call for you if you require to sync this info the first time you launch it , but if you ever want to turn it off , selectSettings - > Podcasts - > Sync SubscriptionsiniOS 6 .
If you ’ve been syncing podcasts via iTunes and want to change over to syncing across iOS devices , I apprise delete the Podcasts app from all the gimmick you want to expend , reinstall it , and then sign to the podcasts you desire . If not , you ’ll rule a mishmash of podcasts sync via iTunes and via iCloud , which can be a bit confusing .
To sync or not?
But what about playlists?
Playlists are the big military issue with the Podcasts app . Many ability listeners like setting up playlists of their favorite podcasts , or even creating play list that substitute podcasts and music . The Podcasts app does n’t allow you to do so . Even if you synchronize playlists from iTunes , while the content will get imitate to your iOS gimmick and show up in the Podcasts app , you wo n’t be able to get to the playlists . If you go to the Music app , you wo n’t see an entry for Podcasts any longer , and the podcasts that you so carefully put into playlist wo n’t be there . And while any playlist you have made will show up , they ’ll either be empty , if they only contain podcasts , or they ’ll only contain music , if you made playlist arrest podcasts and music .
If playlists are important to you , there ’s an sluttish solution : Delete the Podcasts app . ( Tap and curb the app ’s image until it jiggles , then tap theXin the top - left nook . ) Continue downloading podcasts to iTunes , add them to the playlists you desire and syncing to your iPhone or iPad . wiretap the Music app , tapOther , and you ’ll see Podcasts listed . TapPlaylists , and your podcasts ’ play list will be there as they used to be . You wo n’t get the syncing of subscriptions and played installment , but you will have more control over the podcasts you may get at .
Bottom line
If you care about podcast playlists , it ’s clear that the Podcasts app is n’t for you . But if you ’re a casual podcast listener and just need the substance , then subscribing to podcasts and downloading them from the Podcasts app may suit you . You may not like the interface of the Podcasts app , but it does an OK job with what it ’s reckon to do . If you like the approximation of a aboriginal iOS app but find Podcasts wanting , Seth McFarland ’s $ 2Downcast ( ) and Joe Graf ’s $ 2iCaster ( ) are worth a flavor .