Our Verdict
I never though I ’d say this when I first listened to a podcast , many years ago , but Ilovepodcasts . Each week I listen to a dozen or so different shows , some produced by acquaintance , and others by celebrities of various bore .
Apple offers a couple apps that are supposed to make it easy to listen to podcasts : iTunes on the background , and the appropriately - namedPodcastson iOS . Alas , these two apps might as well have been develop by two unlike troupe , because fix them exercise in tandem — peculiarly when it come to syncing episodes between them — is , well , complicated .
Since I could never make Apple ’s own software body of work well , a while back I switched to Vemedio’sInstacast for iOSfor listening on my Io devices . I ’ve been very felicitous with it , so I was pleasedwhen the software program finally made its way to OS Xin the bod ofInstacast for Mac .
Instacast looksexactlylike I cogitate a podcast app should . Its main interface takes a pool cue from late versions of Apple ’s chain armor , disunite the screen in three vertical acid : On the leftfield is a lean of the podcasts you pledge to ; in the middle is a list of available sequence for the pick out show ; and on the right is information about the selected instalment .
That ’s somewhat much the entire user interface . Unlike iTunes , which has get over the twelvemonth into an agglomerate of half a twelve different apps worth of features , Instacast does one thing and does it exceptionally well . Even better , when you need it out of the way , the window minimizes in a convenient mini participant that , much like iTunes ’s , can be safely stashed away in a corner without closing the app . ( Alas , there ’s no way to take Instacast ’s icon from the Dock , which would make it even more discrete . )
In addition to playing back individual episode of a podcast , Instacast allows you to organize episode in a couple interesting ways . The first is to make playlists of episode from your subscriptions . This feature film fundamentally lets you create your own lecture - radio post filled with your favorite podcasts .
The 2d is to create smart tilt that automatically aggregate episode based on criterion you define . For example , you’re able to pull together all the episode you have n’t finished listen to , or just those that have been tot recently .
By default , only the most - late episode of each support podcast is downloaded to your figurer — if you run an old sequence from your subscription listing , that installment is swarm from the Internet . However , you could choose to have Instacast automatically download former episode for offline access ; the app lets you circumscribe the entire amount of drive space it uses , deleting older episodes to make room for novel ones .
Instacast ’s sharing features include financial backing for Twitter , App.net , email , iMessage , and a few extra Web services . you may also touch base to your story on the micropayment siteFlattrto provide small donation to each podcast ’s producers when you listen to their work .
unluckily , Instacast does n’t include any kind of social - oriented uncovering features , which is a shame . When append a new podcast , you could select from a bit of different grouping , or look for a specific show , but there ’s no means to find podcasts that your acquaintance are hear to ( or watch ) . That would be a commodious way to let out new shows , particularly considering how tightly Apple has been integrate various social - media internet into OS X and iOS .
One area where Instacast peculiarly shines is sync across devices . Through a feature competently namedInstacast Cloud , which is free to to all register user , you could sync subscription , episodes , and playback status across multiple copies of the app on any supported program . Once you ’ve provided your Instacast Cloud username and password , everything is handled automagically .
I ’ve used this feature film ever since the initial public genus Beta of Instacast for Mac , and it has worked flawlessly . I can , for example , stop playback of the up-to-the-minute instalment of the Macworld Podcast on my laptop , step outside for a walk , and launch Instacast for iOS to pick up immediately where I leave off . The feature make without a hitch , and it ’s free — what more could you ask for ?
Bottom line
On its own , Instacast is a great app that deserves a spot on your Mac if you mind to podcasts . It ’s been deliberately design to leave all the of import features you need without overloading you with needless extras . Coupled with its iOS vis-a-vis , however , Instacast is an infrangible pleasure to apply . The sync feature is powerful and automatic , let you jump seamlessly between devices , absolutely matching today ’s mobile lifestyles .
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