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Recommendations for podcast players that sink across platforms? (self.Blind)
submitted by EndlessReverberation
Hey everyone,
I apologize for how many questions like this I have been posting on here lately; I have been working on moving away from iTunes, which has been much more difficult then I anticipated, and even though I have found passable alternatives for music and internet radio, I’m worried that iTunes is the only solution that will meet my podcasting needs.
I’m looking for a podcast solution that will allow me to keep my podcast library synced across my iPhone and Windows computer. The key thing I am looking for is if I subscribe/unsubscribe to a podcast on one device the change will be carried over to the other device, which is how things work with iTunes and the iOS podcast app. This is very important to me because I am subscribed to around 300 podcasts and I can’t manage two different podcast libraries of this size. Does anyone know of any accessible options for this that work on Windows? I have looked into a number of the most popular offerings, I’ll give quick breakdowns of the issues I have with each of them; this might get pretty long, so feel free to stop reading now if you don’t want to hear about the problems I have run into with the options I have tried.
Pocket cast
Pocket cast seems to be the option that might have the most potential to fit my needs, so I’m especially interested to hear from anyone who uses it. The main issue I have with Pocket Cast is with its web app, which is how the service would be accessed on Windows. I created an account, which is supposed to give you a free trial with the web app, however, I was not able to get a podcast to play with it. I was able to browse through some podcasts, pick an episode and read it’s show notes, but for the life of me I could not figure out how to make an episode play. From this experience, it seems like there are accessibility issues with the pocket cast web player, but if you have had better luck with it please let me know; I have not even looked at the iOS app yet, because I’m not interested in the service if I can’t use it on Windows, but I would be more then happy to pay for everything if it worked. Also, it looks like Pocket cast has a new app for windows in Beta, however, my free trial does not allow me to use this app, so I have no idea if it is more accessible then the web app.
Overcast
Overcast is the closest option I have tried, and it is almost usable enough for me. Like Pocket Cast, Overcast has a web app, and unlike Pocket cast, this web app has worked well for me. However, my issue with Overcast is with the iOS app. From what I can tell, there is no way to search for a podcast or an episode, in your library, with the iOS app. This seems like such an irredeemable oversight, to me, that I would not be surprised if I am wrong about this, and if someone knows how I can search Overcast on my phone to quickly pull up one of the podcast I am subscribed to please let me know. As it stands, Overcast on my phone simply offers me a giant screen with all 300 of my podcasts and there is not even a table index or similar tool that would allow me to at least quickly scroll through this massive list.
Google Play music
I have been using Google’s service for my music and it does a passable job; however, I can’t use it for podcasts because Google’s library is missing many of the podcasts that I am subscribed to and Google does not offer a way to add the RSS feed of a show that is not already in it’s data base. Also, there would be no way of listening to podcasts through Google on my iPhone.
Stitcher
Stitcher will not work for me because of the method it uses to in port your subscriptions from your previous library. The way that most podcast platforms do this is through an .OPML file. You can export an .OPML file from iTunes, which documents all of your subscriptions, and then in port the file into apps such as Overcast, Pocket cast and Downcast; this way you don’t have to subscribe to all 300 podcasts over again when first moving away from iTunes. However, Stitcher uses a novel method for importing your subscriptions, which consists of scanning your official iOS podcast app and subscribing to all of the podcasts that have downloaded episodes. There are a few problems with this method, but the main issue for me is that I do not download podcasts, I only stream them. Even if I was to try and download episodes for all of my shows just to allow Stitcher to in port my subscriptions, I would not be able to fit all of the downloads on my phone, my library is too big.
Downcast
Downcast, like many other options, only has a Mac app, there is no Windows player.
I believe I have tried a few more options that I can’t remember right now, but these were the highlights and this post is already far far too long. I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m complaining, I just thought it might save people some time if they could already read why some options probably won’t work for me. Surely, I can’t be the only person who listens to podcasts on Windows and iOS, needs a search function, and wants to try something other than iTunes. I’m open to hearing any suggestions at this point.
I apologize for how many questions like this I have been posting on here lately; I have been working on moving away from iTunes, which has been much more difficult then I anticipated, and even though I have found passable alternatives for music and internet radio, I’m worried that iTunes is the only solution that will meet my podcasting needs.
I’m looking for a podcast solution that will allow me to keep my podcast library synced across my iPhone and Windows computer. The key thing I am looking for is if I subscribe/unsubscribe to a podcast on one device the change will be carried over to the other device, which is how things work with iTunes and the iOS podcast app. This is very important to me because I am subscribed to around 300 podcasts and I can’t manage two different podcast libraries of this size. Does anyone know of any accessible options for this that work on Windows? I have looked into a number of the most popular offerings, I’ll give quick breakdowns of the issues I have with each of them; this might get pretty long, so feel free to stop reading now if you don’t want to hear about the problems I have run into with the options I have tried.
Pocket cast
Pocket cast seems to be the option that might have the most potential to fit my needs, so I’m especially interested to hear from anyone who uses it. The main issue I have with Pocket Cast is with its web app, which is how the service would be accessed on Windows. I created an account, which is supposed to give you a free trial with the web app, however, I was not able to get a podcast to play with it. I was able to browse through some podcasts, pick an episode and read it’s show notes, but for the life of me I could not figure out how to make an episode play. From this experience, it seems like there are accessibility issues with the pocket cast web player, but if you have had better luck with it please let me know; I have not even looked at the iOS app yet, because I’m not interested in the service if I can’t use it on Windows, but I would be more then happy to pay for everything if it worked. Also, it looks like Pocket cast has a new app for windows in Beta, however, my free trial does not allow me to use this app, so I have no idea if it is more accessible then the web app.
Overcast
Overcast is the closest option I have tried, and it is almost usable enough for me. Like Pocket Cast, Overcast has a web app, and unlike Pocket cast, this web app has worked well for me. However, my issue with Overcast is with the iOS app. From what I can tell, there is no way to search for a podcast or an episode, in your library, with the iOS app. This seems like such an irredeemable oversight, to me, that I would not be surprised if I am wrong about this, and if someone knows how I can search Overcast on my phone to quickly pull up one of the podcast I am subscribed to please let me know. As it stands, Overcast on my phone simply offers me a giant screen with all 300 of my podcasts and there is not even a table index or similar tool that would allow me to at least quickly scroll through this massive list.
Google Play music
I have been using Google’s service for my music and it does a passable job; however, I can’t use it for podcasts because Google’s library is missing many of the podcasts that I am subscribed to and Google does not offer a way to add the RSS feed of a show that is not already in it’s data base. Also, there would be no way of listening to podcasts through Google on my iPhone.
Stitcher
Stitcher will not work for me because of the method it uses to in port your subscriptions from your previous library. The way that most podcast platforms do this is through an .OPML file. You can export an .OPML file from iTunes, which documents all of your subscriptions, and then in port the file into apps such as Overcast, Pocket cast and Downcast; this way you don’t have to subscribe to all 300 podcasts over again when first moving away from iTunes. However, Stitcher uses a novel method for importing your subscriptions, which consists of scanning your official iOS podcast app and subscribing to all of the podcasts that have downloaded episodes. There are a few problems with this method, but the main issue for me is that I do not download podcasts, I only stream them. Even if I was to try and download episodes for all of my shows just to allow Stitcher to in port my subscriptions, I would not be able to fit all of the downloads on my phone, my library is too big.
Downcast
Downcast, like many other options, only has a Mac app, there is no Windows player.
I believe I have tried a few more options that I can’t remember right now, but these were the highlights and this post is already far far too long. I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m complaining, I just thought it might save people some time if they could already read why some options probably won’t work for me. Surely, I can’t be the only person who listens to podcasts on Windows and iOS, needs a search function, and wants to try something other than iTunes. I’m open to hearing any suggestions at this point.
fastfinge 2 points 5y ago
If you ever find anything, let me know! I just wound up giving up on podcasts on windows, and sticking with ICatcher on IOS for all my listening. ICatcher and downcast are the only podcast apps that give me the podcast management tools I need for a library of around 300 podcasts. I experienced all of the same issues as you, and tried all of the same apps you did.
EndlessReverberation [OP] 1 points 5y ago
It is so refreshing to hear that I am not alone with this. You always seem to be right on my page fastfinge. People seem to act like my situation is partly my fault because of how large my library is. As a former podcaster I knew that a huge majority of podcast listening is done on Apple's platform, but I did not fully appreciate the sparseness of the non\-apple side of podcast consumption , at least for us blind users. I may try and contact the makers of Pocket cast to see if they are interested in working on the accessibility of their desktop situation, maybe they will be more eager since they were just purchased by a bunch of public radio giants; I'm not hoeful though, most of those giants do not have good track records with the accessibility of their previous apps and services. Someone on Apple Vis suggested that I bug Overcast about adding search functions to the app, which I might try, but it's such a rudimentary feature I have to believe they have chosen not to add it for some silly reason.
It looks like I'm stuck with iTunes and the official iOS podcast app for now. I hate the whole situation on principle. I have been considering moving to Android, when my current phone dies, for a while now, and I have been feeling more and more willing to make the change; however, if I can't sink podcast across an Android phone and windows computer that alone makes the decision for me. Podcasts are important enough for me to make me stick with the iPhone; perhaps I am better off in Apple's walled garden, I just wish I had a choice in the matter.
I will definitely let you know if I do find a reasonable solution. Thanks for the reply.
It looks like I'm stuck with iTunes and the official iOS podcast app for now. I hate the whole situation on principle. I have been considering moving to Android, when my current phone dies, for a while now, and I have been feeling more and more willing to make the change; however, if I can't sink podcast across an Android phone and windows computer that alone makes the decision for me. Podcasts are important enough for me to make me stick with the iPhone; perhaps I am better off in Apple's walled garden, I just wish I had a choice in the matter.
I will definitely let you know if I do find a reasonable solution. Thanks for the reply.
fastfinge 2 points 5y ago
Well, I don't have Android myself, so take all this with a grain of salt. But I'm told, by people I trust on the matter, that Google Music on Android has podcast support. And with Google Music on android, you can add a custom RSS feed if you like. So if you went Android, you could use Google Music on windows and your phone for podcasts. However, even Google Music doesn't quite have the management options I need.
For example, on ICatcher, I have two playlists: storycasts and newscasts. When I add a podcast, if it's a newscast, I tell it to only keep the latest episode. Then I stick it in the newscasts playlist, and I tell Icatcher to play the playlist newest item first, so I always get the most recent news first. So, for example, my morning listen always starts off with the CBC hourly news. And if the CBC news updates while I'm listening to a different news podcast, when that one finishes, I'll hear the most recent hourly news again. Then on to the next most recent item.
However, of course, for dramas and serial podcasts, that would mean hearing everything out of order! So I keep all episodes for them, and I have another playlist, that always plays *oldest* item first. That way I always hear all the stories/dramas in order.
In my experience, downcast and iCatcher are the only clients powerful enough for this. Even overcast doesn't really seem to have powerful enough smart playlist support, at least last time I looked a few years ago. Has that changed?
For example, on ICatcher, I have two playlists: storycasts and newscasts. When I add a podcast, if it's a newscast, I tell it to only keep the latest episode. Then I stick it in the newscasts playlist, and I tell Icatcher to play the playlist newest item first, so I always get the most recent news first. So, for example, my morning listen always starts off with the CBC hourly news. And if the CBC news updates while I'm listening to a different news podcast, when that one finishes, I'll hear the most recent hourly news again. Then on to the next most recent item.
However, of course, for dramas and serial podcasts, that would mean hearing everything out of order! So I keep all episodes for them, and I have another playlist, that always plays *oldest* item first. That way I always hear all the stories/dramas in order.
In my experience, downcast and iCatcher are the only clients powerful enough for this. Even overcast doesn't really seem to have powerful enough smart playlist support, at least last time I looked a few years ago. Has that changed?
EndlessReverberation [OP] 2 points 5y ago
Wow, I had not heard that the Android Google Play music app allows you to add RSS feeds; that is really good to know, I guess it at least keeps Android as an option for me in the future, although I think it's dumb that Google does not offer that in their web app or iOS app.
I'm just looking at the Overcast playlist options now, and I believe you are right, it does not seem to support the features your listening setup requires. You can sort newest to oldest, or vice versa, but I don’t see anything about keeping episodes, so I think for story podcasts it would just play one episode and then move to the next episode in the playlist, which would probably be for another show. I don’t really use playlist though, so I might be wrong about that.
Come on podcast player developers, is this really so hard?
I'm just looking at the Overcast playlist options now, and I believe you are right, it does not seem to support the features your listening setup requires. You can sort newest to oldest, or vice versa, but I don’t see anything about keeping episodes, so I think for story podcasts it would just play one episode and then move to the next episode in the playlist, which would probably be for another show. I don’t really use playlist though, so I might be wrong about that.
Come on podcast player developers, is this really so hard?
fastfinge 2 points 5y ago
Well, it is amazing how different every podcast listener is. Like, you saying you don't use playlists. I couldn't imagine listening to podcasts that way. I listen while working out, doing chores, or in the background while working. So I need to press play, and then never touch my phone again for hours at a time. How do you listen? Do you just choose the next thing you want to listen to after the previous one finishes? How does having to pick a new episode once an hour not drive you nuts? LOL JK
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