Apple has just updated the Podcasts app for iOS to version 1.0.1 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. This update appears to fix several of largest bugs reported by the user community.
From the official changelog:
Podcasts 1.0.1 provides a number of improvements, including:
- Significant improvements to performance and stability
- Podcasts in your library now show the number of unplayed episodes
- Top Stations now show the podcast title if artwork is missing
- Playback speed is now remembered when playing the next episode
- Fix for a problem where the Subscribe button is inactive
- Resolution of an issue where Top Stations artwork may not appear
Also fixed, although not listed, is the podcast syncing between desktop iTunes and the Podcasts app. This was my biggest disappointment with the Podcasts app for iOS, and was my sole reason for refusing to use it regularly. But I can confirm that episodes and playback positions flawlessly sync between desktop iTunes and the Podcasts app, and vice versa!
Missing podcast cover art was also a huge frustration for users and podcasters. Apple implemented two solutions: fixing the problem of existing artwork not displaying, and displaying a title if there's no artwork.
If the Podcasts app for iOS version 1.0 previously turned you away, now is a great time to try it again and let me know how it works for you!
Download the free Podcasts app for iOS.
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Podcasts app for iOS 1.0.1, fixes syncing, artwork, and more http://t.co/bTrddkDY #podcasting
— Daniel J. Lewis (@theDanielJLewis) July 25, 2012
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Remembering that I like to listen to speech podcasts at x2. That’s awesome!
Me, too! Right now, I hook up my iPad to my mixer just so I can play podcasts on it at double speed until iTunes gains that ability.
My main issue with the former version was that it was so slow in my iPhone 4 that it made it simply impossible to use, frozen screens et al. When I saw there was a “significant improvement in performance”, I went for it, but I found only a mild improvement. I still think I’ll keep using the regular Music app to listen to podcasts, unfortunately.
Me, too. I was so excited about this update, and it fixed a lot on my iPad, but it still has many disappointments—like syncing still isn’t quite right.
As much as I’m happy Apple is fixing this relatively quickly, I’ll be sticking with InstaCast for the time being. The Podcasts app is missing one or two features I tend to use a lot (such as downloading files larger the 50 megs over 3G).
It has that limit still? Bummer.
I won’t even consider an app like InstaCast because it can’t sync with iTunes. I play my podcasts across multiple devices (iPad, iPod Nano, PC with iTunes, and eventually an iPhone or iPod Touch) and I want them all to synchronize.
This podcast-syncing is actually a major reason I may leave Android to switch to an iPhone this fall or next year.