I'm loving iTunes Match but one thing it doesn't handle is podcasts. As someone with a half- to one-hour commute each way every day, I listen to a lot of podcasts, but I'm still stuck with an old fashioned iTunes sync as my primary way of downloading and syncing podcasts. Any better suggestions?
Edit: alright, it looks like it's between Instacast and Downcast. Anyone used both? Instacast seems to be more popular but the most recent version has gotten a lot of bad reviews on iTunes...
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How do you sync podcasts on your iOS devices?
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connorg's pick
Instacast ($1.99, vemedio.com/products/instacast) is great on its own, and it now supports iCloud sync (vemedio.com/support/instacast/faq/instacast-and-ic...) for use with multiple iOS devices.
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connorg's pick
Do you want something that keeps things sync'd between multiple devices and computers? If so, I don't think there's an easy solution (unless it's some sort of third-party desktop app, Dropbox, etc).
As for downloading, maintaining, and listening to podcasts on my iPhone, I've been primarily using Downcast (www.downcastapp.com/). Apparently, the next version will sync play locations, statuses, and all that via iCloud.
As for downloading, maintaining, and listening to podcasts on my iPhone, I've been primarily using Downcast (www.downcastapp.com/). Apparently, the next version will sync play locations, statuses, and all that via iCloud.
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connorg's pick
I've used Instacast for the longest time. I bought downcast aswell because it had many good reviews but after using it for a while i went back to Instacast because I find it easier to use. Instacast had a screwed up release a short while ago but now it's back to normal. My favourite things about Instacast is: simple UI, automatic downloads on Wifi and automatic deletion after listening and 30 second jumps back and forth. Both can be adjust in settings.
I just want one UI tweak:
Right now I need three clicks to listen after launching the app: 1. All episodes, 2. Click on an episode (brings up description of episode) 3. Click play. - that is one (or two) clicks to many. i don't care about episode description 99% of the time!
I just redownloaded Downcast. It's still way too complex and confusing for me. Yes, you can set up playlists, but it's just too much for me. i like that instacast shows me all episodes and plays them back to back...
I just want one UI tweak:
Right now I need three clicks to listen after launching the app: 1. All episodes, 2. Click on an episode (brings up description of episode) 3. Click play. - that is one (or two) clicks to many. i don't care about episode description 99% of the time!
I just redownloaded Downcast. It's still way too complex and confusing for me. Yes, you can set up playlists, but it's just too much for me. i like that instacast shows me all episodes and plays them back to back...
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Downcast is a very good podcast client, and I understand they should be adding iCloud support soon. Waiting for that...
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I personally use the Mediafly OnAir app to sync my podcasts between all of my devices: onair.mediafly.com
I choose which ones to download and queue a bunch up before I leave WiFi, and it marks them as played on all devices, and keeps track of subscriptions. You can set it up to automatically download new shows if you wish.
Mediafly and other podcasting apps do not integrate directly with the Music player on the iOS device, so you have to play them through the app interface, but it does play in the background etc...
I choose which ones to download and queue a bunch up before I leave WiFi, and it marks them as played on all devices, and keeps track of subscriptions. You can set it up to automatically download new shows if you wish.
Mediafly and other podcasting apps do not integrate directly with the Music player on the iOS device, so you have to play them through the app interface, but it does play in the background etc...
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Don't use iTunes for podcasts unless you only listen to a few and don't care when they come out. If you are a heavy user, switch to one of the many good apps for podcast listening. Personally I have always used and continue to use Podcaster. Its had its problems and I know a lot of people prefer Instacast these days, but for me its the obvious choice. I listen to a lot of podcasts on my commute, and it handles downloading them in the background without any intervention on my part, keeps track of my favorites vs. the ones I only listen to at certain times or if I run out of favorites, and in particular has real variable speed playback. I simply can't listen to a lot of these at normal speed, but often these programs only have options for 1.5 or 2X playback, while Podcaster can playback at say 1.2 or 1.3X, and I find that to be a better choice. They've fixed the crashing problems, it allows you to import OPML files from iTunes when there is no RSS feed, which most others don't. Regardless, don't use iTunes.
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I use Instacast (iPad and iPod touch) which has iCloud support.
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I've tried most of the podcast management apps out there (including Downcast, Podcaster & Pocket Casts), and I think Instacast is easily the best. It has a great UI that makes it really easy to use, plus a lot of other nice features like continuous playback, iCloud sync, import/export OPML, and the new iPad version even has push notifications alerting you as new episodes are posted (hopefully this will make it's way to the iPhone, too!).
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USB cable.Update podcasts through iTunes so as not to hammer my wireless cap. Plug it into the host computer. Sync. Go out and drive.
I listen to about 8 different titles frequently. Some are too large to receive over the air. My throughput on my broadband is light years faster than my wireless speeds.
I listen to about 8 different titles frequently. Some are too large to receive over the air. My throughput on my broadband is light years faster than my wireless speeds.
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I use Instacast on my IPhone 4S for podcasts.
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