Pocket Casts - Podcast App for Android & iPhone

The Podcast App Landscape and a New Contender

For enthusiasts of podcasts who rely on their smartphones, a gap in the market has long been apparent. Despite the ideal synergy between these technologies, truly exceptional podcast applications have been surprisingly scarce.

This situation has recently changed with the arrival of Pocket Casts, developed by Shifty Jelly.

A Feature-Rich Experience

Pocket Casts distinguishes itself through its comprehensive suite of features. It’s evident that the application’s developers dedicated significant time to understanding the precise needs of podcast listeners.

The result is a remarkably well-designed app that effectively addresses those needs and delivers a superior user experience.

The app appears to have successfully met the demands of a refined podcasting experience.

Acquiring Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts represents a premium application available for both Android and iPhone platforms. This guide will focus on the Android iteration of the app. Currently, the Android version is offered at a cost of approximately AU$2.70, which translates to roughly US$2.90 or €2.

The investment is well justified, considering the app’s capabilities. A full refund is available through the Android app store should you choose to return the application within a 15-minute timeframe, allowing for risk-free evaluation.

Exploring Pocket Casts

Initiating podcast discovery within Pocket Casts is a remarkably simple process. Selecting the search icon reveals a search field, alongside diverse browsing options for top-rated podcasts.

These options include exploring popular podcasts, navigating podcast directories, filtering by category, or importing feeds via URL or OPML file.

Podcast Discovery Methods

Popular Podcasts: Discover trending shows.
Directories: Browse curated podcast collections.
Categories: Find podcasts based on specific themes.
Import: Add podcasts using a URL or OPML file.

The selection of popular podcasts can be tailored to reflect worldwide trends or be restricted to podcasts trending within a particular country.

Daily operation of the application is intuitive, aided by Pocket Casts’ helpful onboarding screen designed to guide new users.

Exceptional Capabilities of Pocket Casts

A key benefit of Pocket Casts lies in its server-side subscription monitoring. The application consistently verifies for new podcast episodes through its servers, reducing the processing load on your device. Consequently, initiating a "refresh" provides an immediate update across all your podcasts, eliminating the need for individual checks.

Manual podcast downloads are unrestricted, functioning regardless of your network connection – be it Wi-Fi or cellular data. Within the application’s settings, you have the option to configure automatic downloads to occur exclusively when connected to Wi-Fi. Furthermore, downloads are executed in the background, ensuring they don't interrupt your current activities.

Users can customize notifications for new episodes, selecting either status bar alerts or vibration feedback to stay informed. The storage location for podcasts is user-definable, and played episodes can be deleted individually or in bulk to manage storage space efficiently. A convenient skip function allows for fast-forwarding by 30 seconds, rewinding by 10 seconds, or progressing to the next episode.

The ability to create podcast playlists is a valuable feature, particularly useful for commutes or extended periods of listening. Integration with Airplay enables audio output through external speakers.

Pocket Casts intelligently handles both audio and video podcasts, transitioning between formats automatically without requiring user intervention. Simply enjoy the content, whether by listening or viewing.

Feedback and Suggestions for Pocket Casts

A primary concern regarding the Pocket Casts application centers around efficient storage utilization. Users would benefit from greater control over download management.

Specifically, the ability to define a maximum storage allocation on the SD card for downloads would be highly valuable.

Desired Features for Download Management

Furthermore, an automated deletion function for podcasts, triggered a short period after playback or viewing, is desired. This would prevent unnecessary accumulation of files.

It’s important that this deletion isn’t immediate, allowing for potential re-listening.

Making the application compatible with App2SD functionality is also a significant request. The current size of 3MB on the phone is considered substantial.

Integration with Last.fm

Another feature addition that would enhance the user experience is integration with Last.fm for scrobbling.

This would allow users to track their podcast listening habits on their Last.fm accounts.

Implementing these changes would greatly improve the app’s usability and appeal.

Expanding Your Podcast Experience

Given your apparent interest in podcasts, exploring additional resources could prove beneficial. We've compiled a selection of articles focused on both discovering new content and initiating your own podcasting journey, even utilizing readily available mobile technology.

Resources for Podcast Discovery

Several online directories offer extensive podcast libraries. These platforms facilitate both subscription and free download options, allowing you to easily access a wide range of audio programs.

Discover new audio content through these 5 Podcast Directories for subscription and free downloads.
Explore literary discussions with The 7 Best Book Review Podcasts & Shows, ideal for finding your next read.

Creating Podcasts on Mobile Devices

Podcasting isn't limited to professional studios. Modern smartphones possess the capabilities to record and produce high-quality podcasts.

Learn how to launch your own podcast using just your mobile phone with our guide: How To Make Podcast On The Go With Your Mobile Phone.
Simplify the podcasting process with Cinch, a mobile application designed to help you easily become a podcaster.

We encourage you to experiment with these resources and share your experiences with Pocket Casts in the comments section below. Your feedback is valuable!