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I’ve used the Apple podcasts app to pre-download content for offline listening, only to drive out to the middle of nowhere with no data service only to have the

I’ve used the Apple podcasts app to pre-download content for offline listening, only to drive out to the middle of nowhere with no data service only to have the app refuse to load. It would be much less aggravating to have an app which crashes on launch and never gives the appearance of doing anything, whatsoever.

willhslade 4y ago
Broken is better than unreliable.
laweijfmvo 4y ago
HBO Max is the worst offender in this regard. I've downloaded entire seasons of shows only for them to refuse to play without a connection -- after I boarded an airplane.
smcl 4y ago
I've had similar issues with downloading podcasts for offline listening before. One I can reliably hit is: 1. listen to podcast in episode its entirety, podcasts marked it as "listened to" 2. (time passes, if it was cached at all it certainly isn't now) 3. I remember episode, would like to listen on plane/bus/train without eating mobile data. Click the "download" button. 4. download completes, little icon appears showing the file is downloaded If you assume this means it worked, immediately close the app, you're in for a surprise. Because if you watch, the little "downloaded" icon disappears a second or so after the download finishes, I guess the app goes "oh this was listened to, I can delete the data". What I've found is you need to swipe right (??) to mark the episode as unplayed, then download it. There's so many silly Apple usability bugs that I encounter - sorry I'm on a roll now so I'll quickly describe my favourite one. The iOS "Clock" app's Timer functionality used to fail to play the selected sound if you set a 30 second timer and didn't touch the device. What happened was the screen was also scheduled to shut off after 30 seconds, and some weirdness caused this to interfere with the sound playing (now fixed, thankfully). I discovered this I was exercising and wanted to do a plank for 30 seconds. What was probably 1 minute later I realised and felt like an idiot :)

willhslade 4y ago

Broken is better than unreliable.

laweijfmvo 4y ago

HBO Max is the worst offender in this regard. I've downloaded entire seasons of shows only for them to refuse to play without a connection -- after I boarded an airplane.

smcl 4y ago

I've had similar issues with downloading podcasts for offline listening before. One I can reliably hit is: 1. listen to podcast in episode its entirety, podcasts marked it as "listened to" 2. (time passes, if it was cached at all it certainly isn't now) 3. I remember episode, would like to listen on plane/bus/train without eating mobile data. Click the "download" button. 4. download completes, little icon appears showing the file is downloaded If you assume this means it worked, immediately close the app, you're in for a surprise. Because if you watch, the little "downloaded" icon disappears a second or so after the download finishes, I guess the app goes "oh this was listened to, I can delete the data". What I've found is you need to swipe right (??) to mark the episode as unplayed, then download it. There's so many silly Apple usability bugs that I encounter - sorry I'm on a roll now so I'll quickly describe my favourite one. The iOS "Clock" app's Timer functionality used to fail to play the selected sound if you set a 30 second timer and didn't touch the device. What happened was the screen was also scheduled to shut off after 30 seconds, and some weirdness caused this to interfere with the sound playing (now fixed, thankfully). I discovered this I was exercising and wanted to do a plank for 30 seconds. What was probably 1 minute later I realised and felt like an idiot :)