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>> the podcast apps that exist in the Apple ecosystem aren’t as good as Spotify Do you mean Spotify is better because it's all in one? Or specifically as a pod

>> the podcast apps that exist in the Apple ecosystem aren’t as good as Spotify Do you mean Spotify is better because it's all in one? Or specifically as a podcast client it's better? Because, as a podcast client, Spotify is shockingly bad. Perhaps the worst podcast client available. Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and Pocketcasts are all much, much better.

subtra3t 3y ago
To each their own. I personally like Spotify (as a podcast client) just the way it is, it does what I want it to.
- niek_pas 3y ago
  > it does what I want it to This is Spotify's main advantage: most people already have it installed, and it's good enough if you don't care that much about the podcast-listening experience.
  - nytesky 3y ago
    Did they really invest in Rogan and podcasts just to keep their existing customers? I thought it was to entice podcast connoisseurs to the Spotify platform, who WILL care about podcast listening experience?
  - thenbe 3y ago
    I was in this boat. Now I'd really like to get off. The UI is bad but I got used to bad. But I've been asked to change my password *checks email* 10 (!) times in the last few months. I don't share my password with anyone, but I do use a VPN. Anyways, I can't seem to find a suitable alternative that will keep track of my listening progress across both linux and iOS.
  - prmoustache 3y ago
    > if you don't care that much about the podcast-listening experience What is so special about podcast-listening experience that you would need a specific player for?
    - niek_pas 3y ago
      Chapter support, playback rate control, smart speed (skips silences), voice boost, a UI that’s less horrific than Spotify’s are the main things for me.
gempir 3y ago
I hate Spotify Podcasts with a passion. The UI is lackluster, since it's just the same one from the normal Spotify Music experience. Because they bought Joe Rogan they had to add video too and video is horribly implemented. There isn't even an obvious way to turn it off. I consider myself tech-savy but I gave up trying to turn off and just switched to Apple Podcasts. Podcasts and Music are not the same. Please if you really want Podcasts to happen then, Spotify, make a separate App for it.
- the_snooze 3y ago
  Spotify podcasts were what made me jump ship to Apple Music. At least back then, Spotify would heavily prioritize their podcasts in the UI. Podcasts were front and center on the main screen. I don't just mean the desktop or mobile UI, but in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too, where screen space and attention are at a premium. I had to keep fighting the UI to get to what I was paying Spotify for: the music. When I tried out Apple Music and saw that it was music only, it was easy to leave Spotify because their priorities were no longer aligned with mine.
- prmoustache 3y ago
  > Podcasts and Music are not the same. Not a spotify nor Apple Music/Podcast/itunes user here. Aren't both audio stuff where you press play, pause, stop, rewind and fast forward? The only difference I can think of is that you might sometimes want to accelerate playback of podcasts but that doesn't mean it can't exist in the same player.
  - sleepybrett 3y ago
    Podcast apps, good ones, have many features you don't need in a simple app like a winamp or vlc. 1) An online catalog of series that is searchable (probably both by name and topic and participants). 2) That catalog must contain metadata both at a series level and an episode level. 3) That online catalog must also be navigable without search, of course. 4) Ability to subscribe to any given series and for the app to have an option to pre-cache an episode for offline use. 5) Several content controls that aren't really required for music listening but are must haves for podcasts such as timed skips (30s, 60s) and playback speed adjustment (only useful in a music player where you probably want to do beat matching). I think the biggest differentiator though is the episode/series catalog. It makes podcasts actually discoverable.
nailer 3y ago
More the inverse, that Podcasts is bad because it doesn't have the integrations Apple music has, eg there's Sonos support for Music, but none for Podcasts.

subtra3t 3y ago

To each their own. I personally like Spotify (as a podcast client) just the way it is, it does what I want it to.

niek_pas 3y ago
> it does what I want it to This is Spotify's main advantage: most people already have it installed, and it's good enough if you don't care that much about the podcast-listening experience.
- nytesky 3y ago
  Did they really invest in Rogan and podcasts just to keep their existing customers? I thought it was to entice podcast connoisseurs to the Spotify platform, who WILL care about podcast listening experience?
- thenbe 3y ago
  I was in this boat. Now I'd really like to get off. The UI is bad but I got used to bad. But I've been asked to change my password *checks email* 10 (!) times in the last few months. I don't share my password with anyone, but I do use a VPN. Anyways, I can't seem to find a suitable alternative that will keep track of my listening progress across both linux and iOS.
- prmoustache 3y ago
  > if you don't care that much about the podcast-listening experience What is so special about podcast-listening experience that you would need a specific player for?
  - niek_pas 3y ago
    Chapter support, playback rate control, smart speed (skips silences), voice boost, a UI that’s less horrific than Spotify’s are the main things for me.

gempir 3y ago

I hate Spotify Podcasts with a passion. The UI is lackluster, since it's just the same one from the normal Spotify Music experience. Because they bought Joe Rogan they had to add video too and video is horribly implemented. There isn't even an obvious way to turn it off. I consider myself tech-savy but I gave up trying to turn off and just switched to Apple Podcasts. Podcasts and Music are not the same. Please if you really want Podcasts to happen then, Spotify, make a separate App for it.

the_snooze 3y ago
Spotify podcasts were what made me jump ship to Apple Music. At least back then, Spotify would heavily prioritize their podcasts in the UI. Podcasts were front and center on the main screen. I don't just mean the desktop or mobile UI, but in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too, where screen space and attention are at a premium. I had to keep fighting the UI to get to what I was paying Spotify for: the music. When I tried out Apple Music and saw that it was music only, it was easy to leave Spotify because their priorities were no longer aligned with mine.
prmoustache 3y ago
> Podcasts and Music are not the same. Not a spotify nor Apple Music/Podcast/itunes user here. Aren't both audio stuff where you press play, pause, stop, rewind and fast forward? The only difference I can think of is that you might sometimes want to accelerate playback of podcasts but that doesn't mean it can't exist in the same player.
- sleepybrett 3y ago
  Podcast apps, good ones, have many features you don't need in a simple app like a winamp or vlc. 1) An online catalog of series that is searchable (probably both by name and topic and participants). 2) That catalog must contain metadata both at a series level and an episode level. 3) That online catalog must also be navigable without search, of course. 4) Ability to subscribe to any given series and for the app to have an option to pre-cache an episode for offline use. 5) Several content controls that aren't really required for music listening but are must haves for podcasts such as timed skips (30s, 60s) and playback speed adjustment (only useful in a music player where you probably want to do beat matching). I think the biggest differentiator though is the episode/series catalog. It makes podcasts actually discoverable.

nailer 3y ago

More the inverse, that Podcasts is bad because it doesn't have the integrations Apple music has, eg there's Sonos support for Music, but none for Podcasts.