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It's Google Reader all over... When do people will stop using Google products!? Anyway, https://overcast.fm https://overcast.fm have been here for 9 years and

It's Google Reader all over... When do people will stop using Google products!? Anyway, https://overcast.fm https://overcast.fm have been here for 9 years and no reasons to go anytime soon.

flanked-evergl 3y ago
Overcast looks like it is only available on the Apple app store.
- latexr 3y ago
  Yes, Overcast is iOS-only, though the developer does allow the iPad version to run on macOS and visionOS and will fix bugs. An Android version (or anything outside the Apple ecosystem, really) is explicitly not planned. He has mentioned that multiple times publicly.
  - thrdbndndn 3y ago
    There is nothing wrong to be iOS only but I believe OP's point is that an iOS app can't replace Google Postcasts.
    - latexr 3y ago
      My comment was meant as neither criticism nor support, only as clarification for those looking for alternatives and considering Overcast.
- wildrhythms 3y ago
  On Android I switched to AntennaPod. It's FOSS, works great, and I can plug in my Patreon RSS feeds. https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod
seam_carver 3y ago
Overcast has the best audio quality. Volume normalization so all voices are the same volume and smart speed to shorten silences but still sounding natural is amazing. Antennapod and pocket casts implementations of those features aren't good enough.
- davely 3y ago
  Smart speed is such an absolutely amazing feature that I wish more audio apps had it (e.g., Audible). For those unaware, you set the speed to something like 1.75x. It analyzes the audio and shortens the time within dead space (e.g., the natural pause between sentences, words, etc) You can see this happen in real time as the smart speed display updates and you see the rate you’re listening to the podcast goes up to like 2.5x, 3x and even 4x. All because of reducing dead space. It’s insane. Discussed previously on HN [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22852489 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22852489
danesparza 3y ago
I just came here to say I was still bitter about Google Reader. Thank you for this candlelight vigil I can participate in. :-) It's hard to believe it's been more than 10 years since google Reader was shut down.
- yohannparis 3y ago
  I agree, since then I relied on feedbin.com, but the dropped of RSS by Google really changed a part of the WWW.
londons_explore 3y ago
I'm pretty sure Google products last, on average, longer than startup-y services or hobby projects.
- hodgesrm 3y ago
  Maybe I missed the satire, but this seems like a low bar for an enterprise products company.
- jacobr1 3y ago
  That might be true. But I'd rather bet on a startup: 1) If the product is successful, they will likely have continued growth and support (via an acquisition or other exit). If the product sucks I don't really want it anyway. With Google, the success of the product doesn't seem aligned to their strategy on when to keep products. There are perfectly viable products with plausibly profitable, high margins, if they were operating a stand-a-lone business that get shut down. The bet is not just on the success of the product, but also google's overall business strategy, which is much more contingent - especially at this point given their track record. 2) Established companies other than google usually do a better job providing an off-ramp to other services, or sell their customer-base to a competitor, rather than shutting down. Google, to their credit, is very good about providing the data so "someone" can manage a migration - they just don't make set up the continuity themselves. Early-stage companies are often bad at this too though.
- yohannparis 3y ago
  Good thing that Overcast is neither of those :)
pbronez 3y ago
My only gripe with Overcast is that it relies on Apple’s podcast index. I prefer the open alternative https://podcastindex.org/ https://podcastindex.org/

It's Google Reader all over... When do people will stop using Google products!? Anyway, https://overcast.fm https://overcast.fm have been here for 9 years and no reasons to go anytime soon.

flanked-evergl 3y ago

Overcast looks like it is only available on the Apple app store.

latexr 3y ago
Yes, Overcast is iOS-only, though the developer does allow the iPad version to run on macOS and visionOS and will fix bugs. An Android version (or anything outside the Apple ecosystem, really) is explicitly not planned. He has mentioned that multiple times publicly.
- thrdbndndn 3y ago
  There is nothing wrong to be iOS only but I believe OP's point is that an iOS app can't replace Google Postcasts.
  - latexr 3y ago
    My comment was meant as neither criticism nor support, only as clarification for those looking for alternatives and considering Overcast.
wildrhythms 3y ago
On Android I switched to AntennaPod. It's FOSS, works great, and I can plug in my Patreon RSS feeds. https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod

seam_carver 3y ago

Overcast has the best audio quality. Volume normalization so all voices are the same volume and smart speed to shorten silences but still sounding natural is amazing. Antennapod and pocket casts implementations of those features aren't good enough.

davely 3y ago
Smart speed is such an absolutely amazing feature that I wish more audio apps had it (e.g., Audible). For those unaware, you set the speed to something like 1.75x. It analyzes the audio and shortens the time within dead space (e.g., the natural pause between sentences, words, etc) You can see this happen in real time as the smart speed display updates and you see the rate you’re listening to the podcast goes up to like 2.5x, 3x and even 4x. All because of reducing dead space. It’s insane. Discussed previously on HN [1]. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22852489 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22852489

danesparza 3y ago

I just came here to say I was still bitter about Google Reader. Thank you for this candlelight vigil I can participate in. :-) It's hard to believe it's been more than 10 years since google Reader was shut down.

yohannparis 3y ago
I agree, since then I relied on feedbin.com, but the dropped of RSS by Google really changed a part of the WWW.

londons_explore 3y ago

I'm pretty sure Google products last, on average, longer than startup-y services or hobby projects.

hodgesrm 3y ago
Maybe I missed the satire, but this seems like a low bar for an enterprise products company.
jacobr1 3y ago
That might be true. But I'd rather bet on a startup: 1) If the product is successful, they will likely have continued growth and support (via an acquisition or other exit). If the product sucks I don't really want it anyway. With Google, the success of the product doesn't seem aligned to their strategy on when to keep products. There are perfectly viable products with plausibly profitable, high margins, if they were operating a stand-a-lone business that get shut down. The bet is not just on the success of the product, but also google's overall business strategy, which is much more contingent - especially at this point given their track record. 2) Established companies other than google usually do a better job providing an off-ramp to other services, or sell their customer-base to a competitor, rather than shutting down. Google, to their credit, is very good about providing the data so "someone" can manage a migration - they just don't make set up the continuity themselves. Early-stage companies are often bad at this too though.
yohannparis 3y ago
Good thing that Overcast is neither of those :)

pbronez 3y ago

My only gripe with Overcast is that it relies on Apple’s podcast index. I prefer the open alternative https://podcastindex.org/ https://podcastindex.org/