New Features and Updates for Listeners
Apple has announced that Apple Podcasts is set to receive several notable features with the launch of iOS 17 this fall. The feature drop includes an updated Now Playing interface, Queue, episode art, search filters, and the ability to connect subscriptions to top apps from the App Store.
New Now Playing Interface
The new Now Playing interface features a dynamic background that displays a podcast’s art and provides controls for managing the queue. With iOS 17, listeners can tap the "Playing Next" button to see the next episode. If they want to add an episode to the Queue, they can tap the ‘More’ menu or press and hold on an episode, and then tap ‘Add to Queue.’ After adding an episode, Playing Next will present a new Queue section, which is designed to make it easy to reorder and clear episodes.
Queue Management
When playing all episodes that have been added, Apple Podcasts will continue playing episodes in Up Next. Listeners can access chapters in episodes from the ‘Playing Next’ section. Apple notes that Chapters now display the duration of each chapter and the remaining time for the current chapter.
Benefits of the Updated Now Playing Interface
- Dynamic background with podcast art
- Easy management of the queue with controls
- Ability to add episodes to the Queue with a single tap or press-and-hold gesture
- Reordering and clearing episodes made easy
Search Filters and Results
With iOS 17, users will also be able to more easily find podcasts they’re searching for with new filters for ‘Top Results,’ ‘Shows,’ ‘Episodes’ and ‘Channels.’ Search results will now present more information, such as how much time is remaining in an episode that has been started or whether an episode has been saved to your library. Plus, users can double-tap the Search tab to immediately bring the search bar into focus and begin typing.
Benefits of Improved Search
- New filters for ‘Top Results,’ ‘Shows,’ ‘Episodes’ and ‘Channels’
- More information presented in search results
- Double-tap feature to quickly access the search bar
Connecting Subscriptions
Apple also announced that this fall, users will be able to connect eligible subscriptions to top apps on the App Store with Apple Podcasts to access new shows. This includes news apps, such as Bloomberg and The Washington Post; health and fitness apps, such as Calm; along with kids and family apps, like Lingokids. Apple Podcasts will automatically recognize these App Store subscriptions and add the corresponding channel or show to a listener’s Library.
Benefits of Connected Subscriptions
- Access to new shows through connected subscriptions
- Automatic recognition of eligible subscriptions by Apple Podcasts
- Easy access to channels and shows in your Library
New Audio Experiences
Apple Music and Apple News will also launch new audio experiences on Apple Podcasts. Subscribers to Apple Music or Apple One will be able to listen to the entire catalog of Apple Music radio shows. New episodes of Apple Music Radio shows will stream live on Apple Music and be released on demand on Apple Music and Apple Podcasts simultaneously.
Subscribers to Apple News+ or Apple One will be able to listen to narrated audio stories from magazines and newspapers. New audio stories will be released in Apple News and on Apple Podcasts simultaneously.
Benefits of New Audio Experiences
- Access to entire catalog of Apple Music radio shows
- Live streaming and on-demand availability of new episodes
- Narrated audio stories from magazines and newspapers
Episode Art
Episode art is also getting a revamp with iOS 17. Listeners can now see the episode art for each podcast in their Library, making it easier to identify episodes and navigate through their content.
Benefits of Episode Art
- Easy identification of episodes with dynamic background
- Improved navigation through episodes and podcasts
Conclusion
The updates to Apple Podcasts with iOS 17 bring a range of new features and improvements for listeners. From the updated Now Playing interface to connected subscriptions and new audio experiences, there’s something for everyone in this latest revamp.
Future Developments
While the exact timeline is not yet clear, it’s likely that these updates will continue to roll out over time, with further developments and additions to Apple Podcasts.
By staying up-to-date on the latest news and features from Apple, listeners can stay ahead of the curve and get the most out of their favorite podcasts.
