Apple Podcasts
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Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
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Initial release | iOS: June 26, 2012 tvOS: January 26, 2016 watchOS: September 17, 2018 HomePod: February 9, 2018 macOS: October 7, 2019 Amazon Echo: December 13, 2019 |
Stable release | iOS 15.1
/ October 25, 2021 |
Operating system | iOS 10 and later iPadOS 10 and later watchOS 5.1 and later tvOS 9.1.1 and later macOS Catalina and later Windows (as part of iTunes) |
Predecessor | iTunes (macOS) |
License | Freeware |
Website | https://www.apple.com/apple-podcasts/ |
Part of a series on |
macOS |
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Apple Podcasts (known as simply Podcasts in Apple operating systems) is an audio streaming service and media player application developed by Apple Inc. for downloading, streaming, discovering, playing, and sharing podcasts. Apple began supporting podcasts with iTunes 4.9 released in June 2005 and launched its first standalone mobile app in 2012. The app was later pre-installed with iOS beginning October 2014. The Apple Podcasts directory features more than two million shows.[1] Apple Podcasts is available on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, CarPlay, Microsoft Windows operating systems, and on Amazon Alexa devices.
History[]
In June 2005, Apple added podcasts to iTunes 4.9 and built a directory of shows in its iTunes Music Store, starting with 3,000 entries.[2][3] In April 2020, Apple Podcasts surpassed one million shows.[4] In June 2021, Apple launched the option for podcast creators to implement paid subscriptions through podcast channels.[5]
[]
Apple Podcasts had an estimated 28 million U.S. monthly listeners and 23.8% market share in March 2021, the first month it fell behind Spotify Podcasts as the top podcasting platform in the United States. This was a decrease from Apple's 34% market share in 2018.[6]
Application platforms[]
iOS, tvOS, and watchOS versions[]
A standalone Apple Podcasts app was announced at the 2012 Worldwide Developers Conference as a feature of iOS 6. Apple released the app early on the App Store on June 26, 2012. It adds a new "stations" feature for discovering new podcasts.[7] It is a standard app on CarPlay.
A standalone Apple Podcasts app was brought to 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TVs on September 24, 2012 with the Software 6.0 update.[8] The tvOS-based 4th generation Apple TV launched in October 2015 without the ability to play podcasts. This was despite a Podcasts icon appearing on the home screen in commercials, in-store demo loops, and developer documentation.[9] Apple Podcasts was added with tvOS 9.1.1 released on January 26, 2016.[10]
Apple Podcasts was added to the Apple Watch with watchOS 5 on September 17, 2018.[11]
macOS and Windows versions[]
Apple Podcasts for macOS and Microsoft Windows was initially available as part of the iTunes app, which added support for podcasts in version 4.9 in June 2005.[12][13]
Apple announced at WWDC 2019 that iTunes for macOS would be split and replaced by the Music, TV and Podcasts apps with the release of macOS Catalina.[14] Apple Podcasts remains available through iTunes on Microsoft Windows.[15]
Smart speakers[]
HomePod supports Apple Podcasts using a voice user interface. Support for Apple Podcasts was added to the Amazon Echo line in December 2019.[16]
Reception[]
Critical reviews of the Apple Podcasts app have generally been mixed. In 2012, Engadget stated it "offers an opportunity to break through the clutter of iTunes".[17] In 2017, Slate criticized it for glitches and low-quality audio.[18] In 2019, The Verge called the app "a bummer" and "bare-bones and fairly clunky, even when it comes to basic functions like subscribing."[19]
See also[]
- List of podcast clients
- Music (software)
- Apple Music
References[]
- ^ "Apple leads the next chapter of podcasting with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions". Apple Newsroom. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ^ Apple Takes Podcasting Mainstream Apple Press Info
- ^ iTunes 4.9 with podcasting available for download—still no formal announcement Engadget
- ^ Binder, Matt (2020-04-24). "It's official: There are now a million Apple podcasts". Mashable. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (2021-06-15). "Apple Launches Podcast Subscriptions Worldwide, After a Delay". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ^ "Spotify podcast listeners to top Apple's for the first time in 2021, forecast claims". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ^ Ingraham, Nathan (2012-06-26). "Apple releases dedicated Podcasts app for iPhone and iPad". The Verge. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- ^ "About Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) software updates". Apple Support. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- ^ "Apple TV (2015) review". iMore. 2015-11-19. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- ^ "Apple Releases Apple TV Update With New Podcasts App". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- ^ Whitney, Lance (September 27, 2019). "How to Use the Apple Podcasts App on Your Apple Watch". PCMAG. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- ^ Manjoo, Farhad (November 29, 2012). "Won't Someone Take iTunes Out Back and Shoot It?". Slate. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- ^ "iTunes 4.9 First Look: Apple takes on Podcasting". Macworld. 2005-06-28. Retrieved 2019-10-28.
- ^ Murphy Kelly, Samantha (June 3, 2019). "RIP iTunes as we know it. Apple breaks up iconic music platform". CNN. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ Spangler, Todd (June 3, 2019). "Apple's iTunes Store, iTunes App for Windows Aren't Going Away". Variety. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
- ^ "Apple and Spotify's podcasts come to Echo devices in the US". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
- ^ "Apple's Podcasts app for iOS hands-on". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- ^ Pesca, Mike (2017-12-06). "Apple Has Ruined Its Podcasts App". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- ^ "Picking the Best Podcast App (and a Guide to the Rest)". www.vulture.com. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
- Podcasting software
- IOS software
- WatchOS software
- MacOS software
- Apple Inc. software
- IOS-based software made by Apple Inc.