Nearly three years after launching an official podcast player for Android, Google is finally bringing its online radio app to iOS. Google Podcasts works like most other podcast apps: subscribe to your favorite broadcasts, explore recommendations, and browse shows by category such as comedy, news, sports, etc.
"We've redesigned the Google Podcasts app to make it easier to discover podcasts you'll love, build your list of go-to podcasts, and customize your listening," Product Manager Zack Reneau-Wedeen wrote in a Wednesday blog announcement. "Regardless of the platform you're using, your listening progress will sync across devices, and you'll be able to pick up right where you left off."
Start an episode on your kitchen smart speaker while making dinner, then pick up right where you left off on your iPhone during a relaxing bath; multi-device listening means you'll never miss a beat. Unless you've specifically chosen to by changing the playback speed or skipping silences.
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The new app is organized around three tabs: Home features new episodes and provides easy access to subscribed shows; Explore displays recommendations related to your interests; and Activity highlights listening history, queued episodes, and downloads. You can also tap into Google Search and Assistant for help discovering fresh content.
Initially announced in October 2015, Google Play Music's podcast service didn't hit Android devices until June 2018, offering up content from NPR, Radiolab, The New York Times, Slate, Nerdist, and more. And while app stores are already crowded with third-party podcast players, Google aims to entice listeners with its unique AI recommendations based on your listening habits. Apple in 2012 released a standalone podcast app for iOS, which reached one billion subscribers a year later.
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