Apple Podcast App Finally Improved for iPad! Hallelujah

In 2005, Apple began a podcast section of its iTunes app, and that action began the journey of podcasting from niche technology to a major media force.

So it's ironic and twisted that, as podcasting has grown into its adulthood, the Apple podcast app may be one of the worst interfaces in which to listen to podcasts.

Year after year as Apple introduces iOS updates, podcast fans wait expectedly like a parent waiting to gaze at their newborn to see the improvements in the Apple podcast app.  

Every year, the letdown for podcast fans means another year of suffering, waiting for a change that may never come.

This year, there may be positive change arriving.

 With iPadOS 16.1, Apple claims that Apple Podcasts has been redesigned to make it easier for listeners to see and access more content at a glance on iPad. Using the new sidebar, listeners can quickly navigate between the Listen Now, Browse, Charts, and Search tabs, as well as sections of their Library, including Recently Updated. With the refreshed Now Playing screen, it’s easy to enable the Sleep Timer and see Episode Notes, Chapters, and what’s Playing Next alongside playback controls for the current episode. Learn more about what’s new with iPadOS 16.1.

According to Apple, iOS 16 has delivered a big update ever to the Lock Screen. For podcasts, users can easily adjust playback controls from the bottom of the Lock Screen. Listeners can tap on the artwork to display it full screen and tap it again to minimize it. When included, chapter-specific artwork is displayed on the Lock Screen and automatically updated as listeners progress through an episode.

With iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, users can also see and adjust playback from the Always-On display. Once unlocked, they can also see and adjust playback with the Dynamic Island on the Home Screen or in any app. When a podcast is playing, tap the Dynamic Island to open Apple Podcasts or touch and hold to expand Dynamic Island and see more details. Learn more about Dynamic Island.

 The Listen Now tab helps listeners choose what to play with Up Next, easily access content from their channel subscriptions, and offers personalized recommendations for channels, shows, and episodes they are likely to enjoy.

Popular Shows is a new shelf in Listen Now that helps listeners discover new podcasts to follow. Using aggregated charts of trends and anonymized listener data, Popular Shows provides each listener with a personalized selection of trending shows that they are not currently following. The shelf is updated regularly with new recommendations based on the other shows a listener is following, frequently listening to, and those that are resonating with others. According to Apple, "Listeners can expect to find shows representing a variety of categories, show types, update frequencies, and more."

We will see. Fingers crossed.