14 DAY TRIAL // The technology giant headquartered at 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California debuted this week an official Podcasts application for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch owners, allowing everyone to enjoy all of their audio and video podcasts in a single place.
Described by the Mac makers as “the easiest way to discover, subscribe to and play your favorite podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch,” the Podcasts app allows you to access the Podcasts Catalog and explore hundreds of thousands of free audio and video episodic series.
Users can gain quick access to the most popular podcasts, organized for them by topic, with the all-new Top Stations feature, and explore hundreds of thousands of podcasts including shows in over 40 languages.
“Try the innovative new Top Stations feature to find new podcast series in a variety of topics, including arts, business, comedy, music, news, sports, and more,” says Apple. “Browse by Audio or Video podcasts, or see what's most popular in Top Charts,” the company adds.
Users can easily subscribe to their favorites and automatically receive new episodes for free as they become available by simply tapping Subscribe (much like buying an app from the App Store).
Episodes can be streamed or downloaded to listen while offline, and users can skip forward and back using simple playback controls, either on their device’s touch screen, or via the remote controls on their headset. Other features include:
• Turn on Sleep Timer to automatically stop playing a podcast while listening in bed • Share your favorite episodes with friends using Twitter, Messages and Mail • Optionally sync your favorite episodes from iTunes on your Mac or PC • Sync your episode playback for seamless transition between devices
Apple’s new Podcasts app requires a device with iOS 5.1 or later and, optionally syncing episodes requires iTunes 10.6.3 or later. You’ll also need Internet access over WiFi or cellular to stream and download episodes.
The app is compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation) and iPad.