14 DAY TRIAL // Apple this week rolled out a new Podcasts app for iPhone and iPad customers with the intention of patching several known bugs. Unfortunately, the update has caused a turmoil in the app’s reviews section on iTunes.
“This version of Podcasts provides several bug fixes,” Apple says, hoping to offer a much better experience with the new Podcasts 1.2.2 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users worldwide.
Unfortunately the response from users all over the world has been less than positive. This version alone has garnered dozens of 1-star reviews, with some users claiming they’d give it “zero” stars if the system allowed it.
Many are claiming to be experiencing hangs and crashes, while some can’t subscribe to their favorite podcasts anymore.
One user identified as labeling writes, “Hey great update guys!! I just updated my app and now it doesn't work. Way to go geniuses!! Appreciate you taking my favorite app and ow making it useless. Seriously?! This is progress?”
Others prefer to pick on the interface and general functionality, rather than criticize the bugs.
“Nothing whatsoever to distinguish this podcast app from the competition. Unintuitive interface, tacky graphics, limited playback features,” writes another frustrated user.
While the problems are widespread and diverse in nature, most Podcasts users seem to complain about the app crashing on them.
While few customers bother to include relevant information (such as their device model) to help paint a bigger picture, it’s quite possible that the people who are experiencing the most issues are using old-generation hardware.
Of course, that’s not an excuse for Apple, which claims that the Podcasts app should perform as expected on devices as old as the (2009) iPhone 3GS.
In the past, many users have complained about the lack of warning that the app would download podcasts over a cellular connection, causing some users to incur higher than normal operator costs.
Almost every version of the app has caused backlash, making it more than obvious that Apple needs to address several aspects of the Podcasts app sooner rather than later.