As a podcasting fan and enthusiast since its inception in the early 2000s, I've used a lot of podcasting apps. Most recently Downcast on MacOS and iOS. I loved the interface, the way that syncing between the Mac and the iPhone was flawless, and the configurability. However, unfortunately, it seems that Downcast is no-longer being actively maintained. There are bugs in the macOS version that make it impossible to get into the settings, iCloud syncing is broken, and there have been no updates for almost a year nor any communication from the developer.
I set about building a replacement. SOmething with the power, configurability and simplicity of Downcast, with a native MacOS and iOS interface. The app is written in Swift with platform-specific optimisation so the interface feels at home on MacOS and iOS, not like an iOS app that just happens to run on a Mac.
Simulcast is nearing release. 83 builds, many late nights with a LOT of coffee, and, of course, tons of tester feedback. I'm preparing to push the first version to the app store in 1 or 2 builds time. To those who are still testing, now is the time to get any last minute feedback, bugs, feature requests or otherwise broken things sent in. I'll probably look to push the first build at the beginning of November, allowing November for Apple's review process, which should mean a public release towards the end of November or early December.
I'm particularly keen to hear from those running the latest builds on the APple TV. I'm new to the platform, and while I do have an Apple TV (purchased specifically to push the build out) it is not a device I use. I would be grateful if those of you who are regular APple TV users, or even just more familiar with the Apple TV than I, could really put the TV version of Simulcast through its paces.
In regards to iOS and MacOS, the last 2 bug reports I have are in build 83 which ships today. But if there is anything else, please do send it my way. Test it, stress it, try to break it. I'd rather it broke now, than after a public release.
Finally, a note for those who have asked about Android and Windows. Simulcast was built to work across the Apple ecosystem. It is built using native Apple technologies, frameworks and APIs, written entirely in modern Swift. Much of its codebase is shared between platforms, with platform exceptions handled gracefully and the UI optimised for each platform and how you use it.
Porting SImulcast to Android or Windows would be a ground-up rewrite, building on the technologies, frameworks, APIs and libraries those platforms offer. It would require that I obtain decent devices, Windows and Android, for the purposes of development. It would require a lot of work to ensure feature parity, and to ensure that those features functioned identically. For example, the audio player uses Apple's algorithms to enable speed control and silence skipping, and ad skipping is built on Apple's on-device intelligence. Those might require custom alternatives on other platforms to achieve the same level of performance or sound quality.
I'm 1 person, with an ailing MacBook pro, building this in my spare time, with no oingoing budget. I'm not against the idea of bringing Simulcast to these platforms, but it is not on the roadmap for now.
If you want that to possibly change in the future, the best thing you can do is to support Simulcast on its release. Talk about it in your circles, share it far and wide, push it on social media. Review it in the app store so it gets seen. Help make it a success. That will not only give me the funds that can go towards a version for other platforms, but knowing that there is the need, or the want, gives me the insentive to make it happen. I've built an app that is far more than I ever wanted, so I could stop here. I'm not doing this for profit, though some compensation for the thousands of hours I've put in will certainly be nice. I built it because I couldn't use Downcast any more and i didn't like the alternatives, and I wanted to learn Swift.
So, never say never. For now, Simulcast suppports multiple syncing options including GPodder and and app that supports 'listening places, including Earshot and Quill. It's not the same as having your favourite app across every platform, but that is where things stand at the moment.
Thanks to every one of you who has helped make this app what it is today. It started out as a tiny podcast client and has amassed features that have taken mainstream clients decades to build. It's an app for everyone, designed to be as simple or complex as you want it to be. It's an app for anyone as passionate about radio, podcasting, and broadcasting as I am. Build 83 drops today, and depending on the reports that come in, and whether or not APple approve, the release should land soon!
Edited 22/10/2026 with the status update, effectively closing the beta for now.
Comments
I’d love to be a tester please for iOS
I’d love to be a tester for the iOS version. I’ve always used iCatcher! as my podcast player of choice
Would love to test on IOS
I have been meaning to get back into listening to podcasts and this would be a perfect opportunity for me to do just that. I would love to test the IOS version, don't currently have a mac so can't test on there.
interested
i am looking forward to test this app, on both macos and iOS. my email for the invite to test is daniel.angus.macdonald@gmail.com.
I'll test both! :)
Good morning,
I'd love to test both! :)
Interested
Hi,
I would be happy to beta test the iOS version for you. I do have a question though, in your release notes you mention Apple Podcast. My question is will this app only work with Apple Podcasts or is it more like a traditional Podcast player? 🙂
@Brian
it is a traditional podcast player. It pulls its data from either the iTunes podcast API, which gives you essentially the same browsing and discovery functionality as Apple Podcasts. It can also use the Podcast Index directory which is larger and includes podcasts that don't make it to APple's directory for whatever reason, including some free audiobook providers, but that directory isn't always as well organised.
To Michael Hansen
Thanks Michael for your eMail. I tried to respond but your inbox is full. I have made changes to the post, apologies as I forgot about the heading guidelines. Thanks to you and the Applevis team for your continued efforts!
Thank you
Thank you all. Lots of interest, keep them coming! As soon as I have approval from Apple I'll get the first builds in your hands.
Mailbox is Full?
@Ashley - Thanks for letting me know and for updating the headings! Now off to see why my mailbox storage is reporting as full, since it should not be for sure.
I can test both
i can test both versions. My email for this is icewolf201@gmail.com
right now I am using icatcher. Having a client that works across mac and iOS would be nice.
@Michael Hansen
eMail servers can have minds of their own sometimes. The return message was 550 Mailbox is full / Blocks limit exceeded / Inode limit exceeded
It's interesting but...
There doesn't seam to be a setting to play the next episode in a podcast? like if i'm listening to ep 1 and sleping orsomething, i'd like to listen to ep 2.
also, something that would be amazing would be a way to organise or strip out voiceover thigns. For example if i'm listening to ep one, then swipe to ep 2, I'd like to know the summery and only the summery, not the date, not the time, just ep two, brad goes in the spooky house, for example. You do that so we can customise things like that and i'm yours for life.
Definitely interested
I'm currently using Castro both on iOS and Mac, but especially on Mac the interface isn't optimised for the platform so it could definitely run better. The fact you mentioned your app will also have an inbox feature, combined with smart speed and good keyboard shortcuts has me sold :)
One thing I didn't find on the features list which I think would be very beneficial for those of us using an iPhone and Mac or multiple iOS devices is some kind of iCloud sync for playback progress. Is this something you have on your roadmap for a future release?
Thanks Ashley
Thanks Ashley - Issue now fixed.
I'm interested
Hi, I'm very interested in testing your app! I'm an avid podcast listener, and to mee it sounds like overcast, castro, and pocket casts had a baby lol. I love it!
sorry I should say
Sorry I should say I'm happy to test your iOS app, I do not have a Mac yet. :) does your app auto the next episode in the same feed? I like to fall asleep to podcasts and would love it if the app continued playing from the same feed.
Interested in testing
I'm interested in testing the IOS version of this app. Love listening to podcasts and this sounds like the perfect app for it.
Interested in testing
I currently use pocketcasts but am always interested in checking out a new podcast app
Use my contact form
Hi,
When you're ready to send the TestFlight invite, use my contact form to reach out. :)
Fiction podcast features?
Updated.
I'd like to know a few things. Could you tell me, if a podcast playlist can be arranged for fiction podcasts? Like playing a podcast from earliest episode to latest? But also, I am curious about the amount of swiping one has to do when browsing episodes. For example, I'd like to browse episodes with a single flick, flicking once, and then the episode title, the durration, and then the episode description are all read automatically/notes read automatically without me having to flick. Lastly, if a podcast is a fiction podcast, could you have a setting in there that says if a podcast is in the fiction category, episodes are shown from earliest to latest? Can we change the order of the episode list? See below on some best app practices for fiction podcasts.
Fiction podcasts for app developers
Contact me here.
Beta tester for mac veersion
Hello there. I'd like to beta test the mac erion of the podcast app. My email is: irwinelijah76@gmail.com
Interested
Sounds like you have a very good app going there. I'm stat mad, so I'll be looking forward to that. I do also like the cue features yo umentioned, and ability to skip by chapters. Using chapters for sleep timers is great too. I would love to join the list of testers when you have the test versions ready.
@Robert Kingett
Thanks for the comment re fiction podcasts. I'll admit this isn't something i'd considered, though the app does encorporate most of what you've asked for. I will have a look at the link you provided and see what else I can implement, including automatic sorting for podcasts in the fiction category.
@Piotr Machacz
iCloud syncing is fully implemented, it was one of my must-have features. It syncs playback progress. I also have handoff support for moving quickly between devices.
@Brad
It does all of this. there are configurable features for what to play next, and you can configure how podcast rows are displayed.
How to contact and more fiction podcast app dev links
Updated with links.
How do we keep in touch? Find links below.
Better fiction podcast resource, aimed at app developers
Contact me here
@Robert Kingett
I'll be in touch once test builds are ready. I'm adding a few fiction-specific features to the initial builds. The app will try to detect fiction podcasts and set itself up accordingly. You can override any of the settings per-podcast anyway. It will automatically enable correct ordering, optionally hide summaries for unplayed episodes (to avoid spoilers), optionally hide artwork for unplayed episodes (again to avoid spoilers), provide season grouping and probably a few more things if I get time. I'm not a listener of fiction podcasts myself so I'll look forward to your feedback!
@Ashley some initial feedback.
I've edited my posts above, but some piliminary feedback for fiction podcasts, some of which you already have.
The first thing. It's great these are optional but never do these by default.
Don't hide episode details by default.
Episode details/show notes are especially important for fiction podcast fans. Never hide them. never try to hide them by default. they contain very important information such as episode summaries and content warnings for that particular episode.
Never hide artwork by default.
Sighted fiction podcast fans love looking at episode artwork and show artwork. Never hide those, ever, even for unplayed episodes. Keep it optional hiding.
This next one you kind of already have but I want to point it out anyway.
Make it very easy to go to the website or the support links.
Apple Podcasts, Podverse, and Spotify all facilitate an off-app click at the episode level.
Have an option to download the entire show in one click.
Some podcast apps already do this. Pocket Casts, Podbean, Podcast Republic, and Overcast all have this option. This would be a fantastic addition here too.
Does the radio record?
Hi,
I'm curious to know if the radio feature allows you to record the currently playing stream?
I ask because there is a show I enjoy, which begins at 6am eastern on Saturday mornings & I can't always catch it live, so, when I'm able, I record it for later listening.
One of the stations it airs on is WSNL, which is currently in the radio-browser directory & I've yet to find a valid streaming URL.
Any advice as to how to do that?n
@KE8UPE
It doesn't currently offer a recording feature, but it's something I can look into. I just searched the directory for WSNL but I can't find it, are you sure it's available in the radiobrowser API?
@Robert Kingett
Don't worry, nothing is enabled by default. the goal of this app is maximum configurability, so you can choose everything - per podcast if you want to.
Would Love to be a Tester
I hav e always enjoyed listening to podcast. I would love to be able to test out this a[pp and provide feedback.
It's not currently in the database.
Good morning, Ashley,
WSNL isn't currently in the radio-browser database, but the nice thing is that if you happen to find a valid streaming url for that station, you can add it! :)
I would add it if I could, but I can't seem to find one.
Please send me eMail addresses
Hi all,
Several of you have kindly sent me personal messages with your contact details, or posted your eMail addresses in the thread. If you haven't, and you'd like to test the app, please send me your eMail address using the contact form on my Applevis profile. I don't recommend posting them in the thread as they are public for anyone to see. I will then add you to the TestFlight group, and you will have access to the beta builds to test as soon as they become available. TestFlight is Apple's official beta testing tool and is by far the best way for developers to provide beta apps to users across APple platforms; indeed on iOS it is the only way. I have decided not to publish public links for the first round of testing, just so I can keep things manageable.
Thanks everyone for your kind comments, invaluable suggestions and encouragement.
I'll be honest, i'm not impressed.
I've already sent some feedback but don't know if you got it becaues sending feedback is wierdly buggy on testflight, once I write my comment I pressed the uP button, I think that worked but if not, here goes: 1. Importing OPML files doens't seam to work. I tap on import, which should honestly be renamed to settings, then find import/export, tap it, then tap on import OPML, tap the latest OPML file and it says it's imported but when I check it isn't.
2. When you search for a podcast and tap on the podcast there's no description of what it is at all. For example if I tap on bbc radio 4 dramas,there's a little info about the podcast, that's completely missing.
3. If i tap on the podcast options button on a podcast, voiceover completely stops taking control of that screen.
So yeah I get this is a beta but at the moment i'd recommend others stick to other podcasting platforms.
@Brad
this is precisely why we test, and why the first tests are with a limited group rather than made available on a public link. I can't test for every eventuality on every platform on every device, so you will find (and indeed have found) bugs that I hadn't, and will address. I did get the testflight diagnostic feedback but if it's easier, you and any other testers are welcome to eMail feedback to me directly. It makes it easier to track bugs, I can follow up with you directly if I need more information, and it means I am less likely to miss feedback.
Oh you did, that's great!
At least we know that the UP button now sends the stuff, that's a very bad label on apples part.
@Brad
it does, though it isn't always reliable as you rightly say. and sometimes (at least in my experience) the feedback can take a while to actually show in app store connect, if it shows up at all. so eMail is definitely the most reliable way. I'm tracking down your bugs now and will send out a fixed build tonight, hopefully.
glad to hear it.
I look forward to testing the new version when I can.
Small typo in the intro.
Ashley,
In the intro to simulcast, the first welcome screen that is, there is a small typo in the text. I know this isn't anything major, but as you are making a professional application, I thought I would point it out to you.
Your podcast and radio player - beautiful, powerful, and customisable.
Customizable, is the typoed word in question.
Sort order seems to be in reverse order.
Navigating the sort option within a podcast page, if you set it to newest first, you will actually get the oldest episode first, and if you said it to oldest first, you'll actually get the latest episode first.
Pretty sure this is the reverse order of things, of course I could be wrong. 🙂
Want to test this
Hi, i also would be interested in testing this as a Downcast user. My email is strasserjakob@icloud.com
@Brian
Thanks Brian for the reports. Re the typo, that is the UK english spelling. I will look to implement support for following the system region to clear up this confusion. The other issues you outline are fixed in the upcoming build due to be launched in the next day or so. Thanks for your eMail, I've got the testFlight crash data, so I'll look into that as well. I'd be grateful if you could keep future feedback on eMail or via TestFlight rather than this thread as it makes it easier for me to track bugs with the amount of feedback coming in. Thanks for testing!
@Jokyboy129
I will add you to the test list when I push the new build, probably in the next day or so but maybe sooner.
For the developer
Ashley,
I'm unsure if you saw my original post on this thread but you can use the email listed in my personal profile to add me to your Testflight list.
I'm writing here, as I have yet to see an invite from you.
@KE8UPE
Thanks, and apologies for the delay. I'll add you to the group when I push the next build, either today or tomorrow, so expect a testFlight eMail soon.
Please delete the old invite
Good evening,
I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, but I’m going to have to ask you to delete the old invite you sent me and send a new one, as when you put out build 1.0 version 18, that never showed up on my TestFlight, so as a troubleshooting step I hit the stop testing button at the bottom.
Very interested in testing!
Hello, I am an avid podcast listener. And I am subscribed to 1000 shows, can this app handle importing a large number of podcasts via OPML? If you are still looking for testers i would like to try this out.
Thanks
Re: Very interested in testing
It should handle that.
Downcast fan
Out of interest does this effectively have the same features as Downcast? I've used Downcast for well, since the start yet it's not updated anymore like you say. I've not found other apps to my liking as love the downcast interface, amount of settings etc - if you are basically bringing all it's goodness to your app i'm very interested - is there anything you don't yet do that Downcast does/did?