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.
I'm looking for beta testers. I'm looking for both MacOS and iOS testers. Please note this is a first beta so there will be some bugs, but I have been using and enjoying the app daily. Any and all feedback will be appreciated. I am looking for Voiceover testers on both platforms, and feedback on the UI from those who are able.
Please note, the public TestFlight link has now been removed and the beta will be operated on an invite-only basis going forward. This is due to a couple of reasons.
Recently, I have been receiving some truly vile eMails from members of the VI community in particular. I am in the fortunate position of not being someone who is easily offended. I appreciate that an app may not be to everyone's liking, and that's oK. The choice of apps available is vast, and there is something out there to fit almost every need. Yet people who feel the need to be so personal, even going as far as to suggest that somebody would be better off 'unaliving' themselves over bugs in a beta iPhone app speaks to the way a small minority of this community chooses to act.
I have been developping for years, well over a decade, though not generally in the VI community. I have created, published, and contributed to many open source projects, and developped applications professionally. I have been putting myself out there online for well over a decade. And i have never seen, nor experienced, the level of pettiness, or disgusting behaviour, as I have since I decided to become more involved in the VI community.
I appreciate that this is a minority who ruin things for everyone. But when these clever keyboard warriers are allowed to act in this way, it's no wonder developers don't take accessibility seriously. I dread to think how these people may have treated other app developers in the past, and the opportunities that may have been lost because of them.
I, even as a blind developer, will be more cautious in future when it comes to involving the VI community in betas, likely opening betas towards the release candidate stage, rather than early beta. I've met some great people along this journey and will always welcome their input on new apps, as well as anyone who joins with good intentions. But I'd think twice before making any beta app available to the wider VI community, and that saddens me.
To those of you who have submitted helpful, informative, and kind feedback, bug reports, and feature suggestions, I appreciate every one of you and am glad to have you onboard. Without those people, who represent approximately 7% of over 300 testers, Simulcast wouldn't be the app it is becoming. Simulcast isn't going anywhere, and I am working through a list of bug reports to push out a super stable new build at some point this week. The new build will bring plenty of Voiceover fixes, and tester requested GPodder sync support. I still hope to have the app in the store by the end of this year.
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?