Google is starting to take its Podcasts app a bit more seriously today: the company is reportedly rolling out a more advanced design to Android users and launching the app on iOS for the first time. It’s a move that sets Google Podcasts up to better compete with more established podcast providers like Apple, Overcast, or Spotify.
Google has released its first version of Podcasts for iOS, giving you a way to listen to the likes of Dolly Parton’s America that syncs with virtually any device where your Google account works. This new app is also a showcase for a larger redesign meant to not only help you find new shows, but satisfy your curiosity about subjects mentioned in those shows.
The new design, which 9to5Google spotted rolling out early over the weekend, adds numerous features to Google Podcasts, centered on the new three-tab interface. The main Home screen is now focused on shows you already subscribe to, offering a scrollable feed of new episodes with quick links to download, play, or queue up directly from the homepage. Discovery and recommendation features have been broken out into a new tab called “Explore,” while a third “Activity” feed lets you view and manage your current playback queue, listening history, downloads, and subscriptions.
You can use the iOS and web versions today. The refreshed Android app is still rolling out and should reach all users this week. Google Podcasts may be a tougher sell on iOS when you already have a built-in podcast app, but it could scratch the itch if you regularly use multiple platforms and want to be sure your episodes are always available.
