As of today, third-party podcast app Overcast lets users sync downloaded pods to their Apple Watch for standalone playback.
The latest 3.1 update brings the much-requested feature to the popular podcast app, which was designed by Instapaper developer Marco Arment.
To take advantage of the new feature, users should access the Queue Menu (⁺≡) and select the Send to Watch option. Pending transfers should appear in the Downloads screen.
Overcast recently received a design overhaul to bring it up to speed with visual changes introduced in iOS 10. The latest update also includes a new dark app icon option for premium members (a $9.99 in-app purchase).
Overcast 3.1 is available as a free ad-supported app for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
And speaking of Up Next, I really wish the iOS app allowed you to add to the top of the Up Next list instead of just to the bottom. The Android app has that functionality. Hopefully, it's coming to iOS very soon.
Pocketcasts uses their own audio engine for downloaded podcasts and Apple's engine for streamed. That's why you can use Volume Boost and Trim Silence for downloaded episodes but not for streamed ones. But, yes, Overcast does sound better and is a little more conservative when trimming silence.
Overall, I agree with you and prefer Pocketcasts. Little touches like being able to tap on the podcast name to go straight to that podcast when looking at episode info from a filter are great. In Overcast, there's no way to open a podcast directly from an episode in a playlist. You have to back all the way out and scroll the list for that specific instead.
And I love how responsive the devs are. They're fantastic and give real support when you have issues or suggestions.
That said, the new Apple Watch integration is a very cool idea. The advertising platform is the best I’ve seen. I’m not a paid user. Sorry Marco. But I’m happy to view ads in the app as a result of not paying. They’re not horrible ED or “OMG, have you seen what <insert celeb name here> looks like now!?” ads. Much appreciate that! The playback tuning features are fantastic as well.
All in all, it is a good app. And I’d recommend it. I just hate hate hate hate the new crappy UI. Fix this Marco! It sucks!
But despite all the above, I'd start using Overcast again if CarPlay worked flawlessly, simply because SmartSpeed and Voice Boost work while streaming. Unfortunately, Overcast still has a lot of CarPlay bugs, while Pocket Casts has the most stable CarPlay implementation I've used so far. I don't want to use separate podcast apps when I'm listening in car vs. out of car.
At least there are a lot of good choices for iOS podcast apps!
I thought I would want something like the podcasts on the watch so I can finally have a reason to buy one, but when I go running I end up wearing a small pack with water, my keys and my iPhone SE which can be back there basically unnoticed and now that I use AirPods for wireless - it just isn't a big deal anymore.
I'm a lifelong Apple guy and I still can't find any reason whatsoever that I want that watch… Ha ha