Overcast Podcast Player Gains New Siri Shortcuts and Apple Watch Complications

Friday September 28, 2018 4:04 AM PDT by Tim Hardwick
Overcast version 5.0.2 was released today, bringing additional Siri Shortcuts in iOS 12 and new Apple Watch complications to the popular third-party podcast player.

The new Apple Watch complications can be located on the central or corner positions of the Infograph watch face that features on Series 4 models, offering users another way to quickly launch the app from their wrist.

For fans of Siri Shortcuts, Overcast now supports three additional options. One lets you quickly enable or cancel the sleep timer, while the other two allow you to generate either standard or timestamped links for the podcast episode you're currently listening to, making for easier sharing.

Elsewhere in this update, the Nitpicky Details menu includes an option to reduce the haptic level related to certain functions, and users now have more control over the Auto-Sync to Watch feature, with toggles available for playlists as well as individual episodes.

Lastly, this point update fixes a handful of bugs and crashes, and adds a one-tap preset for the previous interval to the sleep timer. Overcast 5.0.2 is available as a free ad-supported app for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tags: Overcast, Marco Arment
41 comments

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bigjnyc
16 months ago

Overcast is the most overrated app I’ve ever used. Overcast has gone from being buggy to being just plain broken.

And with each version becoming buggier and more broken, the developer doubles down with his refusal to address his app’s major functionality issues.

Normally I would move on from a garbage app, but the developer has $10 of mine, and he did not deliver a functional experience. I want my $10 back.


wow my experience has been the total opposite... this has been an amazing podcast app for me. Absolutely no issues, very easy, simple and straightforward. And all the updates have made the experience more pleasing to the eyes and nice to use.... and on top of that its 100% free.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
tom5304
16 months ago
Overcast is the most overrated app I’ve ever used. Overcast has gone from being buggy to being just plain broken.

And with each version becoming buggier and more broken, the developer doubles down with his refusal to address his app’s major functionality issues.

Normally I would move on from a garbage app, but the developer has $10 of mine, and he did not deliver a functional experience. I want my $10 back.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
whyamihere
16 months ago
If only it played video podcasts (I've given up hope).
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
BWhaler
16 months ago
Amazing app. Caring and thoughtful developer. Proud to financially support this app.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
cwanja
16 months ago

Still waiting for at least 1 of 6 emails I’ve sent since January to be answered, or one of the MANy tweets.....about some podcasts downloading old/expired shows...

Support from the Developer is horrible :( shouldn’t take 6+ months to get an issue resolved)


I disagree about the developer. As he says himself in the app settings, he is a one person show and he is trying to have good work/family balance. He does not answer emails or generally respond to Tweets, but he is constantly updating the app. We should thank him for making the free version on on par feature-wise with the paid one (for the most part). It's a great app. Voices sound so much better. I have a hard time using the native Podcast app now.

BUT, because he does work alone, the users are often beta testers in effect. If this battery drain issue is related to Overcast I can all but promise you that he will fix it quickly.


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I've been hearing this "reason" for a year. SO basically if you have issues with the app, too bad........he only answers select emails/tweets.... if yours isn't one of them, find another app. Nice.

Why do you feel he owes you a reply? As others mentioned, he is by himself. He cannot respond to everyone. By that same logic, every email I send to Apple and Tim Cook better be responded to. Or otherwise Apple is "horrible" or "takes years to resolve their issues" or never resolve them at all. (the latter is true, let's just look at iOS...)

He likely sees them all, prioritizes the responses and responses as needed. If it is a critical bug or needs more information, he will likely respond. If you send him something he already knows about, he will likely ignore.

I have sent him several tweets and emails about features and bugs. Some resolved, some are not. Such is life.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
adamjackson
16 months ago
Finally went Premium in Overcast. Marco added a ton of new features and this really is an amazing product version 5 and he's moving quickly to improve Apple Watch and shortcuts integration. He certainly deserves my money (even though most of us know he doesn't need it) :P Thanks Marco for the great work! Also, all of the issues I had with version 4 and CarPlay are now gone. version 5 is rock solid.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
bradkrischel
16 months ago

Still waiting for at least 1 of 6 emails I’ve sent since January to be answered, or one of the MANy tweets.....about some podcasts downloading old/expired shows...

Developer is horrible :( shouldn’t take 6+ months to get an issue resolved)


There's an Accidental Tech Podcast episode the developer talked about this. I'll find it and get you a timestamp in a minute.

Edit: Here you go ('https://overcast.fm/+CdQLwEk8/27:27'). (the discussion is about 12 minutes long)
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Alhagar
16 months ago

Still waiting for at least 1 of 6 emails I’ve sent since January to be answered, or one of the MANy tweets.....about some podcasts downloading old/expired shows...

Developer is horrible :( shouldn’t take 6+ months to get an issue resolved)


I disagree about the developer. As he says himself in the app settings, he is a one person show and he is trying to have good work/family balance. He does not answer emails or generally respond to Tweets, but he is constantly updating the app. We should thank him for making the free version on on par feature-wise with the paid one (for the most part). It's a great app. Voices sound so much better. I have a hard time using the native Podcast app now.

BUT, because he does work alone, the users are often beta testers in effect. If this battery drain issue is related to Overcast I can all but promise you that he will fix it quickly.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
GIZBUG
16 months ago

('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/28/overcast-new-siri-shortcuts-apple-watch-icons/')



Overcast ('https://overcast.fm') version 5.0.2 was released today, bringing additional Siri Shortcuts in iOS 12 and new Apple Watch complications to the popular third-party podcast player.

The new Apple Watch complications can be positioned on the central or corner positions of the Infograph watch face that features on Series 4 models, offering users another way to quickly launch the app from their wrist.

For fans of Siri Shortcuts, Overcast now supports three additional options. One lets you quickly enable or cancel the sleep timer, while the other two allow you to generate either standard or timestamped links for the podcast episode you're currently listening to, making for easier sharing.

Elsewhere in this update, the Nitpicky Details menu includes an option to reduce the haptic level related to certain functions, and users now have more control over the Auto-Sync to Watch feature, with toggles available for playlists as well as individual episodes.

Lastly, this point update fixes a handful of bugs and crashes, and adds a one-tap preset for the previous interval to the sleep timer. Overcast 5.0.2 ('http://appshopper.com/news/overcast-podcast-player') is available as a free ad-supported app for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link ('https://itunes.apple.com/app/overcast-podcast-player/id888422857?mt=8')]

Article Link: Overcast Podcast Player Gains New Siri Shortcuts and Apple Watch Complications ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/09/28/overcast-new-siri-shortcuts-apple-watch-icons/')


Still waiting for at least 1 of 6 emails I’ve sent since January to be answered, or one of the MANy tweets.....about some podcasts downloading old/expired shows...

Support from the Developer is horrible :( shouldn’t take 6+ months to get an issue resolved)
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
jhfenton
16 months ago
I prefer and use iCatcher on my iPhone and Watch. I bought iCatcher a few years ago, and now I beta test it too. Most weeks I get multiple beta updates to test.
Rating: 2 Votes
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