Podcast software on Android

129 views
Skip to first unread message

Rakesh

unread,
Mar 7, 2012, 4:31:24 AM3/7/12
to javaposse
Hi all,

I recently moved to Android from iOS after being frustrated with the
podcast functionality and the constant Mac-tethering of iTunes.

Thinking the grass would be greener on Android I have been very
disappointed. My main requirements for podcast software is smart
ordering (older podcasts before newer ones) and control over playback
speed.

Doggcatcher seems to be the market leader but its not cheap and you
have to purchase an additional programme to control playback speed.

Anyone recommend anything else?

Thanks

Rakesh

Mark Derricutt

unread,
Mar 7, 2012, 4:35:00 AM3/7/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
I've switched back to using BeyondPod with is good, I was giving PocketCasts a go which is also excellent.  Both have speed control but via the same external application you mention.

Both are pay, but were not excessively expensive...

-- 
Mark Derricutt
Sent with Sparrow

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group.
To post to this group, send email to java...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to javaposse+...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.

Shaine Ismail

unread,
Mar 7, 2012, 4:56:38 AM3/7/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
I use pod trapper

Which I think is pretty good.

Shaine

Rakesh

unread,
Mar 7, 2012, 6:11:06 AM3/7/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
Does it support variable playback speed and play order?

Jeb Beich

unread,
Mar 7, 2012, 6:59:05 AM3/7/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
How is Doggcatcher not cheap? It's like the price of a latte...


Rakesh

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group.
To post to this group, send email to java...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to javaposse+...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en.




--
Jeb Beich
http://www.red-source.net/jeb

Rakesh

unread,
Mar 7, 2012, 8:34:34 AM3/7/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
true, £3.15 isn't a huge amount but certainly over my psychological
financial barrier where I won't mind if its a waste. Plus I have to
buy something else to get variable playback speed.

Chris Koerner

unread,
Mar 7, 2012, 10:17:47 AM3/7/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
I use InstaCast on my iPodTouch and it does everything I'd ever want without ever tethering to my Macbook or requiring iTunes in any form. Maybe they have an android version as well?

Paul Truax

unread,
Mar 10, 2012, 11:42:18 PM3/10/12
to java...@googlegroups.com

I've used Listen for the last several years and have been happy with it.

On Mar 7, 2012 7:17 AM, "Chris Koerner" <ches...@gmail.com> wrote:
I use InstaCast on my iPodTouch and it does everything I'd ever want without ever tethering to my Macbook or requiring iTunes in any form. Maybe they have an android version as well?

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/javaposse/-/nqqhQD5wYkAJ.

Cédric Beust ♔

unread,
Mar 11, 2012, 3:30:44 AM3/11/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 8:42 PM, Paul Truax <pa...@wheatonalumni.org> wrote:

I've used Listen for the last several years and have been happy with it.

Same. The interface is a bit clunky but once you understand it, it's not too bad. It doesn't fast forward, though, and -- very irritatingly -- it never remembers what screen you were on when it got passivated, so when you launch it, you always start from the first screen.

-- 
Cédric

Emanuele Ziglioli

unread,
Mar 11, 2012, 6:51:31 AM3/11/12
to The Java Posse


On Mar 11, 8:30 pm, Cédric Beust ♔ <ced...@beust.com> wrote:
> On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 8:42 PM, Paul Truax <p...@wheatonalumni.org> wrote:
> > I've used Listen for the last several years and have been happy with it.

Several is a big word, more like 2 or 3? :-)

> Same. The interface is a bit clunky but once you understand it, it's not
> too bad. It doesn't fast forward, though, and -- very irritatingly -- it
> never remembers what screen you were on when it got passivated, so when you
> launch it, you always start from the first screen.

It's a lovely little app, simple and with the bonus of Google Reader
integration.
Unfortunately it's full of bugs that will never be sorted out unless
Google decides to open source it or replace it (I guess with Music,
eventually).

I've just bought TuneIt that also does podcasts. I don't know whether
it's possible to add feeds to it or where it got the feeds it already
has

Cédric Beust ♔

unread,
Mar 11, 2012, 12:53:06 PM3/11/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
It's a lovely little app, simple and with the bonus of Google Reader
integration.

Indeed, I forgot to mention this: being able to add podcasts from Reader is a big plus. I also like the fact that it's working fine with my headset button to play/stop and also with my car Bluetooth system. To me, these features are more important than being able to fast forward.

But you are probably right that Google doesn't seem to care much for this app, which doesn't seem to have received updates in a very long time. Sadly typical of Google :-(

-- 
Cédric

Rakesh

unread,
Mar 11, 2012, 5:01:54 PM3/11/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
thanks for the info guys.

I've gone back to my iPhone (minus SIM so I guess iPod?). I installed
InstaCast as someone recommended it. It does indeed download podcasts
over wifi without iTunes and supports 2x play. Only thing I have not
worked out yet is how to get it to play through the list of podcasts -
it currently requires me to choose each podcast.

I'll revisit the Android space in a while once I'm use to my new phone
(Galaxy Note).

Thanks

R

2012/3/11 Cédric Beust ♔ <ced...@beust.com>:

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "The Java Posse" group.

Tor Norbye

unread,
Mar 12, 2012, 10:52:28 PM3/12/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
I've been really happy with Doggcatcher. Yes, to get multispeed playback you have to purchase the Presto library (which I think is used by some other podcast clients to offer multispeed playback as well), but if I recall correctly the price of Presto is less than the price of Doggcatcher, so the combined price is less than $10 (though it's been more than a year since I bought them).

What I like about Doggcatcher (besides the fact that stuff just works, and it has a bunch of features) is that they tend to track platform improvements pretty closely, so they had a tablet version early on, and now that ICS offers integration with the lockscreen play controls, they've added support for that. So now while running I can hit the skip forward/backward buttons to skip commercials or relisten to stuff I missed ( https://plus.google.com/116539451797396019960/posts/9xwK49Kwc6T )

(I haven't tried any other clients since this setup works for me (and it's what Dick recommended to me when I was disappointed by Listen a year ago), so it's more than possible that the other clients mentioned in this thread are better, but for me, it works really well and is super configurable (with episode playlists, options for auto-downloading and auto-deleting etc) so I haven't bothered looking at anything else.

-- Tor

Mark Derricutt

unread,
Mar 12, 2012, 11:25:52 PM3/12/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
Just installed DoggCatcher and will see how I find it compared to
BeyondPod and PocketCasts - I must say, I'm already immediately
impressed with the UI.

Mark

Mike Wolfson

unread,
Mar 13, 2012, 9:51:48 AM3/13/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
I have used them all (Listen, Doggcatcher, BeyondPod, etc). 

I just got a new phone, and tried a different one, which is by far my favorite.  It is named: Pocket Casts.  It is really wonderful, and provides a unique UI and is very full featured.

I also installed the Presto plugin for variable speed playback - which makes my Podcast listening very awesome.

Bottom line, I am not sure why Pocket Casts doesn't get much love - because it is really great, and IMHO, far superior to any of the other alternatives.

Rakesh

unread,
Mar 16, 2012, 5:26:58 AM3/16/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
HI Mike,

thanks for the recommendation. I've bought and installed Pocket Casts
plus Presto and I'm a happy bunny!

Some crashes from time to time but otherwise very happy.

Cheers

Rakesh

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "The Java Posse" group.

> To view this discussion on the web visit

> https://groups.google.com/d/msg/javaposse/-/f_8-9WU2EMwJ.


>
> To post to this group, send email to java...@googlegroups.com.
> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to

> javaposse+...@googlegroups.com.

Mark Derricutt

unread,
Mar 16, 2012, 4:28:38 PM3/16/12
to java...@googlegroups.com
I was about to post back and say the same thing about Doggcatcher
actually. Liking it over both Pocketcasts and BeyondPod.

One thing I did like about PocketCasts however was how it used the
cloud to check for new podcasts, made things much quicker, and less
bandwidth for your mobile device - the only flaw I found with that was
that it was all anonymous, you didn't have an account that you could
backup/restore from.

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages