we live the golden age of podcasting There is more content to enjoy in all kinds of categories and with all kinds of references. From small creators who rose to fame, to famous radio shows that multiply their content across platforms. Accordingly, we also find a good application panorama for listening to podcasts on mobile.
cloudy One of them. I will not categorically say that this is the best. I’m not one to get into the personal tastes and preferences of each, because after all, as with everything in life, each has their own vision. yes i will tell you that best app for me In this podcasting space, it also puts me on the path of pain. I will talk about all this in the next lines.
Although it has premium features, it is a 100% free app.
In the whirlpool of subscription apps around every corner, finding a free app is always welcome. Cloudy, both in its download and daily use without requiring mandatory in-app payments. It is fully available on the iOS and iPadOS App Store, also compatible with Apple Watch. I’ll talk to you later about the non-Android version, as it has breadcrumbs.
It should be said that the app contains ads, but this is a non-intrusive advertising. It is limited to a small title located at the bottom of the screen that appears during the playback of episodes. It’s also not advertising of any kind, as there are ads for other podcast shows that you can find on Overcast itself.
If you don’t even accept this small creative, a premium version 9.99 euros per year. That will be just over 80 cents a month, a price that can hardly be described as high. Personally, I don’t tear my hair out to pay the proper amount for an app worth it, and Overcast would be one of them, even if I don’t need it.
And I don’t need to pay for the premium version because at least I think uninteresting extra features beyond removing ads. The other two options are to be able to upload your own files and replace the app icon with blue items. For everything else, there is no difference by version. Free the application.
cloudy
- Price:
- Developer: Cloudy Radio, LLC
- Category: News
- Download at: App Store (iOS/iPadOS)
Its interface is the key to everything
I haven’t commented before but it’s Cloudy only available in english. However, this is not a disadvantage as it serves to further develop its core existence. there is minimalist and intuitive I bet anyone can understand, even those who find the old Shakespearean language out of place.
The app has recently undergone a redesign that has never changed its essence in any case. A unlike most podcast appsThere aren’t too many tabs and submenus to overwhelm the eye or make you lose focus on being a gamer. Actually there is only one main tab with the complete absence of menus, except for the flawless settings panel.
In this unique tab you will find listed all the podcasts you subscribe to. At the top will appear the last ones you started listening to or broadcast a new episode. This episode also includes a clock icon at the top to see how much is left to finish the episode.
Already at the bottom, you can choose the possibility to see the entire subscription list with an indicative orange dot for those who have new content or just bring new material. You will see in a third view unsubscribed podcast archive and the partition you have downloaded at least a part of.
Every time you enter the program you’ll find three other views: non-playable episodes (Non-playable), all (All) and their related settings (Settings). There is a series in the episode list scroll actions allowing you to download them; Mark as favorites by swiping right to left or add to a list (swiping right to left). If they’re already downloaded, you can delete them or mark them as listened by swiping from left to right.
Already during episode playback we find the cover of the podcast as the main element, we can swipe left to adjust the playback speed or right to find the notes of the program. The already classic time bar play/pause options at the bottom and the ability to move forward or backward for a few seconds (configurable to each person’s preferences).
Without leaving the player, we find other actions below the speed functions mentioned above, setting a countdown to stop playback (ideal if you listen to a podcast before going to sleep), AirPlay options, the possibility to add the episode to the favorites list and access the program notes again.
Other Highlights
While I’ve mentioned it before, I think it’s important to expand the data on playback speed a bit more. And unlike other apps, Overcast, smart speed system. Actually, it’s literally called (Smart Speed). Although this speeds up the content, this sound as natural as possible.
I admit I’m not a big fan of listening to podcasts at a different pace than normal (x1), but when I’ve been saving up on pending episodes and having a certain rush to listen to them, it’s been great for me. And this function is combined with a mod called. Sound Reinforcement This improves overall sound quality by amplifying the sound, eliminating or reducing distracting noise and echo elements.
A function that may not be of interest to the majority, but at least of particular interest to me, lets you add premium podcasts. I subscribe to a few paid podcasts that have password protected private feeds and in Overcast you can easily add them and manage them like any other public podcast. And I know that this is not a special novelty of this application, but besides the fact that it is not found in all, some of those who implement it may cause problems.
The biggest drawback is not being on Android
Already in the title he mentioned Overcast as an “almost” perfect app. Well, that’s almost because the app not so, not expected on Android Google Play either. As a standalone apk that can be downloaded from the Internet, it is not even far from Google’s regulations.
Days before writing these lines, I tried to contact the Overcast development team to find out if their roadmap includes integrating the app into Android. I didn’t get an answer, but if I did, I’m sure I would’ve gotten a big no. And these are not pure assumptions, because I myself critical developer opinion on android apps.
Overcast developer Marco Arment from July 2021 released a controversial tweet basically it came to verify Will never bring Overcast to Android. Literally, these were his words:
“As long as I have Cloudy, which prevents major unforeseen events, there will never be an Android version. I’ve only had terrible experiences and impressions of the Android app market, and frankly, I don’t want to do anything with it.”
Beyond analyzing Arment’s arguments, the truth is, Millions of users miss Overcast For not on Android. I’m one of them, and luckily I have an iPhone to zip it up. But for my job and hobby technologyI’m switching between iOS and Android. I’m a serious podcast user, and despite the wide variety of apps available on Android, I haven’t been able to find one that fits my feeling with Overcast.
Because of this, it’s impossible for me to sync my podcasts, and when I switch to Android, I have to manually discard the podcasts I’m listening to on iOS Overcast. In case you’re wondering, I’ll tell you that Pocket Casts is the app I’ve been using on Android lately. Although the latter is also on iOS, it still looks less comfortable than Cloudy. So I’m so sorry The search for the perfect app to listen to podcasts is not over.. Unless Marco Arment changes his mind.
Source: Xataka
Alice Smith is a seasoned journalist and writer for Div Bracket. She has a keen sense of what’s important and is always on top of the latest trends. Alice provides in-depth coverage of the most talked-about news stories, delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles that keep her readers informed and engaged.