Downcast for PC and Mac

Software Reviews and Criticism

• By Cee-Delta_Conductor

  Runs great, icloud synchonization works for me

  I own this app on my iPhone 6 and a 2021 PC. This is my first time using the app on my laptop and it runs fine, when I turned on icloud sync all of my podcasts from my phone were transfered to my Pc. Downcast is a superior podcasting app as it provides an enormous amount of user control over how the app handles (1) your podcast library, (2) individual podcast behavior, and (3) individual episode behavior. It allows play speeds in 1/4x increments from 1/2 to 3x. It allows adjustment in playback location to skip ads and bumper music at the begining and end of the episode. You can import mp3 and m4a files to create your own "podcast" collection, and autopopulating playlists allow for amazing control over how multiple episodes from different pods are delivered for driving etc. In the past I have reached out to the developer by email and he quickly responded. Note that this dude is supporting the app as a side gig on his own so he does not do feature requests. My only complaint is that on installing and turning on icloud, the app downloaded podcasts from pods forwhich I have disabled autorefresh. After that initial refresh it obeys the rules that I have created.

  
  
• By Jaheath1974

  I actually like Downcast but...

  The synchronization is just brittle and I don't know why. When I first started using downcast I was looking for an alternative to the Microsoft Podcast app that had CarPlay. The idea that it had a desktop app and stayed in sync was awesome. I was in. Initially, the syncing didn't work. Then I decided I really wanted it to work so I went into reinstalling both apps, and turning the syncing on and off, and deleting the files from iCoud and futzing, I got it to work. It worked for a long time and I was happy. Recently, I had to log out and back into iCloud trying to restore another app was broken. Ever since I've done that syncing in Downcast has been broken again. It appears that both sides (iOS and PC) are trying but failing and I don't know why and its just really annoying to futz around with out meaningful control until maybe things work again. So, 1 star because a major part of the app, syncing, is simply brittle and once broken its a mystery as to what to do that will work.

  
  
• By Libredor

  PC: Downcast, iOS: iCatcher

  Downcast is superb for handling dozens of podcast subscriptions and custom selection episodes on my PC 2019, Monterey. Most negative reviews are about difficulties with syncing to Downcast iOS. But you don't need to use the same app and iCloud to get podcasts to your iOS device. OK, a bit more hassle to copy via Finder, or even by AirDrop. Then, in iOS, you choose whatever player matches your preferences. For me, iCatcher works fine. Importing from Downcast means I can set up custom "podcasts" by theme rather than each podcast locked in to a single source. Such a "podcast" can then serve as a playlist. Of course, iCatcher has playlists as well. Many other great features in iCatcher, worth a bit of time to learn.

  
  
• By SkinnyB!

  Syncing is TERRIBLE!!! Believe the reviews!

  Like most of you I wanted to ignore the bad reviews. I wanted to give a few bucks to a developer who made an app I have used and enjoyed quite a bit over the past few years(iOS). The iOS version has a lot of features that the Microsoft podcasting app still does not offer. If you're wanting to use this with your iOS device forget it and keep your money. It appears the iOS app was developed years ago by someone else, and was sold to another indivudal who tried to develop the PC app while enjoying the cashflow and reputation of the iOS app. I haven't seen synching this bad since I had a palm treo in the early 2000's. I've never seen an app on an Microsoft device have so much trouble synching. The developer needs to scrap the PC version and rebuild it from the ground up.

  
  
• By isits

  Pretty good so far... syncing works fine!

  I just downloaded this app which I've had for years on my phone. So far everything seems to be working pretty good. I don't understand all the complaints about sync'ing, it seems to work fine for me. The only glitch was that I had to fix my playlists to inlcude the appropriate podcasts but other than that I was pleasantly suprised by the ease of sync'ing. If you use the iPhone version I would recommend you give this a try if you want to move your podcast library to the computer.

  
  

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