Basically, it looks like you can not rely on Google products. They could be discontinued at any time in the future. It makes me a lot less interested to try new products from Google at this point.
Sickening. Podcasts are a simple RSS-based mechanism that points to sound files. The whole point of them is that you can find them "wherever you get your podcasts", no feudal lord has a monopoly over them, no company controls the distribution (despite efforts by Spotify, Audible and others to incorrectly use the word "podcast" for some of their exclusive content). YouTube Music isn't an appropriate substitute, just a way of injecting additional ads and sucking more data in.
I was pretty happy with AntennaPod until I gave up on Android.<p>It's open source, and compares favorably to Apple Podcasts. It's difficult to discover unless you look on F-Droid. Presumably the paid / adware options have bigger marketing budgets.<p>(Using Overcast on iOS these days.)
The corresponding announcement about improving the podcast experience on Youtube Music: <a href="https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/podcast-destination-on-youtube-music/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/podcast-destination-on-...</a><p>So they are going the way of Spotify and combining music and podcasts into the same place.
Okay... here's an attempt at optimism.<p>In one respect this consolidation makes <i>more</i> sense than the Play Music → YouTube Music switch: many podcasts cross-post episodes as YouTube videos <i>and</i> audio-only feeds.
If YouTube collates those feeds and lets users select between modes while maintaining a unified "already watched/listened" list... hey, that reflects how podcasts distribute/monetize in practice.<p>The YouTube Music app was a dismal replacement for Google Music, and never regained features for managing one's own library of uploads. Of course, that's not a problem for podcasts; episodes are already syndicated.<p>All that said, this still bodes poorly.
I think this is it, I'm just going to start the de-googling process. I'm sick of having to change apps because this company can't agree on a direction.
I like Google Podcasts the most because it's a simple app, offering only podcasts, with mobile & web interfaces, and progress sync between them.<p>I mostly use Spotify for my music needs, so I will probably migrate there, but the last time I tried, experience was not so great for listening podcasts.
This is the 2nd time this week that I am posting about Google doing something like this. After totally destroying developer trust they are also rapidly eroding consumer trust.<p>Can someone from Google (or anyone) steelman how killing off so many product like this is smart?<p>I don't see any broad refocus in the company and their core products suck more now than ever. Even if they are more profitable I don't think thats because they redeployed talent and focus there.<p>Did they cut headcount too much to maintain this stuff?<p>Am I really misunderstanding how much a service like this costs to operate, even for Google?<p>I really am curious what the anti-cynical take is. I know what the cynics say, I am one. What am I missing where Sundar or management (smart people) look at these cases and do this?
1. New product!<p>2. Why can't we get more traction?<p>3. Refuse to see pattern that folks won't adopt a service they expect to disappear.<p>4. Kill product!<p>5. Goto 1<p>La plus ça change, la plus même chose.
It was too good to last.<p>I almost never used it, but I admired the simple interface and the lightweight controls. That giant sucking sound you hear is YouTube hoovering up all that is true and good in the world, and shitting it out on Cory Doctorow's self-driveway.<p>Okay this is a tangent, but I've got a rate-limited comment budget.<p>YouTube has ruined my life. I can pretend I'm amused and cool with my Google accounts and how nicely they treat me, but YouTube is a giant social media black hole that rips out my heart and shows it to me before putting it back in again.<p>My final teevee broke, over 8 years ago, and I was relieved to be rid of that monstrosity we know as OTA broadcast. I swore I'd never watch teevee again, and I was prepared to be mentally healthy. YouTube destroyed every last ounce of fortitude I had.<p>I used to have a nice UBO setup and blocked all YT ads. Of course I eventually just had to let'em all roll. So I watch less toxic influencers and more nonconsensual trash scams. I share YT links with my non-Google friends. I post YT links at work. I post YT all over HN. Everyone is sick of my videos, especially me.<p>There oughtta be a 12-step group.
Glad I moved over to Amazon Music to listen to a few without commercials.<p>When I switched from Android to iPhone I was infuriated that Bluetooth track controls for Google Podcasts didn’t map correctly. Pressing skip on my car steering wheel would jump to the next podcast instead of advancing a few seconds.
This situation is disheartening because it's a fantastic product that I utilize daily. It even had a handy feature to skip silence. Does anyone know of any Android alternatives with that feature?<p>Google, I implore you not to kill Gmail, Search, Chrome, or Google Drive/Docs.
I opened YouTube music app, for which I pay premium and tried to find the podcasts I listen to. I wasn't able to find any filter for podcasts and neither did search yield the podcasts I listen to via Google Podcasts. FFS Google.
Aw shucks, just started using this because my apple podcasts app (ios) kept stalling indefinitely.<p>anyone know of any other apps that they recommend?
OK. So, who has a good recommendation for something that:<p>* Variable playback speed<p>* Cross-device sync<p>* Subscribe to a podcast stream<p>* Selectively Queue episodes
Oh no, I actually liked Google Podcasts for its simplicity. First Google Music, now Podcasts - hope they don't kill this Play Store thingy next /s