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Google Play Music To Add Podcast Support on April 18, Says Report

Posted by msmash on from the affinity-for-podcasts dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Google Play Music could add a hub for podcasts on Monday, April 18. The speculation comes as news outlets spotted a leaked NPR email member-only newsletter which claims that the company 'worked with Google to ensure that public radio is represented in the Google Play environment' and reveals the launch date. Google announced plans to add podcasts to Google Play Music app in October last year. It's a welcome move -- whenever it actually happens. Google, unlike Apple and Microsoft, as of today doesn't offer any built-in app in its mobile operating system which could allow users to subscribe and listen to their favorite podcasts. And podcasts are increasingly becoming popular.

21 of 31 comments (clear)

  1. This explains all the "podcast" apps on Songza by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

    In the last couple of weeks Google has been spamming Songza users (or Google Play, is it now) with ads about this or that crappy podcast ("about tech and people [requisite "mistake" and giggle]). Hey Google, if I wanted to listen to podcasts at work...I'd be listening to podcasts, ya' know?

    1. Re:This explains all the "podcast" apps on Songza by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      When Google discontinued Songza. I stopped using Songza. Google Play Music doesn't really replicate the simplicity of Songza.

      It's a welcome move -- whenever it actually happens. Google, unlike Apple and Microsoft, as of today doesn't offer any built-in app in its mobile operating system which could allow users to subscribe and listen to their favorite podcasts.

      Why would it be a welcome move? There are perfectly valid free podcast listening apps on Android. The worst that could happen is that Google buys out those podcasting apps, discontinues them, and replaces them with something half as good, like it did with Songza.

      This move is not demand-driven, I can assure you. No one is asking Google to meddle with Podcasting. They can compete with podcasting apps if they want, but my worry is that they'll take the shortcut of buying out the competition before their own offerings get good enough.

  2. remember google listen? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    it's about time google added this functionality back in to android

    1. Re:remember google listen? by cmiller173 · · Score: 1

      The question is, will the Google Play Music app have features useful for podcasts? Some podcasts it really doesn't matter what order you listen to episodes in, current events type things like Tech News Today or music podcasts like AMPed New Music Weekly. Others like Serial or Hardcore History or other episodic long form podcasts should be listened to in a particular order, oldest first. Seems like it would take awhile for Google to get it's app as feature rich as many of the already available podcast players. I wish them luck though.

  3. Welcome move for google. by Altus · · Score: 2

    if it were Apple doing this, instead of a "Welcome move" it would be a blatant attempt to kill of existing podcast apps.

    --

    "In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..." -H. Simpson

    1. Re: Welcome move for google. by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 1

      Apple has that "you can't compete with us" problem. Google could very well raise awareness of podcasts well enough that BeyondPod and others get a boost. If it helps kill off the MSM, it's a good move.

      --
      My God, it's Full of Source!
      OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
    2. Re:Welcome move for google. by CohibaVancouver · · Score: 2

      I'm using PocketCasts which I like as well

      Second vote for PocketCasts. It's a pretty cool little app that works well.

    3. Re:Welcome move for google. by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      iTunes has had podcast support for... as long as I remember, at least five years, probably over a decade.

      BTW there's a reason they're called "Podcasts".

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
  4. No one remebers Google Listen? by LWATCDR · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Google had a podcasting app for android called Listen years ago. That and MyTracks are two of Google apps I wish they had not killed.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    1. Re:No one remebers Google Listen? by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 1

      But it had fatal flaws: not nearly enough real-time tracking nor a robust advertising bot.

    2. Re:No one remebers Google Listen? by Mike+Van+Pelt · · Score: 1

      This. Google might announce that they're discontinuing Google Play next month.

  5. People still watch podcasts? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    I figured that by now podcasts would have gone the way of the dodo, same as powerpoint - 4x as long to express half the content, badly.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    1. Re:People still watch podcasts? by cmiller173 · · Score: 1

      I generally listen to audio only podcasts, and only while driving on my commute. The few times I watched a video podcast I cast it to the chromecast on my office TV.

    2. Re:People still watch podcasts? by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      I figured that by now podcasts would have gone the way of the dodo, same as powerpoint - 4x as long to express half the content, badly.

      There is nowhere else to get a lot of this content. Most of the insights I bring here from the automotive world come from one show (which is also podcast) which hosts big names from the industry. I skip their dailies but I watch (or just listen to) their weekly and monthly broadcasts.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:People still watch podcasts? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      What else do you listen to in the car?

      I don't need it on android, I don't listen to music on a phone. So itunes on my pc is fine, then I sync it to the ipod and the ipod goes back in the car's glove box for a few weeks.

    4. Re:People still watch podcasts? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      What else do you listen to in the car?

      I don't need it on android, I don't listen to music on a phone. So itunes on my pc is fine, then I sync it to the ipod and the ipod goes back in the car's glove box for a few weeks.

      There's this thing called a radio ...

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    5. Re:People still watch podcasts? by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      When the radio gets boring, and it often does, I can use the podcasts. Plus the podcast is the only way to time shift listening to the NPR shows I like.
      But radio... isn't that even more out of data and dusty than podcasts?

    6. Re:People still watch podcasts? by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      Funny but I can not find any good tech shows on radio during my commute time.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    7. Re:People still watch podcasts? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      The radio plays music, same as a smartphone does. But since I can't drive any more, I end up talking with whoever is doing the driving. And conversation is even more out of date, but it works for me.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    8. Re:People still watch podcasts? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

      There's such a thing as a "GOOD" tech show? :-)

      If it were really good, you'd have to pay too much attention to it to be a safe driver, same as texting while driving or other distractions.

      --
      "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    9. Re:People still watch podcasts? by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      They're still here, and a sizable number of Youtube channels are podcasts in all but the name. I don't understand the popularity either given the number of cases I've tried to listen to the latter, with the first minute being occupied with nothing but "Uh, so, uh, welcome to, uh, another episode of the, uh..."

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.