iCatcher! Podcast Player

I must applaud the developer for his efforts in making this app accessible.

I've made contact with a number of developers over the past few months. Most have been fairly receptive to requests to improve the accessibility of their apps, but I was simply staggered by the speed and dedication with which the developer of iCatcher! responded. Within a few hours he had a beta version of the app available that addressed most of the minor problems. Over the next few days we worked closely to address the more involved problems. Well, he did the working, I just provided the feedback <smile>.

I know that he has implemented functionality in this app that is there solely for the use and benefit of VoiceOver users. He gave this priority at a time in the development cycle of the app when I am sure he would have preferred to be working on adding features to the app. For this, I want to publicly thank him.

I also have no hesitation in recommending the app itself. In fact, it has now replaced Podcaster as my default podcast player. I wouldn't claim that it is significantly better, but I do prefer it. There are still a few improvements that I would like to see, but I know that the developer is working on these (along with adding additional features).

Still a very impressive app and gets overlooked a lot from Downcast. I feel that this is a bit snappier and is faster than Downcast if you have a good list of podcasts.

What's New in Version 1.9.6

✓ UI changes on the Now Playing screen
✓ Dedicated button on now playing screen to toggle back-to-back playback. See help anRedirect detection fixes
✓ Fixes to the Location+Background updates
✓ Numerous bug fixes.
✓ Sync fixes for episodes that have future publish dates
✓ Fixes for the dates shown on episodes when the date is in the future

2Description

Download, listen, watch and enjoy your favorite podcasts all from your device. Now with support for Apple Watch!

Updated for iOS 9! Support for split screen and slide over on devices that support that feature (newer iPads).

FEATURES
• Background Refresh (iOS 7 and up only)
• Subscribe to your favorite podcasts in the app and manage them in the app
• Download episodes over WiFi or Cellular (on devices that have cellular).
• Download in the background on devices running iOS 7+
• Download multiple episodes at once (up to 3 on WiFi and 2 on cellular).
• Support for Password Protected feeds
• Sync subscriptions, episode playback positions and playlists between your devices with iCloud
• Universal App
• Full retina display support
• Search in all views to find that podcast or episode you are looking for
• Play audio in the background
• Custom playlists with filtering options by podcast, episodes and more.
• Support for continuous playback (toggle it on now playing screen just below time elapsed).
• All device orientations supported with configurable option in the settings
• You can unsubscribe to podcasts and still have them on your device. Use that for those less than stellar podcasts!
• Full VoiceOver support

PLAYBACK
• Variable playback speed 0.75x, 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x, 2x
• Playback speed remembered per podcast
• Support for podcasts with chapters and chapter images (MP3 and M4A)
• Use your headset controls including Bluetooth car controls (when paired) to play/pause, jump forward or back 30 seconds
• Sleep timer
• Beautifully rendered show notes
• Onscreen controls for jumping ahead 30 seconds, or jump back 30.
• Gesture Support on the now playing screen (when the podcast logo is showing) to aid in hands free use
• Double-tap to play/pause
• Swipe up to toggle playback speed
• Swipe left/right to rewind/fast-forward
• Home of the L gesture for the 2 minute Leo jump.
• See Settings and Gestures for more and for customizing rewind/fast-forward gestures
• Support for AirPlay, watch or listen to those podcasts on your big screen
• Support for external display of videos for devices that support an external display (get the Apple HDMI adapter)
• Watch or listen to your favorite podcasts with a familiar layout
• Customizable options like Auto-Play on connect to start playing the last playing podcast when you plug your headphones in (some restrictions, settings,
playback, general).

FIND NEW PODCASTS QUICK
• Find your podcasts by title, keyword or by author
• Browse the top podcasts by category
• Manually add podcasts with a URL
• Support for Password Protected feeds
• Option to download a single episode
• Browse the web in the app to find podcasts to add. Browser will prompt if you tap a link that is podcast feed.
• Import Podcast subscriptions for episodes that are already in your device from iTunes
• Import your OPML file from iTunes or other iOS podcast app
• Import media by using iTunes File Sharing feature
• Add your existing audiobooks (non-password protected ones) using iTunes File Sharing feature
• Add previously downloaded podcasts from your computer using iTunes file sharing feature (see settings and import media for details).

MORE
• Completely customizable to meet your podcasts needs.
• Swipe across a podcast or episode to access additional options
• Podcast settings allow you to set the days the podcast typically comes out or the number of days between.
• Specify the number of episodes to download when new ones are available
• Share the podcast information via email with your friends
• Post to Twitter or Facebook from the now playing screen

CONTACT
Email: tap Help tab and tap Email Support
Twitter: @Joeisanerd

PLEASE NOTE: The app does NOT sync with iTunes. Like other podcast apps it is standalone app meant to subscribe and download on the device.

* If a feed doesn't work, then let me know so I can take a look at it

Requires iOS 8 or higher.

...More
Joeisanerd.com Web Site iCatcher! Podcast Player Support

What's New in Version 2.7.4

Please take a moment to update your app store review. Without those reviews users won’t notice the app. So if you feel I add value, then please update
your review. Thank you to all of those that continue to update their reviews.

Now what changed
▷Bug fixes for some crashes that could occur during refreshes
▷Updated Add Episodes view when adding episodes to a playlist. You now have the option to see just the episodes you have added, any playable episodes,
any new episodes as well as played episodes. You can have episodes that won't show in the playlist because of over options set for that playlist.
▷New option (on by default) so that if there is no episode loaded, but you have a playlist selected and you press the play button on your headphones or
on the iOS playback controls (swipe up on screen), then it will start playing the first episode in the list. This assumes that iCatcher was the last app
playing audio.
▷New Repeat Episodes option added to the sleep timer. When enabled the episode will repeat if it finishes prior to the sleep timer expiring.

See whats new under help to see other recent updates

How does this app compare with other podcast apps such as Apple Podcasts, Downcast or Overcast?

The current app description states iCatcher has Watch support. i do not have a watch to test this.

Perhaps someone with a watch could test it so the entry can be updated.

Dow do you know if an episode is streaming? When I marked an episode for streaming, and when VoiceOver read the episode information, there was no information about the episode being marked for streaming.

I don't usually stream, and download instead. However, I think there is a way to tell.

In the settings, I seem to recall an option to show file size. If you turn that on, perhaps it will be zero for the streams, and of some non zero size for downloaded episodes.

If that doesn't work, drop Joe a note and if possible, I bet he will add it.

Thank you, I'll look into that.

Do you think that this app has stopped being updated? It hasn't been updated since last year.

I did not realize it had been that long. I use it as my podcatcher, and really like it. I don't know of any significant problems with it that are pending fixes, so I wasn't tracking updates closely.

How do you see how long it has been since the last refresh? The app only shows the time until the next refresh.

I tried the suggested method of streaming, and the size stayed the same. Is there any way to fix this, or is there another way.

Assuming you have set the app to refresh at one of the available duration's, like 1, 2, or some other hours, I suppose you could readily calculate the time since a refresh by looking at the time of the next refresh and doing some simple math.

I only ever download, and never stream. I don't have unlimited data, so I download podcasts on WiFi so I don't have an answer about this.

I have always had quick assistance from the developer. I suggest you direct your questions to him.

I just sent an e-mail to the developer.

I received a very friendly response from the developers. It looks like an update is coming. Also, I told the developer about the streaming issue with VoiceOver.

I'm glad you had a positive response. I have nothing but good things to say about the app, and the developer. I'm looking forward to the new update to see what other tweaks may be in store.

I couldn&#039;t agree more about the update. I might ask the developer to see what new features are coming.

Did you know that you can preview 1 minute of an episode. When you are in the feed detail screen, after you double tap on the name of an episode that is displayed, after the show notes option, there will be an option to preview 1 minute of the episode. This is handy because you can know what that podcast feed is like.

I am a bit of a podcast junkie myself, and I am also an audio quality snob. If a podcast piques my interest, I will preview it to see if it's something i can listen to. Some feeds with great content sound awful to my ears, and I pass on them.

As a long time, daily user of this app, I was surprised to see it listed as having accessibility issues.

I do not know of even one unlabelled button, and the developer is quick to respond to any suggestions or concerns.

I know DownCast is the big boy in this field, but iCatcher, in my mind, is the class of the field.

What's New in Version 2.9.3
▷New night mode theme (Cool Gray)
▷Too many downloads warning message behavior changed. New setting under download options for Max Download Queue Amount. If there are more episodes to download
in the download queue than that number, then it won't auto start the downloads. The warn setting will now prompt you if you attempt to manually start the
downloads and it is over that max number.
▷Connectivity bug fix
▷Bug fix for the playback error message
▷Mark as played bug fix when marking multiple items as played. It wasn't deleting the downloaded media.
▷Minor bug fixes to the Apple Watch app
▷Other Bug fixes

See whats new under help to see other recent updates

I believe this app should be rated as fully accessible. I have used it for years now, and i know of no issues with Voice Over.

It is mature, frequently updated, and the developer is responsive to requests and issues.

Recently downloaded ICatcher as I was looking for an alternative to Apple's native podcast app and I can say it is well worth £2.99.

Highly recommended!