Listen to podcasts using the new Google Podcasts app
Podcasts are becoming more and more popular, especially for those who have to travel a lot, as they make a pretty good companion: you can choose the topic you like or you are interested in, and listen to it. You can choose any genre, so it might be something educational, or something more relaxing and humorous. Google was already a part of this trend when it introduced podcasts to its Google Play Music app around 2 years ago, but is now going in a more direct way by launching an app specifically created for that: Google Podcasts.
As the Google Podcasts is still on the rise being a new service, it might not have as many options as other podcasts apps do, but nevertheless, Google has pretty big plans for it in addition to some already existing features and tricks. Unlike the Google Play Music which was not as intuitive, the Podcasts app is supposed to be easier to use and even allow playing the podcast straight from your Google Search. One of the very important features is that if you have listened to podcasts over Google Play Music, you can continue using the new app as all the data will be directly transferred. Additionally, if you use the app on more than one device, they will be automatically synced so you can continue listening later from any device you choose.
You might already be familiar with the fact that most of Google’s services are in a way interconnected, and this includes all of the new service as well. Google Assistant is fully integrated with Google Podcasts so you can ask it to control your app by pausing or playing podcast, changing it to another one or even requesting the genre you are in the mood for and it will play you something in that area from over 2 million podcasts already available in the app. This, of course, works for Google Home as well. Additionally, the app recommends you similar podcasts that you might like so it could be of a hand in choosing what to listen to next.
Google Podcasts awaits many updates in the future as Google already has many features in plan for this app. So far you can subscribe to your favourite podcasts as well as download them through the app if you wish to. Google is truly trying to differ from the competitors and the trending podcasts apps by adding more unique features, first of them being introducing closed captions that will use Artificial Intelligence and help you follow the podcast you are listening even when you are in a noisy place. Future updates will also bring real-time podcast translations meaning that you will be able to listen to any podcast in any language and still be able to follow without a problem.
The further goal Google has with this app is to also increase the number of podcast hosts, especially the ones that are less represented in the already existing community such as women or minorities. At the end, its final goal is to at least double the number of podcast listeners all over the world, especially new users who have not used this kind of service before. One way we can expect this happening is by incorporating podcasts as part of regular Google search which would also benefit the listeners in discovering new and different podcasts.
Google Podcasts app is available for download on Android operating smartphones in Google Play Store and it is already counting over half of million users.
Read also: Continued Conversation rolled out for Google Assistant
