Oh boy, can’t wait for Youtube Mail and Youtube Maps next
it’ll all end with YouTube Search
I wish this were more implausible, but at this point I’m getting worried.
Seriously. Fewer and fewer people are using Google as a search engine anyways. I know it’s miniscule, but people are aware of Duck Duck go, and aware of Google’s spy apparatus, hence why in any survey or poll they conduct they ask the user’s opinion on how well they think Google is doing with their private data. I always score them the lowest possible.
What we should be concerned with is how many websites and third party logins use Google.
Let’s just rename Google to Youtube and get it over with
Youtube is basically their entertainment brand. So that really doesn’t make sense.
People are just resistant to change because the GPM to YTM transition sucked when they released a half baked app
Yeah I guess so. YTM sucked ass when it came out. But now I would say it’s better than Spotify.
Classic google. Add this to the Google app graveyard.
Oh man, Google surveys is dead? That stuff was useful for so many things, I’m legitimately saddened by its loss.
Are you mixing it up with Google Forms? I think most people would never have used surveys, whereas forms is pretty popular. And they sound the same.
Ohh whew. I definitely was.
I liked Google surveys when I had an Android phone. I did a survey here and there and it would pay for my Duolingo subscription
I think that’s google opinion rewards. Or at least Google opinion rewards is the same thing.
Oh yeah you’re right. In that case, I’m not surprised Surveys is dead. I had never heard of that one
That site has a bit of inflation to it.
Like, some of those things are just standalone apps that got merged into other products. Like Fitbit coach is now just part of the Fitbit app.
Never surprising to hear of yet another Google service shutting down.
google
one app
does one thing
google
why is this so hard to understand
It’s likely not financially viable to have separate teams for their many products that all have similar features. Consolidating makes more sense because they can actually afford to maintain development.
Honestly, they should just roll YouTube Music into the default YouTube app, as well. And they probably will at some point. It just doesn’t make sense to have these services - which are basically all the same, functionally-speaking - spread out across multiple apps.
Honestly, they should just roll YouTube Music into the default YouTube app, as well.
I don’t think I could disagree more. I use both and listening to music and watching videos are entirely different activities for me and I want the apps to do different things in different ways.
The UI and use case for a video platform and a music app are very, very different
My phone makes phone calls and browses the Internet. There are things that can do multiple things.
The use case is not different. There is already music on YouTube. I rarely watch YouTube but I listen to it a lot. You’re not actually upset about the new app, you’re excited to shit on a company with harmful practices and you’re grasping at any argument you can find.
No, I use both YouTube and YouTube music and they need different UIs and ways of navigating. While you could cram all of YouTube musics UI into a subsection of YouTube, it really doesn’t make sense to do so. I’m not just shitting on Google just because, I’m saying that the needs of music listening and YouTube video watching are different for many people.
Honestly sounds like you don’t even need youtube, just YouTube music if all you ever use it for is listening.
They “need” different UIs? Really you’ve never used an app or device that can do 2 things?
Come on, that’s obviously a silly opinion. You’re just grasping at straws and I don’t really understand why.
It’s likely not financially viable to have separate teams for their many products that all have similar features.
Clearly Google doesn’t follow that logic because they have numerous competing chat apps. Even Google Maps has chat…
Man, I really did like Google Podcasts.
It was way better than the other podcast apps. And coming from iTunes, it was a smooth transition.
This sucks. Open source your shit, Google, and I promise we’ll keep it going.
Google’s graveyard is quite big. At this point am reluctant to use any of their services in fear of it disappearing.
RIP Play Music, YT music is ass.
When I switched to android I was looking for Play Music to buy some new songs and it had shut down shortly after I purchased my pixel. Real disappointing since I prefer to just buy a song here and there instead of subscribing to a streaming platform.
Some artists provide a digital download on their websites but it’s uncommon. If there’s a viable alternative to Play Music I’d love to hear about it!
For buying music, besides the big names like Amazon/iTunes, you might consider:
7digital UK or 7digital US, if in neither country, I think it should try to point you to the relevant storefront for yours if they have one.
Qobuz, which appears to be available in more countries.
Bandcamp for indies and experimental music.
The first two have a good mix of major labels and indies, so are probably your best bet after Amazon/iTunes, meanwhile Bandcamp is great for more niche and potentially upcoming artists. So far as I can tell there isn’t really just one storefront to go with for buying music unless you’re okay with the aforementioned big names.
I want to eventually transition from using Spotify to something like that, but my only question would be if I can save the songs locally on my device to use a music player of my choice?
All of the sites I linked to offer digital downloads of purchased music to play locally, so yes! I specifically sought these out because I prefer to have local files analogous to owning physical media, as I really don’t like perpetually renting media (i.e. subscription services).
Hey thanks for the reply! I’ll be sure to check these out. I tried Amazon but I was having trouble finding albums or songs to download specifically. Has to be my mistake since I see it recommended everywhere. Amazon Music is just a streaming service as far as I know?
Either way I appreciate the input!
I tried Amazon but I was having trouble finding albums or songs to download specifically. Has to be my mistake since I see it recommended everywhere. Amazon Music is just a streaming service as far as I know?
I don’t use Amazon for music much myself, but last I did, I think the way I found the download options was to search for the albums themselves as if I was trying to buy a physical copy, which much like books and other stuff, will often present a digital purchase option when available.
I stopped using it because it just felt way clunkier to deal with, which was even before they got into music streaming if memory serves (or at least, before they had prioritized it).
AntennaPod is your FOSS podcast friend
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Thanks for the resource! This looks amazing!
Being able to configure exactly how far the jump forward/backward buttons take me individually makes it so much easier to skip sponsorships. Plus, it’s just a great app.
Would be nice if more companies just open sourced the stuff they don’t need or don’t want to maintain anymore.
Even if no one picks it up, at least it got another chance.
Would never happen.
Obviously I can’t know what you have tried before, but I’d highly recommend Pocket Casts. I’ve been using this since at least 2014 (looking at a support chain that I had opened) and can’t imagine losing the features they’ve got. It’s shifted owners a few times and their mobile apps are now open source should you be interested in that.
Worth noting that in October they’re increasing their annual subscription price from $9.99 to $39.99, which is when I’ll be finding another podcast app. I love Pocket Casts but it doesn’t provide $40 worth of functionality for me.
antennapod
Yea, using their app online is worth $10 a year, but $40? For what’s basically a front end? They are out of their mind.
Do you know if you can export your podcasts from Pocket casts?
I’m not sure what you would export, just your listening history and favorites? Pocket Casts doesn’t host the actual audio files themselves, those are all available elsewhere online. I doubt there’s an easy way to port your existing subscriptions and such to another app, that would require them all to use a standard format for that data and there’s not really any incentive for that.
Yea, I figured out how to export it, but it doesn export what episodes I’ve.listened to, so I have to go back through my lists and transfer that (I like listening to back catalogs of my favorite podcasts.
I actually paid for the lifetime app membership a long time ago, so luckily this won’t impact that, but not paying $40usd for just desktop use.
Does Antenna have a desktop app?
Not as far as I know. You would have to use a desktop client that syncs with gPodder… like gPodder
Is pocket casts usable on pc? The “pocket” part of the name makes me think no, but I used Google podcast to listen to stuff on my pc primarily. It’s a pain to track podcasts I want to listen to and am actively listening to because every podcast company has their own website.
They have a website version but it’s a paid offering, with it being part of a subscription now. It used to be a one-off purchase. Regardless, I haven’t used it before.
Podcasts didn’t work with SD cards, yt music does, can’t say I’ll miss it.
What value would oss bring here when it’s the content that matters most? I’m actually really interested to know because I too really liked this app/service.
Podcasts are (generally, Spotify excluded) on an open standard. They’re just RSS feeds. So, the content can be aggregated by anyone. So it’s primarily the UI that will be different between different podcast players.
Sure but the hosting of that content isn’t something a front end can solve.
Podcasts are already hosted by a variety of independent services. Google doesn’t host any podcasts, at least as far as I am aware. In this case it really is a frontend-only problem.
The RSS feed points to the already hosted files. A lot of people host podcasts on services like libsyn or podbean. I don’t think you can really host podcasts on Google; maybe hacked together on drive or something.
Google isn’t hosting the podcasts.
Most of them are hosted by a service offered by Spotify.
It is both funny and sad that Google has more or less trained me to never use their apps.
At this point, I purposefully don’t use them because I assume they’ll soon be cancelled.
About two weeks ago I thought about this in regards to google podcasts.
“Well this one will probably stick around long enough that I’ll have moved on by the time google shuts it down. They don’t even host the episodes anyway. They source the metadata and audio files from elsewhere. All they really host is my listening history, queue, and subscriptions. Certainly this is less likely to get the axe anytime soon.”
*two weeks later*
It really does suck though. I genuinely like the google podcasts app/website. Best one I’ve found so far that works how I like my apps/services to work.
Man I recently switched from podcast addict after years because podcast addict put an annoying nag about permissions changes in Android, plus I always had issues with the playlist/queuing. Guess I’ll go back to it soon
It’s so wild that Google would rather weaken their own brand than just keep a secondary frontend around. It would require minimal maintenance cost (given the size of their company, just have 1-2 fulltime devs working on keeping it in shape and updated), and it could access the exact same backend as the Youtube Music app.
Weird.
And don’t misunderstand me, I really don’t like Google Podcasts for podcasts, but I also admit that having a separate app for podcasts is superior, as you listen to them very differently than you listen to music. Spotify amiably shows how their recommendation algorithms absolutely cannot handle someone listening to both, anyways.
They probably want to monetize on podcasts too, in the same way they do on videos and music. At the moment, Google Podcast is completely free and ad-free.
I actually don’t think it’s a bad decision. I think merging it with YouTube is a good thing. They could integrate tightly with YouTube since they already added a “podcast” feature and you could seemlessly switch between Video and Audio.
Sooner or later I expected that to happen.
But to a user, what would the benefit be? Would the UI also change depending on content played to expose the controls specialized for each type of media?
It combined two apps I already use. The UI of YTM is better than the podcast app anyways. Not a crazy huge benefit, but there’s no detractor for me because I already use YTM heavily.
You could listen to an epsiode on YouTube then pause and listen to it on YouTube music.
Would the UI also change depending on content played to expose the controls specialized for each type of media?
They already kinda do that on YouTube (with YouTube premium). When you watch a music video, you have music controls in the normal YouTube app and a button to switch to YouTube music
Tbh, they should rather make a new app called "YouTube Podcasts)
I only found and started using this app a couple of months ago wouldn’t have imagined it was on its way out
Typical Google
They pushed so hard for youtube music, which is nowhere near as good as play music was (had a subscription there…amazing little app, if you even remember that), that I forgot completely about Google podcasts. Spotify really marketed its podcast feature too well so I used that instead.
I don’t know how anyone on Android uses Spotify. That app is such dogshit.
Also rip forever Google play music
Honestly I think YouTube music is finally at parity with Google music. I’d prefer some of the fluff to go away (e.g. the comments, samples, & podcasts) but overall it’s gotten much better.
Can I upload my entire 600gb+ library to it for free and access it anywhere anytime?
Auto cache? Redownload so it acts as a backup?
I think you know the answer to that. That was a pretty spectacular feature that I never thought was going to last. Regardless of branding. Hopefully you uploaded your music and transferred it over to YouTube music before the deadline.
Yea I think all my music is on there, but the app is such garbage and unnavigable, I bought a 1tb micro SD card and said fuck that shit.
It is not an intuitive app to navigate. I would 100% rather have Google music but YouTube music isn’t as horrible as it used to be. That’s not a ringing endorsement but I’m glad it isn’t still a dumpster fire
Word I might check out out again.
You must not know many Android users then. Almost all the android users I know (like 90% of them) use spotify. And I think all the apple users I know use it.
I know many Android users who use it and I don’t know why. Apple music and Tidal music is better in every way.
The Spotify app is so bad it’s embarrassing.
So first you say you don’t know any Android users that use Spotify, now you’re saying you know many Android users that use Spotify… so which is it?
Naw dude learn to read. I said I don’t know how people use it. I didnt say I don’t know anyone.
Nice edit, bro.
I can’t argue with that, it was just useful to migrate my data across multiple devices. I badly miss the ui if play music, and I mean it.
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Yeh it’s dogshit but so is apple music.
The desktop apps suck but on mobile it’s the best music streaming service there is, imo. It has a few features I‘d like it to add but other services don’t have some key features that are much more important to me
Disagree. I’ve actually come to like YTM better than GPM over the years.
I miss google play music. Never really liked youtube music
GPM was dope, no two ways about it. I was sad when it closed.
But after moving over to YTM and using it for years, I like the change. It lets me stream music, just like GPM. It lets me play local files and put them in playlists just like GPM. And it lets me put more underground music on my playlists that are uploaded to YouTube, unlike GPM.
The UI and everything you interact with is way better than GPM too.
Not trying to be a Google shill, but I actually love YTM. Podcasts coming just combines two apps I used into one.
I 100% understand what you mean. I still have a hard time trusting Google with their services and host my own RSS reader (TT-RSS) and music (Plex & Plexamp), but I do use YTM for finding new music as well as backing up my personal music like I did with GPM. Not a shill either, but YTM is not a bad product.
I never really used their Podcast app as I assumed it would be closed at some point (and here we are) and really enjoy Pocket Casts. If that ever shuts down, I’ll just use GPodder and roll my own hosting for yet another service. I guess in the end, Google has taught me to be self reliant lol
It wasn’t good. Used it a few times and I really didn’t like it.
PocketCasts and AntennaPod are wayy better
Does anyone know why they shut it down? The replacement was worse on every single account. And by such a significant amount too.
2 reasons, but the main one is that they had to get separate individual licenses for songs or something and that was likely minimally cutting into their absolutely insane profits, but with YouTube music it’s still just YouTube so only one is needed… idk that’s what I read on Reddit a couple years ago. The other is that their workplace culture is completely fucked and they push new apps instead of updating the old ones.
I’m not saying they should be like apple but sometimes seeing the killed by google list grow is frustrating when you look back and were an active user of a bunch of the things
I think you underestimate how expensive licensing music is. As an example, the vast majority of Spotify’s revenue goes to paying licensing fees and is most of the reason they’re wildly unprofitable
YouTube music is great, give it a go
i bet they discontinue youtube-music in 2026 by selling it to sony
google discontinued something? shocking
That’s just the Google way… still didn’t get over the RSS reader disaster… Anyways, I tried the app a couple of times: it’s not a great app for listening to podcasts. If you like podcasts, try Antennapod, Pocket Casts or Podcast Addict (and please stay away from Spotify).
In the end: good riddance.
AntennaPod is the best.
Hell yeah, AntennaPod is so good. It’s better better than most paid and ad supported alternatives I’ve tried and the best part it’s FOSS.
Antennapod + Gpoddersync FTW
I never found a single use for RSS because I always found myself just going to the site anyway to read the full thing because 99.999999999% of RSS feeds are trash and it’s easier to just page through the site itself anyway. Podcasts… it feels like a massive waste of time listening to someone discussing something, usually poorly, with tons of exposition, diversions, and other BS. I’d rather just read something instead.
Good riddance to both.
One use for RSS feeds is to distribute podcasts to multiple apps. I believe most podcasts apps are just RSS readers combined with an audio player.
Using IFTTT to send starred RSS items to pocket is really useful even still!
I use RSS to help decide if an item is worth reading or not based on the title
Why did you say “stay away from Spotify”?
Because Spotify uses (not their own) podcasts to generate revenue, but doesn’t pay the creators.
Every podcast does that.
Also they host many podcasts and have their own advertising service which can insert ads dynamic ads into the podcast from which the Podcaster is profiting too
Source: trust me bro
You might actually hear a podcast host say that if you listen to enough podcasts. I have heard it in the Bits und so podcast, directly from the host.
Also, Spotify bought their own studio (Gimlet), for that they are obviously paying the creators.
Also, there is this wonderful specialty toy, I think it is called Google. You can search for things and find answers to urgent questions, all by yourself.
So it actually does pay the creators.
It pays the creator if the creator offers pay to view content. So technically, it takes money from the creator’s subscribers.
Such a bad idea. Podcasts seek forward and interface actually worked. Zero chance the migration to YouTube is smooth.
YTM interface is great. I don’t know if you’ve tried it, but YTM is different from the standard YouTube app.
I use YTM exclusively for music streaming. The interface has been getting worse over time, but the podcasts integration is pure dogshit and they should be embarrassed. Basically it’s a subscription to a youtube channel in the back-end and they might add RSS support some day in the far future. Their only focus now is on allowing creators to add an RSS feed for ingestion, not for users to do the same.
This is a moronic idea, and Google is ruining one of their only good app experiences.
What’s gotten worse? I’ve been using the app since GPM closed and have only noticed minor improvements.
Navigating any playlists you created now requires clicking on the library at the bottom, then playlist at them top. I’m also a GPM refugee and the YouTube music app is a shit choice for podcasts.
Before you get used to YTM and they drop that too, just use AntennaPod
Before you get used to YTM and they drop that too,
Sure they will integrate YTM into YT, using just a tab to switch.
They already do this on my google TV. The YTM app just opens YT with a music tab. Won’t be long before the mobile apps follow.
Spent a solid hour trying apps to switch to. Found podcast republic which does everything I want with tons of customisation and a one time payment to ditch the ads. Love it.
I’ve been using PocketCasts for years but I’ve been thinking about jumping ship. I’m going to give republic a shot. Thanks
I’m grandfathered in with lifetime premium on PocketCasts which makes it difficult to consider jumping ship.
I didn’t even know they have a subscription now, bought the app with reward points probably 5+ years ago
Try Podcast Republic and Podcast Addict, both are awesome.
PA is more for power users.
PR is more for regular users.
Tried both and settled with AntennaPod when there were rumours of Google Podcasts shutting down a few months ago.
I now value more export/import features. I also enjoyed AntennaPod’s queue options more.
Antennapod rocks as well.
I wasn’t able to settle with it for some minor reason I can’t recall, but it was a great app.
Been using Podcast Republic forever now. (~7 years)
The developer did so much during the time. It allows you to do so much.
Might try it, does it have skip silence, per cast playback speeds and configurable start and ending skips?
Yep, I don’t use all of those features so I had a quick look and yes it has all of those.
Thanks for checking that man you’re the best. I’ll definitely get some podcasts transferred over and try it out after work tonight
