The shutdown of Google Podcasts has once again highlighted one of the worst things about being a Google user: you never know when your favorite service will shut down. Even though Google Podcasts was not the most popular application for listening to this type of content, it was enough for many users who now have to look for an alternative.
And as usual, Google itself offers one of these alternatives: YouTube Music. The alternative service to Spotify has until now focused on music streaming, but the closure of Google Podcasts has forced it to receive functions related to this content.
As expected, this sudden change was not well received by users; especially because YouTube Music didn’t offer many of your favorite podcast features when the change was announced. The good news is that Google listened to users, and accelerated the development of these features.
YouTube Music, better for podcasts
Today, YouTube Product Manager Johanna Voolich gave an interview in which she explains how YouTube Music will improve support for podcasts, what functions have already been implemented and how she intends to differentiate itself from Spotify and other applications for listening to podcasts. .
To begin with, the first users are already discovering one of the first new features: new podcast filters. At the top of the application screen, it is possible to modify various options for displaying the chapters of a podcast, from the most viewed chapters to a new filter that blocks chapters already viewed or those currently being viewed. diffusion. Not only is it possible to order the chapters as we wish, but the three new buttons will allow us to display only those we want to see.
In recent months, YouTube Music has received other podcast-related features, such as RSS support, Android Auto compatibility to listen to chapters more easily, and new download options.
But these functions are already present in other applications. At YouTube, they believe they can become “the definitive destination for podcasters and users” with YouTube-specific features that also work on YouTube Music and podcasts. For example, he recommendation algorithm
In fact, one possible advantage YouTube Music has over other apps is videos. Although it may seem strange, the company believes that podcasts can also have a visual element, with video podcasts which can be played in the background if one prefers the traditional audio podcast experience. Whether all this will be enough to convince users (and Google) to bet on YouTube Music is a mystery, but at least it seems that the interest is there.
