It has only taken a decade, but Google has launched an official podcasts app for Android devices.
Google Podcasts, which is now available globally as a free download from the Play Store, features integration with the Google Assistant.
Using the voice-controlled Assistant, listeners will be able to summon playback on Android phones and pick up where they left off on the Google Home, for instance.
The company says over time it plans to integrate Google Podcasts “into more places you use Google.” Whether this means an iOS app remains to be seen.
Google is also using AI to recommend podcasts based on listening habits. So, if you’re into sports or true crime, or like to get your podcasts from a particular network, Google says it’ll deliver the right pods to your ears.
Google is also bringing its smarts to the Podcasts app in the future. It says speech-to-tech tech will eventually provide automatic subtitling of audio shows. It also plans to put Google Translate to work, meaning subtitles will eventually be available in a variety of languages. Google is also looking to improve inclusivity within the podcasting world.
In a blog post, the company added: “Podcasting holds unbounded promise as a storytelling medium, but its future depends on a rich array of stories, voices and creators. While there are more podcasts than ever before, there continues to be an imbalance in who is creating them. Looking at top charts, only about a quarter of the most popular podcasts tend to be hosted by women, and even fewer by people of color.
“That’s why we’re also partnering with the podcast industry on a program to increase the diversity of voices and remove barriers to podcasting. The program will be guided by an advisory board from around the world, with the primary goal of enabling skills development and experimentation from underrepresented voices, as well as cultivating ideas and processes that can scale throughout the industry. We’ll be rolling out more details this summer, and we encourage you to fill out the online form if you are interested.”
Google first dipped its toes into podcasting a couple of years ago by making them available within the Play Music platform.
Will you be giving Google Podcasts a shot? Or are you happy with your current app? What’s your go-to pod provider? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.