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Apple has announced that iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, and macOS 13.3 will include several new features for the Podcasts app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and CarPlay. The software updates were released in beta on Thursday evening and will be available to the public in the spring.
First, a new Channels menu in the Podcasts app will provide a list of podcast channels in one place on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. A channel allows a provider or brand to list all of their podcasts in one place, making them easy for listeners to find. Second, the "Up Next" queue now includes episodes that listeners have saved to their library, as well as episodes from shows they don't follow:
iOS 16.4 and Co.: Apple adds new features to Podcasts app
For example, if a listener plays an episode of a show before deciding to follow it, that episode will now remain in Up Next until the listener finishes watching, marks it as played, or deletes it. New episodes of followed shows and recently saved episodes appear at the top of the Up Next queue, while previously started episodes and older saved episodes appear at the bottom of the queue. The most recent episodes of recently watched shows appear at the top of Up Next. Episodes categorized as "bonus" episodes also appear in Up Next.
Additionally, users will soon have more ways to manage Up Next. For example, they can touch and hold a show's image to remove it from the queue. Third, users will be able to see how many unplayed episodes are available to them at the top of each show's page, identify "Early Access" episodes available to them as part of their Apple Podcasts subscription, and more. Fourth, iOS 16.4 includes improvements to the Podcasts app for CarPlay, including access to the "Up Next" and "Recently Listened" queues from "Listen Now" in CarPlay. There are also now editorially curated podcast recommendations in the "Browse" tab. More details and additional changes can be found in the "What's new for Apple Podcasts" blog post on the Apple website to find. (Photo by Postmodern Studio / Bigstockphoto)
