Simplify Your Podcast Listening With ‘sodes

'sodes ($2.99) by Good Boy LLC is a straightforward and clear podcast app for individuals who take heed to the occasional podcast. With 'sodes, it's extra alongside the traces of Castro 2 as a substitute of different, extra fully-featured apps like Overcast. For those who solely have to take heed to a podcast every so often, reasonably than daily, then 'sodes could possibly be the app for you.

I really like listening to podcasts, however I'll admit it — I've fallen manner behind in my podcast subscriptions, and I haven't been in a position to catch up for the longest time. I should have a subscribed record of round 30 podcasts, and as a lot as I take pleasure in listening to them, I'm simply overwhelmed with having to catch up so I simply stopped listening to most of them. However after I was an avid podcast listener, my app of alternative was Overcast particularly for the Good Velocity function. However with my present non-existent podcast listening behavior, I'm unsure Overcast is for me anymore. Fortuitously, 'sodes simply got here out and it could possibly be simply what I would like.

App Feels Like

$4.99

Castro 2

Supertop Software program

Free

Overcast

Overcast Radio, LLC

The design of 'sodes is extremely minimalistic, and it virtually appears like an app that Apple designed themselves because of the aesthetics. On the primary launch, you'll be greeted with a easy message that explains how one can navigate the app, which is fairly simple since there's principally solely two screens: Dwelling and Search. The Dwelling display screen has a big 'sodes header within the prime left, and then you definately'll have your Favorites, In Progress, and Unplayed Episodes. The Search display screen is stuffed with podcast paintings tiles from prime podcasts, and there's a search bar in case you don't see what you're on the lookout for.

The default theme in 'sodes is Mild, which encompasses a white background and black textual content. However in case you don't look after that, there are extra themes: Darkish and Campfire. Darkish is extra of a metal blue background with gentle grey textual content, and Campfire encompasses a burgundy-to-black gradient transition background with blood orange textual content. Regardless of which theme you find yourself sticking with, 'sodes retains the minimalist design and appears nice doing so.

Since 'sodes is designed for the occasional podcast listener, don't count on a strategy to import your earlier subscriptions in right here. As a substitute, you'll have to make use of the Search display screen as a way to discover new or present favorites. Simply faucet on a podcast tile to view particulars concerning the present, and consider their episode record. You may as well add a podcast to your Favorites for fast entry. If the present you need isn't featured on the Search view, you possibly can search by title or pasting in a URL.

When you've picked out just a few exhibits as favorites, you possibly can see all of them within the Dwelling display screen, in addition to Unplayed Episodes. From the Dwelling view, and even from a present's particulars web page, you possibly can faucet on an episode and begin listening, no subscribing required.

With 'sodes, there aren’t any downloads for episodes. As a substitute, the app depends one hundred pc on streaming the audio, which can elevate issues for these with restricted mobile knowledge plans. Nonetheless, 'sodes intelligently manages knowledge consumption by downloading the audio knowledge in parts. This data is briefly on the system to assist limit community knowledge utilization, however there's no offline playback since an information connection is all the time required.

Throughout playback, 'sodes has some good giant buttons for play/pause, and rewinding or quick forwarding 15 seconds. You may as well faucet on the "…" button to regulate the playback pace, choose audio output, cease taking part in, share the episode with others, or go on to the episode web site. The playback bar additionally shows the elapsed time in a small sq. that resembles an Apple Watch face, which I believed was a pleasant element.

Choices for 'sodes is within the iOS Settings, however the gear icon in 'sodes takes you on to it. You may change the ahead and backward intervals, swap themes, and toggle "Hold Display Unlocked" when the system is linked to energy and also you're taking part in an episode.

Hearken to podcast episodes while you need to, not after they arrive.

The Good

For the occasional podcast listener, 'sodes is nice. The app has a minimal aesthetic design that's easy and easy with no fuss. It's straightforward sufficient to seek out the exhibits you need, and even uncover new ones with the featured paintings tiles. Not having to subscribe to get entry to episodes can be good, so this app is ideal while you simply need to take heed to that one episode of a podcast your buddy informed you about.

There's additionally a little bit of leeway with the colours, since you may have three themes to select from, and so they all look good in their very own methods. The massive tappable buttons for playback are good to have as properly, particularly when driving.

The Unhealthy

If you’d like a feature-packed podcast app, 'sodes will not be the app you're on the lookout for. This app is designed for individuals who solely take heed to podcasts each from time to time, and it makes it simpler for them to get what they need. For those who desire an app that allows you to subscribe, obtain episodes robotically, create playlists, and extra, then you must give Overcast a attempt.

The one different damaging factor about 'sodes is the truth that it wants an information connection to play episodes. For these with limitless knowledge, this isn't a problem, however not everybody has that luxurious. It's good that 'sodes has sensible streaming, however some would nonetheless desire to obtain an episode earlier than taking part in it to preserve restricted knowledge.

The decision

Up to now, I like 'sodes for what it’s: a easy podcast app for the informal listener. I doubt that I'll ever be capable of handle my large subscription record in Overcast anymore, so 'sodes is a pleasant different after I simply need to discover a single episode of one thing and take heed to it when I’ve the possibility to. Plus, as a fan of minimalism, the design is nice. I feel if there was the choice to obtain episodes for playback, then this could be good for the informal listener who doesn't have limitless knowledge. However if you’d like a power-user expertise, then you must look elsewhere.

You will discover 'sodes on the iPhone App Retailer for $2.99.