Late last month, Apple introduced a standalone Podcasts app, pulling the service out of the Music app on iOS and building a new UI around it. However, soon after release, it became apparent that the app was ridden with numerous bugs as with any introduction of a new user interface or application.

On Wednesday, the Cupertino company addressed these issues with an update to the Podcasts application. Aside from performance and stability improvements, the app has also gained the following:

• Ability to remember custom playback speeds when flipping through new episodes
• Badges in Podcast library to identify number of unplayed episodes
• Fixes issue causing “Subscribe” button to defect and not operate properly
• More reliable artwork for “Top Stations”
• Miscellaneous bug fixes

Apple continues to remove smaller services built into iTunes and give them their own standalone applications and user interfaces. The app is currently offered as a free download on the App Store {iTunes Link} for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

{via The Verge}

Earlier this month, rumors about Apple looking to release a standalone Podcast app were all over the web. On Tuesday, ahead of iOS 6 release date Apple released the Podcasts app, offering up a variety of features, previously within the Music app on iOS, with its own interface.

Apple released the app on the App Store early Tuesday as a free download, however, a redeem button within a app has led some users to believe that there may be paid podcasts offered in the near future.

Podcasts app is the easiest way to discover, subscribe to and play your favorite podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Explore hundreds of thousands of free audio and video podcasts from the Podcasts Catalog, and play the most popular podcasts, organized for you by topic, with the all-new Top Stations feature.

Features:

– Enjoy all of your audio and video podcasts in a single app
– Explore hundreds of thousands of podcasts including shows in over 40 languages
– Try the innovative new Top Stations feature to find new podcast series in a variety of topics, including arts, business, comedy, music, news, sports, and more.
– Browse by Audio or Video podcasts, or see what’s most popular in Top Charts
– Tap subscribe for your favorites and automatically receive new episodes for free as they become available
– Stream episodes or download to listen while offline
– Skip forward and back using simple playback controls
– Turn on Sleep Timer to automatically stop playing a podcast while listening in bed
– Share your favorite episodes with friends using Twitter, Messages and Mail
– Optionally sync your favorite episodes from iTunes on your Mac or PC
– Sync your episode playback for seamless transition between devices

The app offers all of the podcasts that were previously available through iTunes, but with a new interface and allows users to stream and download podcasts. Users can also sync podcasts across devices running with the same Apple ID.

{via MacRumors}

Earlier in the year, Apple removed the iTunes U category in iTunes from iOS and introduced a standalone app dedicated to providing university and educational materials. According to a report from AllThingsD, the Cupertino company is planning to also introduce an app dedicated entirely to podcasts in iOS 6.

Like iTunes U, this would also push the podcast feature out of iTunes and into its own app, which would also operate and access data from Apple’s servers entirely on its own. Apple appears to be taking a similar approach to Facebook, by removing secondary but important features and giving them full fledged accessibility and support.

People familiar with Apple’s plans tell me that when its new iOS 6 software becomes widely available this fall, podcasts will have their own app, where users will be able to discover, download and play them on mobile devices. Users who access iTunes via laptop and desktop machines will still find them in that version of iTunes, though.

The report also mentioned that Apple is working on podcast producing technology which will likely be included in this app for users to create podcasts and share. Apple has removed Audiobooks, iTunes U, and now Podcasts out of the iTunes application, and is continuing to give smaller categories in iTunes, more features.

As a result, the company will likely witness an increased adoption in podcast usage and sharing as well as a boost in revenue from the Audiobooks category. The podcast category will become its own app and is expected ot be introduced in the public release of iOS 6 which will arrive later this fall.

{via 9to5 Mac}

Etymotic mc3 Headset + Earphones Review – Big Sound and Big Quality are a better than a Big Name Endorsement

Although the large over ear headphones seem to be all the rage again thanks specifically to a few big name endorsements I’ve never been a fan of the bulk of them, especially wearing them out and about. So I’ve always stuck to the inner-ear type and predominantly I’ve been happy with the ones supplied with all my iOS from Apple.

These standard earphones have always sufficed, but there is definitely a point at which if you spend a little more money you get a lot more quality, the question remains whether it’s worth it or not. So for the last week I’ve been listening to my music, podcasts and audiobooks using the Etymotic mc3 earphones with my iPhone 4S.

As Apple and other companies have proved design and packaging are half the battle in making any device a success and Etymotic have taken that approach too with their elegant packaging and beautiful accessories.

The whole package contains the earphones with built-in mic, 4 sets of different eartips, spare filters, wire clip and a pouch to keep it all in.

The eartips were the first thing that drew my attention due to their distinct and different shapes. The earphones come pre-installed with a set on and I have to admit I was a little disappointed with how they felt and, because they didn’t fit perfectly, how they sounded too.

So my next task was to fit another pair of eartips to see if they would fit better and while the grey industrial style eartips certainly didn’t look that special they fitted snuggly and securely and when I turned on the music I could tell that I had chosen the right ones.

I have worn them for a little over two weeks now and not only are they comfortable but they produce great sound for both spoken work, podcasts and audiobooks and music and because they have in-line controls and a built in mic they are ideal for the iPhone as you can take calls and use Siri while wearing them.

This is only half of what you are getting when you invest in a set of Etmotic earphones as you also get their iPhone App “Awareness!” which you can download for free from the App Store and then enable all the features with the code you are provided with when you register your earphones.

The Awareness! App takes the listening experience to a whole new level although it does take a little while to get used to it. With the multitasking app turned on your earphones become environment aware, with the mic listening to your surroundings and acting on what it hears.

This can range from stopping what you are listening to completely, lowering the volume or feeding the sound that it hears through to your earphones. As I said this can seem a little odd at first but once you have used it a few times it makes listening to audio an even better experience, especially when you are out and about and need to be aware of your surroundings.

The addition of this app takes what are a great pair of earphones to a wonderful pair of headphones and for this reviewer I will never skimp on earphones again.

You can even upgrade to what Etymotic call ‘Rock Star status’ by teaming up with a local hearing specialist to have a pair of personalized custom fit earmolds. I haven’t done this but at for an additional $100 this could be a serious option especially if you have to wear earphones for many hours at a time.

What we like:

• Choice of eartips
• Free Awareness! app
• Inline mic
• Great sound

What to know:

• You’ll wish you had them sooner!

At a special education event on Thursday, Apple introduced a revamped version of their iTunes U services. iTunes U is a collection of podcasts in both audio and video formats, from a number of universities in the United States. Topics covered range from chemistry to basketball and offers a range of choices for different lessons and tutorials.

Apple has now removed the iTunes U service from a tab deep within iTunes and has created a brand new application, simply called ‘iTunes U’. This goes in part with Apple’s new push for education, following the release of textbooks for iPad, bringing a number of textbook publishers under the Apple umbrella.

If you’re an educator at a university, college, or K-12 school, now you have an easy way to design and distribute complete courses featuring audio, video, books, and other content. And students and lifelong learners can experience your courses for free through a powerful new app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

The iTunes U app is available for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch on the App Store for free [App Store]. This new app brings together all pieces of the iTunes U service, and tightens Apple’s control over their multiple updates to the service over the past few years.

Apple’s education services went into the shadows recently, but is now poised to become a focal point of Apple’s revenue stream and targets a larger audience for their products.

iTunes 9.0.3 update is now available for download so hit the update option and check out what’s new!

Details:

iTunes 9.0.3 provides a number of important bug fixes, including:

• iTunes no longer ignores your “Remember password for purchases” setting.

• Addresses problems with syncing some Smart Playlists and Podcasts with iPod.

• Resolves a problem recognizing when iPod is connected.

• Addresses issues that affect stability and performance.

iTunes 9 comes with many new features and improvements, including:

• An improved look and feel, including a new Column Browser for easily browsing your artists or albums, movies, TV shows, and more.

• iTunes Store has a brand new look, with improved navigation for quick and easy exploration.

• iTunes LP and iTunes Extras create unique experiences that feature exclusive interviews, videos, photos, and more — available with select album and movie purchases on the iTunes Store.

• Home Sharing helps you manage your family’s iTunes collection between computers in your home. iTunes can automatically transfer new purchases, or you can choose just the items you want.

• Genius Mixes are created for you by iTunes and play songs from your library that go great together.

• iPod and iPhone syncing now allows you to organize your iPhone and iPod touch home screens directly in iTunes. Syncing is now also more flexible, allowing you to sync individual artists, genres, or TV show and Podcast episodes.

• iTunes U items are now organized into their own section in your iTunes library.

• Sync with iPod nano (5th generation), iPod classic (Fall 2009), and iPod touch (Fall 2009).

• iTunes 9 also includes many other improvements, such as HE-AAC encoding and playback, more flexibility with Smart Playlists rules, simpler organization of your media files inside an iTunes Media folder, and more.