Podcast (also known as Netcast), is a series of digital audio files or videos which can be downloaded in order to listen, or the single component of such a series. While podcasting which often requires a subscription model, is whereby new episodes of podcasts are automatically downloaded and syndicated to users mobile apps or media player.
Google has made it possible to play podcasts in search results so that users can listen to their favorite podcasts without the need for any standalone podcast app. The podcast access on Google search is now live for both desktop and mobile search, with a search of relevant podcast surfacing a card of the most recent three episodes.
The Podcasts experience is possible without even signing in to Google account, though logging in will allow you to sync your playback across all your devices, but there is no dedicated page to view your subscriptions, unlike what is obtainable on the Podcasts app. For the best podcast recommendations from your friends, check out Friendspire.
Steps to access and play podcasts on Google search results
Simply search for a podcast, and you will be presented with a card of the most recent three episodes. Then click the ‘play’ button, the podcasts can be played right on the search result. But if you tap on the link, it will take you to podcasts.google.com, with offerings of a feed for all the episodes.
And selecting ‘play’ bring up a basic audio player, with available controls to play/pause, rewind/forward, and adjust playback speed.
Albeit, to access your subscribed podcasts for the time being is only through the Google search bar. The podcasts in search will mostly benefit iOS users who use Google Assistant from the platform, as Google has not launched any standalone Podcasts app for iOS.
Google had earlier given a means to discover and listen to podcasts with Google Play, whereby people can have access to a wider variety of podcast apps, but the company eventually released Google Podcasts, which was rather a back stab at podcasting services.
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