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Introducing the Word Podcast App

Fraser Lewry's picture

Ooh! Hello, what's this?
ImageThe Word Podcast App app gives you on-demand access to all episodes of the Word Podcast, going back to April 2006. In other words, you can stream the full archive, approximately 141 hours of it, direct to your iPhone or iTouch. It also includes access to the first dozen episodes, recorded before the podcast went as-near-to-weekly as we can manage, and unavailable elsewhere.

What's in it for me?
We've just told you: access to the full podcast archive while you're mobile, and those rare early episodes. Want more? OK. App purchasers will have access to each new podcast the day before it's made available elsewhere, and we'll send you a push notification to let you know the moment it's online. We're almost certain that this will make you feel special.

And?
That's not all. The app also includes quick links to the latest Word Magazine blog posts and homepage news stories, so you can be kept up to date with any goings-on at Planet Word.

How much is it?
It's a one-off payment of just £3.99. That's little more than the price of an average London pint, but instead of buying something that'll be gone in half an hour, you're choosing permanent access to the best part of 10,000 minutes of prime podcast audio.

I hate Apple. Where's the Android version?
Woah, there. We're just putting our toes in the water - one step at a time, and all of that. We know that Apple devices access this website much more than Android ones, so that's where we're starting. Of course, if the app proves to be popular we may well do other versions.

Anything else?
Yes. It's available from the iTunes Store right now. Click here for further details.

That's what i call timing

I've just got my first iphone. While you're on a roll, what will the winning Lotto numbers be tonight?

0
jimmyshoes01 | 1 June 2011 - 2:14pm

That's rather groovy, I must say!

I like the way it goes straight to the Blog - so much quicker than going through lots of screens on one's handheld device. And all those hard-to-find podcasts finally available for our listening pleasure. First rate stuff, Fraser. A welcome extension of the Word way of life, thumbs up here!

0
Gavin Adam | 1 June 2011 - 2:15pm

I'm still

open to some sort of royalty split on the iMark app.

0
Brookster | 1 June 2011 - 2:23pm

How about a freebie copy of the App

for those of us who answered your appeal for copies of the early, hard-to-get podcasts?!

0
Mark JF | 1 June 2011 - 2:27pm

If there was a way to do that

I'd be delighted to do so. But there isn't. Even getting a copy of the app for testing was a more complex process than most shuttle launches.

0
Fraser Lewry | 1 June 2011 - 2:34pm

free app?

Just send them £3.99?

0
Nigell | 2 June 2011 - 4:40am

To be fair to Fraser,

I helped him out with a few early copies of the podcast and he was kind enough to send me a bundle of CDs for my trouble.

As regards the app, I like it a lot and it works well but as has been mentioned already it definitely needs multi tasking functionality which I'm sure is already being addressed. Otherwise, a nice 'extra' from the Word world.

0
grac | 6 June 2011 - 2:58pm

Bigger is better

Is there likely to be an iPad version at some point in the future?

1
yorkio | 1 June 2011 - 3:02pm

Possibly

As I say above, it's one step at a time.

0
Fraser Lewry | 1 June 2011 - 3:03pm

But daddy...

I want it NOW!!!!

(Not really. Best of luck with this. It's appsolutely (tish boom) the way to go.)

0
daddyorchipsblog | 1 June 2011 - 3:59pm

Not wanting to sound ungrateful...

But no thanks.

a) I use Android.
b) Never listened to a podcast (I usually look to see what's in them but they've never appealed.)
c) The blog stuff is freely available on the website already.

Thanks anyway though - sure some folk will buy it. I'll just stick with the magazine though, and the occasional visit to the site.

0
Nasalhair | 1 June 2011 - 3:03pm

can i respectfully suggest....

... if you like the magazine, TRY the podcast..... you MAY just like it too..... i think it's generally very very good.

1
mojitojoe | 1 June 2011 - 4:57pm

In response...

I've looked at the overview of what's in it, maybe listened to a little, but it hasn't appealed. I never really have time to listen to the radio etc. - and no, I don't play music on my daily commute - so it's not like I'd be able to swap something out for this. Above all else though it's the content. I still buy the magazine but read less and less of it as there seem to be an increasing number of articles about artists who don't interest me (for example, looking to the cover image over to the right not a single thing there appeals to me - think I'd finished with the issue within 15-20 minutes). The recent podcast everyone seemed transfixed with - Van Dyke Parks - again didn't appeal as I've never been a fan of the Beach Boys / Brian Wilson et al.

Thanks, but no thanks.

0
Nasalhair | 1 June 2011 - 5:39pm

A vote for podcasts

I started listening to the Word podcast when I started to endure a weekly bus journey into Truro. Great stuff and I've suppressed more out-loud laughs than I care to remember. And it certainly beats listening to the ranting of a drunk who was thrown off the bus today. There's your advertising slogan right there - 'The Word podcast. Better than a ranting drunk.'

3
jazzjet | 1 June 2011 - 7:47pm

Absolutely

Just listened to the early-ish classic Claire Grogan episode for the first time. As if I wasn't enough of a fan already, her specific explanation for her near-universal male popularity had me in giggling girly fits of laughter.

Even with episodes I'm not specifically interested in (couldn't agree more, as above, about Van Dyke Parks and the bloody Beach Boys) there are always at least a couple of gems. Unmissable.

0
Dadwardo | 2 June 2011 - 3:14am

When it's Christmas

and Mark is 'in his cups' The Word podcast = a ranting drunk.

0
jimmyshoes01 | 2 June 2011 - 8:34am

you say

"a ranting drunk" like it's a bad thing...

0
ivan | 2 June 2011 - 9:40am

Who sir? Me sir?

If so, nothing could be further from the truth. One of my fave podcasts was the tipsymarkellenchristmasextravaganza

0
jimmyshoes01 | 2 June 2011 - 10:43am

and I thought it was just me

...that never understood the veneration of Mr Parks. Nice chap I'm sure but not anywhere as entertaining as Neil Tennant. Listened to about 20 minutes and sort of drifted out

0
Timmie The Dog | 3 June 2011 - 10:11am

Podcasts are rather like

erm … listening to the radio. Except you can listen when you want.

0
Brookster | 1 June 2011 - 5:04pm

Really, give the podcasts a try

(Shh: I prefer them to the actual magazine)

3
Stephen Merrick | 2 June 2011 - 8:56pm

See previous answers

If you could find some way to shoehorn them into my day, go ahead.

0
Nasalhair | 3 June 2011 - 9:07am

I listen to them while

walking home from the station, or doing boring household chores like washing up or ironing. You find yourself ironing reallllly slowly so you can finish the podcast. Try 'em, you're missing out on a huge part of the Word experience.

0
Dr Volume | 4 June 2011 - 2:09am

How is the blog section updated?

Doesn't look like the 10 most recent blogs or the 10 most recently updated?

Looks great by the way Fraser!

0
Martin Simmonds | 1 June 2011 - 3:25pm

It's the ten most recent blog posts

If it's not showing the most recent one at the top, just click the "reload" button at the top.

0
Fraser Lewry | 1 June 2011 - 3:34pm

I'm connected to wifi, keep clicking reload but no update.....

....i've tried updating my emails and facebook and both are updating so definitely not my wifi connection. Any suggestions???

0
Almost Simon | 1 June 2011 - 8:40pm

What are you seeing?

If possible, could you send me a screengrab? Open up the app on the blog section, then click the start button at the top of your phone at the same time as clicking the home buttom beneath the screen. This should place a screengrab of the app in your photo library, and from there you should be able to e-mail it to me at fraser AT wordmagazine DOT co DOT uk.

Thanks.

0
Fraser Lewry | 1 June 2011 - 8:49pm

I'd love this

since I keep meaning to subscribe to the podcast. But I'm an android user so I guess I'll juat have to be patient.

1
Humphrey Plugg | 1 June 2011 - 4:32pm

You can subscribe to the podcast

using Google Listen.

0
Brookster | 1 June 2011 - 4:34pm

Oooh

Never even heard of that but will give it a try!

0
Humphrey Plugg | 1 June 2011 - 5:58pm

Google Listen

is a free app you can download to your Android phone.

You can then manage your podcast list from Google Reader (http://reader.google.com), making sure to put your subscriptions in the Listen Subscriptions folder.

0
Brookster | 2 June 2011 - 1:58am

thanks

Tried it today (with In Our Time rather than The Word) but will add it asap

0
Humphrey Plugg | 2 June 2011 - 3:17pm

Just to update

Was really getting into my first podcast (the current one discussing Desert Island Discs) when just as Kate and Mark were discussing the practicalities of using blow up sex dolls as LiLos, up popped Melvin Bragg to thank me for downloading the In Our Time podcast. Not sure if I had Google's safe search on and it decided the content was too racy, or if I have an oversensitive touch screen, but it was very disconcerting.

0
Humphrey Plugg | 6 June 2011 - 10:41pm

Brilliant

Thanks Fraser. Just downloaded it. Working perfectly. And on the other side of the world too! You guys are good

0
Mousey | 1 June 2011 - 4:38pm

Offline cache?

This looks great.

For those of us iPhone less, is there any facility to create offline storage on the iTouch of podcasts accessed via the app? Similar to Spotify mobile....

Just a suggestion, as otherwise will have to await Android version.

Thanks anyway....

0
russellh | 1 June 2011 - 5:29pm

Offline storage

No plans at the moment. I'm sure there'll be lots of suggestions for improvements, and if the demand is there we'll certainly consider it.

0
Fraser Lewry | 1 June 2011 - 5:37pm

Offline Storage

That would definitely be a dealbreaker - at the moment, streaming doesn't hold much appeal, as the signal can be patchy when out and about, and on 3G a podcast can eat up data usage quite a bit (even when you've got a reasonably generous allowance).

Love the idea of the app, though.

0
Andrew F | 1 June 2011 - 7:39pm

Offline Storage

I agree this will put a lot of people off. I can't get radio apps to stream over 3G and surely most people listen on the move. So yes it's more convenient than a podcast in terms of getting regular updates without any effort but my Word podcasts through iTunes can be listened to anywhere reliably and without using up data as Andrew F says.

I hope the app works for the mag and improves over time - you deserve getting something out of the brilliant podcasts but there needs to be some better advantages over getting the podcasts from iTunes and storing them for me to consider buying.

2
walkaboutnick | 2 June 2011 - 1:48pm

Excellent work, Mr. L.

Good to see this sort of thing. Downloading now.

0
Bob | 1 June 2011 - 5:30pm

I want those early Podcasts very much indeed.

But I have no intention of equipping myself with a Jobsworth Phone, or any other hand held electronic object that does more than make telephone calls and take grainy snaps.

Will they be available for non-smartphone'd loyal customers somewhere or somehow else?

0
Vulpes Vulpes | 1 June 2011 - 5:33pm

Possibly

But I'm in no position to say any more than "watch this space" at the moment.

0
Fraser Lewry | 1 June 2011 - 5:38pm

Half an hour?

to drink a pint? You blouse!

4
Pat Carty | 1 June 2011 - 6:36pm

Congratulations..

..on your first app.

Just wondering, surely this will work perfectly well on the iPad? iPhone apps tend to run fine defaulting to half screensize. If at X2 they might look a bit pixelated but the Podcasts should still play perfectly well.

0
James EB | 1 June 2011 - 7:28pm

It's optimised for the smaller screen

So while it may function on the iPad, it may not look as it should. At the moment the iTunes Store says it's iPad-compatible, but we've asked for that to be removed, simply because we can't guarantee it'll behave precisely as it should.

0
Fraser Lewry | 1 June 2011 - 7:31pm

UDID say caveat emptor

Thanks for the superfast reply and sufficient warning - might give it a whirl on the iPad just the same.

0
James EB | 1 June 2011 - 7:42pm

It looks kind of horrible on

It looks kind of horrible on the iPad but the podcast bit does indeed play perfectly so far as I can tell.

0
yorkio | 1 June 2011 - 10:40pm

Excellent Idea...

... Thanks Fraser.

0
Nicodemus | 1 June 2011 - 9:47pm

as an Android user,

I say well done, and I look forward to being able to join in the fun in the future.

2
ivan | 1 June 2011 - 10:22pm

Yep, another vote for Android here

I can't run the App obviously but as it stands its basically a dedicated Word Podcatcher/Feed reader right? But presumably it could deliver exclusive content not available on the normal website (such as the early Podcasts).
Can the App be used to post to the blog, or reply to Blog entries? If not, that'd be great, an App that can access the features of the Word Blog but in a smartphone friendly way. The Word Website actually functions pretty well on Android's own stock browser but a dedicated App would be nifty.

0
Dr Volume | 2 June 2011 - 1:21am

Nothing like that yet

We're starting simple.

0
Fraser Lewry | 2 June 2011 - 8:51am

interested you say that

as I found the Android browser on the Orange San Francisco didn't like the word site much---was one of the reasons for switching to Opera for me

0
SpaceBoy | 2 June 2011 - 8:45pm

with these Apps

you are really spoiling us---and I say this as an Android user who has no way to run it--but I feel sure that when either i) I have got an iPad or ii) you have ported the thingy, it'll be just the dooda to dig back into the Word archives.

0
SpaceBoy | 2 June 2011 - 7:50am

don't think I'll be selling

a kidney until you've got a dedicated iPad version though. ....

0
SpaceBoy | 4 June 2011 - 8:24am

as a Nokia user (hell my phones 4 years old!)

I suppose this means there isn't going to a be a podcast available in time for when I live home to catch a train this morning paid for or otherwise! Get in that cupboard and get wittering you lot!

0
Chris G | 2 June 2011 - 8:13am

Good work

Well done chaps, excellent initiative. I'm running it on my new spiffy iPad and it works a treat. Just need some P&Q so i can listen to a few properly! The streaming thing is a bit of a limitation as I'd prefer to listen on the move and as noted, this will burn your 3G allocation, but hey, can't complain.

0
Twangothan | 2 June 2011 - 10:19am

A great idea

Having used it on and off over the past 24 hours I know I'm going to use this app a lot. I also know that I'm going to get very frustrated by some of its current functionality. Something I'm sure that will be addressed in future versions.

0
Handsome.P.Wonderful | 2 June 2011 - 3:10pm

Android

No, this isn't a complaint that you've only launched with the Cult of Jobs. Seriously, I understand you have to start somewhere, but I'll look forward to an Android app in due course. Right now I wouldn't contemplate looking at the website on a smartphone, even with pinch and zoom in a browser, but I'd happily read blog posts through an app, much as I keep up with consumer tech through the Mashable app. All the best.

0
davefaulkner | 2 June 2011 - 3:59pm

New Word App

Fraser - firstly congratulations on the App - a thing of beauty and I loved the way it alerted me to the brand new podcast. However I have now played, or should I say part played, 4 podcasts on my iphone- all of which have frustratingly ended prematurely. I wonder if you could advise on this please - have never suffered prematurely with the podcasts before. Perhaps it's an age thing.

1
Keith | 3 June 2011 - 4:20pm

Could you give me some more details?

If you head over to the app support page there's a list of things that'll help us figure out what's going on, and to e-mail address to send the details to.

0
Fraser Lewry | 3 June 2011 - 4:47pm

A couple of niggles

Hi

Firstly, I'd like to say that I love the idea of the app and have no issues with paying four quid for it. I do, however, have a couple of suggestions that would really make it much more useable. Firstly, as I think has already been mentioned, the ability to download and play offline, rather than streaming, would be nice. More important though, for me, is the fact that the app uses some kind of built in media player. The inability to browse your way back to where you last listened, if you can't manage it all in one go, is almost a dealbreaker for me. Especially as the app also doesn't multitask, meaning that you can't do anything with the iphone other than sit and look at the black screen. Please use a bespoke player instead.

Thanks

Doug

0
hairlessheart (not verified) | 4 June 2011 - 10:40am

Bespoke player

Without going into a vastly detailed technical explanation, the issues with player controls aren't actually to do with either the app or the player itself, strange as that may seem. We're working on it.

0
Fraser Lewry | 4 June 2011 - 11:15am

Thanks Fraser

Keep up the good work.

0
hairlessheart (not verified) | 4 June 2011 - 2:13pm

is the rumour true

that it had to be an iPhone version, because without iPod style volume limiting Mark Ellen's laugh might blow someone's head off ?

seriously though, looking forward to latest one as ever when Google Reader beams it my way---all your efforts much appreciated

1
SpaceBoy | 5 June 2011 - 9:46am

Is it my iphone

or won't the app turn on its side?

0
fatmanjez | 4 June 2011 - 11:00am

Landscape version

That isn't an option at the moment. It may be in later versions.

0
Fraser Lewry | 4 June 2011 - 11:06am

Can't wait!

Having recently joined the ranks of the optically challenged.

0
fatmanjez | 4 June 2011 - 2:08pm

It's only 4 quid bejaysus...

I regard myself as a loyal member of the Massive. I don't mind paying a measly four quid for this at all. You guys will develop this further just as you have improved everything else in your roster over the years. And by the way I haven't tried it yet, I'll get back to you with feedback if I've got anything to say.

1
herecomesbod | 10 June 2011 - 5:08pm

Apple TV

I may well be the last person to realise this but I'm chuffed with the ability to play the podcasts via the Apple TV. Neat and it works well.

0
jazzjet | 12 June 2011 - 5:31pm

Small point

It'd be great if there was a navigation bar during playback, to FF and RWD in each podcast. The app's lack of multitasking means that if you get a phone call (for instance) during playback, you have to listen to the whole thing from the beginning once the call's done, as far as I can tell.

0
Bob | 17 June 2011 - 3:10pm

It's a known issue

See http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/podcastsupport - it's not actually an issue with the app itself. But we think we've fixed it, and are waiting for Apple to approve.

1
Fraser Lewry | 17 June 2011 - 3:17pm

Cool.

Thanks, Fraser.

0
Bob | 17 June 2011 - 3:41pm
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