Shouldn't the title start with "Pocket Casts" and not "Podcasts"? It should probably also be "Exorcising the ads" unless you mean making the ads hit the gym.
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Wow, didn't know Pocket Casts has ads now. Just opened it up to check, and yep. Right on the homepage, an add for Pocket Casts Plus.
Maybe it's time to check out Antenna Pod
Antenna pod, just switch settings to change the subscriptions screen to the home screen, then put the toolbar on the bottom. Then it's a clean and simple podcast app.
I just use audiobookshelf for my podcasts. Self hosted, no ads, and it just works.
Why not just use Antennapod?
The answer is in the article:
As I mentioned in my post about the apps I kept when switching to GrapheneOS, self- hosting PinePods and using AntennaPod on your phone is a great option! That way you can still have web and desktop sync. I also said in that post:
If I wasn't grandfathered into the free premium tier I would be more tempted to jump ship.
The time to jump ship seems to be getting closer. I think Pocket Casts will join a future version of my apps that I got rid of when switching to GrapheneOS post.
I use antennapod for listening but I've previously payed for pocketcast and I still think it's better for finding new podcasts to listen to.
It even has multiple sync options (like Nextcloud), so I can keep listening on my PC with KDE Kasts if I so choose.
I like the UI more. It has the web player when you pay and while you can self host something like it its more expensive in the long run if you value your time and don't enjoy it (so its not a fun hobby).
Antenapod ftw, I am starting to mess with pinepod.
Edit: fixed spelling
Oh yeah I just noticed this WTF are they thinking?
It's clearly not profitable, and I can kinda understand that people who bought the app once in 2013, like me, don't create a good business model.
I never bought the web app back in the day, so I never got grandfathered into Premium, but I was fine with them adding premium features that I couldn't access.
But the forced ad shown on my podcast list AND the player UI, with a cheeky X button that doesn't actually close the ad, is a step too far. I have a lot of respect for this app and the original company who made it but I'm almost at the point of switching.
I'd love to fully self host my podcasts. Unfortunately the self hosted options are all lacking on Android, so I'd probably look at something like AntennaPod but I'm not clear on whether that has a web player or not...
Good to know, I paused updates on pocket casts now.
Automattic's CEO seems to be saying that this is a bug. Apparently people who previously paid for the app should not be getting ads. I'm extremely sceptical about this, given that customer service on both email and their forums are pretty adamantly saying the opposite, but this is a space worth keeping an eye on.
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