Can’t search for podcasts
The search function always fails to bring up any results for me
Fastest way to listen to a podcast
The app is great overall for listening, but the most magical experience I've had was when my friend sent me a link to a podcast episode. When I clicked the link, it didn't take me to a webpage about the episode or the listing for the podcast in iTunes. I didn't have to look for the episode in a list or figure out how to listen to it. The link opened directly in Pastime, took me straight to the episode, and I was already listening. Such a joy!
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Great app
I love this app! I used to spend a lot of time searching for something interesting. With the new pastime newsletter I quickly find new podcasts with specific episodes to choose from.
Love this app!
I love using Pastime for listening to podcasts (and I listen to a lot). It's beautiful and easy to use, unlike some other podcast players. I also LOVE the focus on finding good episodes to listen to and not just shows. Sometimes I just want to find a great episode, and Pastime is awesome for that!
Scam to sell Music/tv/movies
Doesn't let you listen to local files, have to buy their junk.
An App on a Mission
Reviewing Pastime Version 1.0.2. As before, this audio player is ad free and easy to operate without looking at your device. It is now even better suited for the vision impaired.
I recommend this player for easy operation by touch, including for sighted users who want to select and play audio books and shows without the need for attention to the screen, such as while driving. Instructions for use are given once using "Voiceover," so pay attention when you first use the program.
I use it for podcasts. Show titles are shown on a scrolling menu in an extremely large font. Touch one and the title will be read aloud. There is a quiet sound with each tap for play or pause. As with the last version of Pastime, swiping left or right will go 15 seconds forward or back. The swipe direction now stays the same regardless of device orientation, so operation by touch is more consistent. Swipe and hold for fast forward and rewind.
I have a number of suggestions for future versions.
* The 15-second swipe is valuable to skip small portions of discussions or to review part of the show after interruptions. The Voiceover with each 15-second swipe talks over the show, making it hard to tell whether I have gone as far as desired. A different quiet blip for each direction would be preferable to the 15-second verbal message. I would retain the existing message for swipe-and-hold time changes.
* We should be able to quickly repeat the 15-second swipe as before. I have always found it very useful to skip unwanted show introductions.
* There is a pie graph of show progress, which would be useful to display while advancing or rewinding.
* Please stop demanding I turn on my cellular data every time the app is used or the phone is unlocked. This window pops up in front of the player and blocks operation.
* In the last version it was much easier to tell when a show had been played to the end. Perhaps a diagonal slash stamped across the screen at the end of the track, and on each of the completed shows on the menu, would be helpful in this version.
* Currently the show menu scrolls smoothly. If the menu could snap from one show to the next, perhaps with a click and/or haptic feedback, we could count down the list and select a certain show more easily.
* An option to turn off Voiceover in Settings would be welcome.
You have my thanks for this excellent app.
I recommend this player for easy operation by touch, including for sighted users who want to select and play audio books and shows without the need for attention to the screen, such as while driving. Instructions for use are given once using "Voiceover," so pay attention when you first use the program.
I use it for podcasts. Show titles are shown on a scrolling menu in an extremely large font. Touch one and the title will be read aloud. There is a quiet sound with each tap for play or pause. As with the last version of Pastime, swiping left or right will go 15 seconds forward or back. The swipe direction now stays the same regardless of device orientation, so operation by touch is more consistent. Swipe and hold for fast forward and rewind.
I have a number of suggestions for future versions.
* The 15-second swipe is valuable to skip small portions of discussions or to review part of the show after interruptions. The Voiceover with each 15-second swipe talks over the show, making it hard to tell whether I have gone as far as desired. A different quiet blip for each direction would be preferable to the 15-second verbal message. I would retain the existing message for swipe-and-hold time changes.
* We should be able to quickly repeat the 15-second swipe as before. I have always found it very useful to skip unwanted show introductions.
* There is a pie graph of show progress, which would be useful to display while advancing or rewinding.
* Please stop demanding I turn on my cellular data every time the app is used or the phone is unlocked. This window pops up in front of the player and blocks operation.
* In the last version it was much easier to tell when a show had been played to the end. Perhaps a diagonal slash stamped across the screen at the end of the track, and on each of the completed shows on the menu, would be helpful in this version.
* Currently the show menu scrolls smoothly. If the menu could snap from one show to the next, perhaps with a click and/or haptic feedback, we could count down the list and select a certain show more easily.
* An option to turn off Voiceover in Settings would be welcome.
You have my thanks for this excellent app.
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Barely useable
The list of books shows all of two per screen. It cannot be sorted or searched, and does not show the books' length (although it does decorate the with needless graphics and uses pastel colours, both of which would make the list harder to read for someone with poor eyesight).
Pitiful
This had always been my go to app fir audiobooks. But this new version will not even open on my iPhone 4. I have tried and tried but it just goes back to the phone home screen. It's really pathetic - and unless it is fixed soon I will have to dump this app and find another.
Give me back the previous version please
I setup the previous version of this app for my friend who has Parkinson's and some visual limitations but can see. The previous version was perfect for her. She could see which book she was listening to, change her selection easily and play and pause simply by tapping anywhere on the screen. The new version is totally useless for her. Apparently you have to know which patterned screen goes with which book??? Or just take whatever comes up and listen - useless. Please bring back the previous version! My friend now has to use iTunes to listen to her books which is not ideal as the controls are not highly visible but considerably better than the current version of this app?
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Needs more work
The old version would play my some of my podcast, this version doesn't.
Awful update!
I can no longer use this app! All I have is a screen with a pink pattern, and nothing else!
It used to be great but the latest version is not working
:(
Its ok but buggy at times
Very basic audiobook reader, needs work e.g. sorts on author, recent not available.
tends to forget where it is in a book especially ones that have a lot of chapters e.g. transferred from CD’s or even mp3 disks it also stops for no apparent reason, and its not the device locking out as i turned off auto lock and it still does it.
Nice concept but very very basic which could be forgiven if it worked properly
tends to forget where it is in a book especially ones that have a lot of chapters e.g. transferred from CD’s or even mp3 disks it also stops for no apparent reason, and its not the device locking out as i turned off auto lock and it still does it.
Nice concept but very very basic which could be forgiven if it worked properly
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Annoying Bug
I really like the functionality and simplicity of the app - very nice, but: it doesn't reliably save your last stop point, forcing you to start at a much earlier point (that you saved some other time. Also, the feature intended to allow you to start at any particular point in time doesn't work.
Fixing these two glitches would make this a perfect app! I await eagerly for the fix.
Fixing these two glitches would make this a perfect app! I await eagerly for the fix.
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Can't remember your place
Missing basic features, like remembering your place. Hard to navigate/scroll back and forward as well. Not ready for prime time...
Won't hold place
I've used this app successfully for quite a while, but lately it will not hold my place in a book if I switch books or activities on my IPOD. Not sure if the app is broken or something else on my device is interfering.
Great for me
Works great for me, I'm a daily audio book listener and have had no problems in the couple weeks I've been using this app. Played around with it quite abit to get used to interface, very happy with it.
Naff
Nearly every time I use this app I turn it on and it has lost the place that a finished at. Doesn't do what., it says it does which is such a shame.
Memory loss?
Great basic idea.... But it doesn't remember how far you've come?? Doing that is almost the definition of an audiobook player!
Useless
It's just a front-end to the built-in player, not a separate player. If you pause playback of an audiobook, switch to the built-in player, start playing a song, pause the song, switch back to this app, continue playback of your audiobook, you'll hear the song you previously paused.
