I use Downcast every day, not even as an advanced user, but just because I need to download podcasts on-the-go. This sucks in comparison.
* Catalog (aka Store) is very slow and clunky. Takes 5-10 seconds to flag episodes as "Downloaded" after I click on a podcast I have episodes for.
* Clicking download button takes 4-5 seconds to react. Progress of download is not shown in store, but only in Library.
* No connection between podcasts you downloaded and those in the store. So if you want to get more episodes, you need to search again. Why?
* No way to add podcasts by URL.
* Descriptions are cut-off after a line or so with [...], even if you press the "i" button.
* No position indicator. Oh wait, it's hidden behind the cover image and you need to tap to switch. And that's the default view every time.
* The position indicator has buttons at either end. They don't do anything. Or do they?? They're certainly really small.
* Some of the stuff hidden behind the cover image is a button. Some of it is just shiny bits of the reel-to-reel. Guess which is which from a foot away!
* Only fast speed is 2x which is too fast. Only slow speed is 1/2x which is too slow.
* The share buttons everywhere just link to the podcast in general, not the episode.
* Generally sluggish on an iPhone 4.
Honestly, this seems like the kind of stuff Apple is supposed to be better than.
I had a significant (and expensive) issue with Downcast where it would continue to download podcasts from wifi -> 3g.
I'd get in my car and my phone would be still connected via WiFi to the house, start Downcast to listen to something and then drive off - switching it to 3G and incurring mobile data overage charges.
I guess? It doesn't feel advanced, it's just that one podcast that I listen to is a podcast Apple doesn't list. So I can't switch to this. Like "oh, you want to listen to music that's not in the app store? That's an advanced feature."
Fellow Downcast user. Love it. Use it everyday. It's the only the only app I have paid for (I have not pirated/stolen any either) and it's nearly the only app I use on my iPhone besides NPR and Netflix on my iPad.
* Catalog (aka Store) is very slow and clunky. Takes 5-10 seconds to flag episodes as "Downloaded" after I click on a podcast I have episodes for.
* Clicking download button takes 4-5 seconds to react. Progress of download is not shown in store, but only in Library.
* No connection between podcasts you downloaded and those in the store. So if you want to get more episodes, you need to search again. Why?
* No way to add podcasts by URL.
* Descriptions are cut-off after a line or so with [...], even if you press the "i" button.
* No position indicator. Oh wait, it's hidden behind the cover image and you need to tap to switch. And that's the default view every time.
* The position indicator has buttons at either end. They don't do anything. Or do they?? They're certainly really small.
* Some of the stuff hidden behind the cover image is a button. Some of it is just shiny bits of the reel-to-reel. Guess which is which from a foot away!
* Only fast speed is 2x which is too fast. Only slow speed is 1/2x which is too slow.
* The share buttons everywhere just link to the podcast in general, not the episode.
* Generally sluggish on an iPhone 4.
Honestly, this seems like the kind of stuff Apple is supposed to be better than.