Apple's walled garden is often quite vast, with many apps and services only working on Apple devices. For a long time, this was the case with the Podcasts app, but Apple has just made the unusual move to open it up to users of other platforms, granting access to top podcasts and their exclusives in the process.
But before you head over to the Google Play Store, we remind you that Apple's Podcasts app is no longer available on your Windows PC or Android phone. Instead, you can now access the Podcasts service from any of the best web browsers by simply heading to the new Apple Podcasts page.
There you'll find the entire Apple Podcasts library for you to explore. Featured podcasts are highlighted at the top of the page, and as you scroll down, various categories and shows appear.
Select a podcast and you'll be taken to its dedicated page, where you can view all of its episodes, read synopses, or leave a review. Hit the play button next to any episode (or the button that appears on the podcast's cover on the website's home page) and you'll be able to listen in your browser, with a full set of playback controls at the top of the page.
Apple recommends you create an account or sign in with your Apple account so you can “save your spot, follow shows, and watch the latest episodes,” but you don’t need to do that to start listening in the first place.
Cracks in the walled garden
It's unclear exactly what prompted Apple to make this change, but news website AppleInsider has quoted Apple as saying: “Users can now get the favorite features they love, including the ability to browse millions of shows across a variety of categories, access their library and charts, purchase premium podcast subscriptions, and more.”
According to AppleInsider, Apple argued that the new system (where a shared link will open in the Podcasts app for Apple users, but on the web for everyone else) improves the process of sharing podcasts by making it simpler and more straightforward. On top of that, Apple said there are benefits for podcast creators, as shows are now “accessible to anyone with a web browser on any device, reaching a broader global audience.”
Apple made its Maps app available on the web for the first time in July, and with Podcasts following in its footsteps, you might be wondering if other Apple services will be web-based and accessible even if you don't have one of the company's devices.
We can't know for sure whether anything more will follow, but it's worth keeping an eye out in case any more cracks appear in the company's famous walled garden.
