MiniCast is a new iOS and watchOS app that can send a podcast file from Apple Podcasts, Overcast or Pocket Casts to your Apple Watch. Here’s a bit from its launch blog post:
After many many many hours of prototyping, building proof-of-concepts and experimenting with watchOS’ (and iOS’) limitations, we found a way to achieve a “companion-ness” that felt right. On iOS, all features of MiniCast are contained in a single Action Extension. If we could have shipped an Action Extension without a container app, we probably would have. But that’s not possible on the App Store. So there is a container app which guides you through the first steps, how to enable the extension and how to transfer the first test episode. The primary interaction happens directly in the Action Extension in your favorite podcast app.
In short, to get an episode to my Watch, I find it in my podcast client of choice, hit the Share icon, activate the MiniCast action extension and I’m done. The Watch receives a notification that kicks off a download session.
I like this approach; I don’t want to maintain two podcast libraries for the occasional on-the-go listening.
The app works as advertised. I was able to send an episode of Connected to my Watch with just a tap, but MiniCast is plagued with the same problems other solutions have been. Transfer is painfully slow, even on my Series 3 Watch, and playback controls are a little lacking. It took that Connected episode about 11 minutes to transfer.
To be fair, this is on Apple. watchOS just doesn’t have the support needed to build good podcast clients. This is on the top of my wishlist for the next version of watchOS.
Until then, I’m going to keep MiniCast around. It’s free with a $3.99 IAP to unlock its features, and even if it’s a little clunky, it lets me keep my podcasts where I want them, and shuttle one over to the Watch when needed. I’ll just need to remember to transfer files in advance of getting to the gym or lacing up my running shoes.