I switch to Apple System Apps every summer to test the latest version of the company's OS. I usually return to my favorite third-party apps over time, but since last summer Apple Podcasts has been an outlier for a variety of reasons. This app has come a long way over the last few years, and while it still doesn't quite fit the way I listen to shows, it's here to stay where many other system apps haven't. I am.
Other podcast apps have struggled in recent months, and Apple's unique features make podcasts an attractive option for many listeners. And judging by the download numbers of AppStories, Unwind, and Magic Rays of Light, I don't think I'm alone in this assessment.
Today, Apple added another reason to use system apps: Transcripts. For podcast creators, this new feature has never been easier.
Apple automatically generates a transcript after a new episode is published. Your episode will be available to listen to immediately, and the transcript will be available shortly thereafter. It will take some time for your transcript to be processed. If dynamically inserted audio changes parts of your episode, Apple Podcasts won't display segments of audio that have changed since the original transcription. Music lyrics also do not appear in the transcript.
Listeners can follow along with a transcript of the text highlighted in sync with the show's audio, similar to how real-time lyrics work on Apple Music.
I experimented with OpenAI's Whisper to create MacStories podcast transcripts. The results were good enough to create a searchable episode database for internal use, but not good enough to be published publicly. So I'm very curious to see how well Apple's solution works. Podcasters can also upload their own transcripts if they wish.
Transcripts generated by Apple are saved as VTT files, a W3C standard for displaying timed text using HTML 5. track element. I checked AppStories and sure enough, the transcript for the latest episode was already available. As one of the show's creators, I have access to the transcripts and can download, edit, and re-upload them. However, based on a preliminary scan of the most recent episode, the transcription is very good, including timestamps and identifying information for each speaker. However, no names are mentioned, which is not surprising.
There's been a lot of talk about the App Store changes coming to the EU next month. These changes are important and will drive the App Store story for years to come, but there's much more to iOS 17.4. Podcast transcripts are a prime example of a feature that adds value and makes podcasts more accessible to everyone.
