Apple’s Podcasts App For iOS Gets Siri And CarPlay Support

An update to Apple’s native Podcasts application for iPhone and iPad brings Siri integration to the app, as well as support for its new CarPlay mode for in-vehicle entertainment systems. You can can now voice command Podcasts, essentially, or interact with it from your in-car interface with your physical or touchscreen console controls.

The app update also improves browsing with the addition of an ‘Unplayed’ tab for episodes you’ve downloaded but haven’t yet heard, and a way to save them for offline playback. Automatic deletion upon playback is also new, and you can also share links to specific podcasts with friends nearby using AirDrop.

The big additions really are the Siri and CarPlay support, however; with Siri, you can now simply say “play podcasts” to start your queue rolling, or ask for specific podcasts or entire stations by name (so, for instance, “play the TechCrunch Gadgets Podcast.” This helps for hands-free operation when in a vehicle, too, and supplements the CarPlay support, which adds Podcasts content to the car infotainment system-specific player that iOS 7 now offers.