Apple has just introduced a new feature for Podcasts that aims to enhance the listening experience for users – transcripts. This feature allows users to read the complete text of any podcast episode, making it easier to catch up on missed details, search for specific information, or follow along with the audio.
According to Apple’s senior director Sarah Herrlinger, transcripts on Apple Podcasts are part of Apple’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. The interactive nature of transcripts highlights each word as an episode plays, allowing users to seamlessly transition between listening and reading.
The benefits of transcripts are numerous, including aiding comprehension, facilitating language learning, and enabling easier fact-checking. By providing a written version of podcast content, Apple empowers listeners to engage with their favorite shows in new ways.
Accessing transcripts is simple – just tap on the bottom-left corner of the Now Playing screen to view the transcript for the current episode. The user-friendly interface ensures that transcripts are easily accessible whenever needed. Designed with accessibility in mind, transcripts feature optimized font and color contrast to improve readability for all users.
Transcripts also cater to users who are Deaf or hard of hearing by providing an alternative means of accessing podcast episodes without relying solely on audio content. Available in multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, and German podcasts, this feature is automatically generated for new episodes upon release for users with iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4.
Overall, Apple’s introduction of transcripts for Podcasts enhances the listening experience by offering a valuable tool for users to engage with their favorite shows in a more accessible way.
