GOOGLE is shutting down another app in a matter of days despite being downloaded millions of times.
The latest shake-up affects fans of podcasts.
Google is urging users to move to YouTube Music for their podcasts instead[/caption]
Google Podcasts has been around since 2018 but in just over a week’s time it’ll go dark.
The service has already shut down in the US but it’s closing everywhere else including the UK on June 24.
That’s despite Google Podcasts have been downloaded more than 500million times on Google Play alone.
Instead, the firm wants people to use the YouTube Music app for podcasts.
Last year, Google announced the move, saying we are “living in the golden age of podcasts” and that it was time to create a “single destination” for them.
But fans of Google Podcasts haven’t reacted well to the news – and some don’t want to use YouTube Music.
“YouTube Music doesn’t seem to have all of the podcasts available on Google Podcasts,” one user wrote on Reddit.
“Either that or the search function is terrible.
“In addition, using YouTube Music for podcasts via Android Auto requires scrolling through a bunch more menus. Not great.”
Another said: “YouTube Music is just awful. I hate that they’re killing Google Podcasts.”
Google Podcasts alternatives
A number of podcast fans have made some suggested alternatives – though these haven’t been tested by The Sun.
- AntennaPod has been downloaded on Android more than a million times and has a 4.8 out of 5 rating based on 51,000 reviews.
- Pocket Casts has been downloaded on Android more than a million times and has 4.2 out of 5 rating based on 74,000 reviews.
- Podcast Addict has been downloaded on Android more than 10million times and has a 4.6 out of 5 rating based on 557,000 reviews
Inside the Google Graveyard
According to the Killed By Google website, the number currently stands at 295.
Here are some you may remember.
- Google Hangouts
- Google Duo
- Google Stadia
- Google+
- Google Cardboard
- Loon
- Google Gaming app
- Google Glass
- Google Spaces
- Nexus
