New Apple Podcasts features enable offline video downloads and PiP
Apple has updated its Podcasts application to support HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) video technology. This replaces the previous limitation to formats like MOV, MP4, and M4V. The upgrade facilitates seamless transitions between watching video and listening to audio. It also introduces a horizontal full-screen viewing option.
Users can now download both video and audio streams for offline access, a capability absent in the prior RSS-based streaming method. While RSS remains a distribution option, HLS offers distinct functional improvements.
The integration of HLS enables picture-in-picture functionality, supporting multitasking on devices such as the iPad. The application automatically adjusts video quality to maintain smooth playback across varying network conditions, including Wi-Fi and cellular connections.
This update is scheduled for release on iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, and the web. The feature is currently available in beta, with a major rollout planned for spring as part of the 26.4 operating system updates.