This means:
- Downloading or updating the Assistant app now gives you Gemini instead.
- You can switch back to Assistant in the Gemini app settings.
- This might be Google’s first step towards replacing Assistant completely with Gemini.
- Some users are unaware of the switch and see two Gemini apps on their phones.
Overall, this may suggest Google is phasing out Assistant and transitioning users to the newer Gemini AI technology.
I only use it for opening Pocket Cast lol.
BTW if anyone has an alternative for Pocket Casts that is free and multiplatform I’m all ears lol (so far Spotify seems like a good alternative, but I don’t like it as a Podcast replacement app).
I moved to Antennapod then ended up using Audiobookshelf since I was already hosting it for my wife’s audiobooks.
I like how audiobookshelf works and syncs, but their android app needs auto play/queue like the web version has. I’ve been listening to “Robot or Not” and episodes are like 2-8 minutes. Gets real annoying to keep needing to select the next episode. Especially while driving as it’s unsafe. The android auto syncing isn’t great either.
AntennaPod is nicer in that way, but I haven’t found a good web player that syncs with it.
Interesting, what is your complete setup for desktop and mobile? Does sync work well? I mean like starting a podcast in some app and continuing it in another.
So for antennapod I used gpodder Sync. It’s not really ideal imo but hosting audiobookshelf has been perfect for me. It’s all on the server so no matter what device I’m on, everything is the same.
I use Antennapod on Android, it syncs with Gpodder (which requires self hosting on Nextcloud) and then there’s plenty of compatible clients over on desktop
Thanks for the recommendation, but oh boy, I would prefer to be away from Nextcloud (I have a Synology NAS with its own stuff which I access through VPN), I barely use it and I swear it breaks each update lol
I’m also not a fan of exposing it as I know I wouldn’t take care of it properly… And I am behind a CGNAT and just shut down my VPS…
But pocketcasts is already free, open source and multi platform right?
I’m not crazy into podcasts, but I have no complaints with podcast republic. Although, the other suggestion for audiobookshelf is a solid one
Thanks for the suggestion, I’ll check it out!
I use and like Castbox for podcasts. It’s great, though they have become slightly more aggressive with ads lately.
Huh, well, I guess we can’t have the best of both worlds 😅