News

iOS 17.4 Beta Brings Auto-Generated Transcripts to Apple Podcasts App

Apple released the first developer beta of iOS 17.4 on Wednesday, and the new beta brings changes to the Apple Podcasts app. Perhaps most importantly, Apple Podcasts now offers auto-generated transcripts. The app will automatically generate transcripts after they are published. The transcripts can then be viewed in the app.

From Apple:

How it works

With transcripts, your audience can read the full text of an episode, search the episode for a specific word or phrase, and tap the text to play from that point in the episode. As an episode plays, each word is highlighted, making it easy to follow along. Transcripts can also be accessed from the episode details page. Touch and hold a podcast episode to reveal an option to view a transcript.

Apple automatically generates transcripts after a new episode is published. Your episode will be available for listening right away, and the transcript will be available shortly afterwards. There will be a short delay while we process your transcript. If portions of your episode change with dynamically inserted audio, Apple Podcasts will not display the segments of the audio that have changed since the original transcription. Music lyrics are also not displayed in the transcripts.

The “Now Playing” screen in the Apple Podcasts app displays a new “quote” icon in the bottom toolbar that can be tapped to view an episode’s transcript. As an episode plays, each word is highlighted, and listeners can tap anywhere in the live transcript to start listening at that specific point.

A plaintext version of the transcript can also be viewed without listening to the episode by tapping and holding on an episode and choosing “View Transcript.” Users can also search within each transcript for specific terms.

Podcasters can learn more information on the Apple Podcasts for Creators website.

One other change, the Now Playing bottom navigation bar features a new floating design, similar to Apple Music.

Keep in mind as this is a beta release, features in the app can either change or be removed before the public release of iOS 17.4.

(Via 9to5Mac)

Chris Hauk

Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.