Apple is breaking down language barriers in its Podcasts app, making audio content more accessible to a global audience.
Earlier this year, Apple introduced a valuable feature to its Podcasts app: auto-generated transcripts. This allowed users to follow along with a text version of a podcast episode in real-time, aiding comprehension and accessibility. Now, Apple is expanding this feature to include even more languages.
Podcast listeners who prefer Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese (Brazil and Portugal), Spanish, or Swedish can now enjoy auto-generated transcripts in their native language. This expands upon the initial launch, which only supported English.
When a podcast creator publishes a new episode, Apple automatically generates a transcript. While the episode is immediately available for listening, there’s a short delay before the transcript is processed and ready to view. It’s worth noting that dynamically inserted audio segments and music lyrics won’t be included in the transcripts.
To access the transcript, users simply tap the “Quote” button on the Now Playing screen within the Podcasts app.
This update significantly enhances the accessibility of podcasts for non-native speakers and those who prefer to follow along with text. It also offers greater convenience for listeners in various situations where audio might be less practical, such as in noisy environments or when needing to be mindful of those around them.
Apple Podcasts is available on a wide range of Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and HomePod. To access the latest features, ensure your device is running the latest software version.
