Echo Becomes the First Non-Apple Device to Support Apple Podcasts
Starting Friday, Amazon Echo has become the first device aside from Apple’s HomePod to offer full support for Apple Podcasts.
Prior to this announcement, the only way to play Podcasts on an Echo was to AirPlay them from another Apple device. With native support, “Alexa customers in the U.S. will be able to listen to more than 800,000 podcasts available through Apple Podcasts on their Alexa-enabled device.
“Whether you’re listening at home or on the go, you don’t need to worry about losing your spot. Link your account in the Alexa app using your Apple ID, and you can seamlessly pick up where you left off listening on the Apple Podcasts App or your Alexa device. Pause the subscribed episode you’re listening to in the Apple Podcasts app on your commute, and continue listening with your Alexa device at home by asking Alexa to resume the podcast.
“It’s easy to find and play your favorite podcasts with Alexa—all you have to do is ask for the episode you want to hear.”
As TechCrunch points out, this “is the latest in a series of partnerships between the two rivals, which also included the launch of the Apple TV app on Amazon’s Fire TV platform, as well as the launch of Apple Music on Echo devices and Fire TV. Amazon, in response, has expanded its assortment of Apple inventory to include Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and more.”
Whatever the motivation, further cooperation between the two companies is good for users on both sides.