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Description

Listen to the best of BBC audio with BBC Sounds. Stream and download your favourite BBC podcasts, radio stations and music all in one place.
Features include:
‐ Listen live to all BBC Radio stations
‐ Pause and rewind live radio as well as browse past and future station schedules
‐ Download or stream your podcasts, radio shows and music on the go
‐ Continue listening from where you left off on any device
‐ Autoplay multiple episodes of series or podcasts or all your downloads (optional)
‐ Subscribe to BBC podcasts, music mixes and shows
‐ See the latest episodes from your favourite programmes and podcasts in one handy list
‐ Get personalised recommendations to discover new audio you’ll love
‐ Send music tracks you like to Apple Music and Spotify
‐ Browse by speech and music categories
‐ Sleep Timer
When using the Apple CarPlay enabled version of the BBC Sounds app, it is your responsibility to always follow safe driving practices (i.e. don’t be distracted and focus on the road at all times). Comply with all relevant laws, traffic regulations and road signs.
To give you the best experience, this app tracks what you’ve listened to on BBC Sounds and how long you’ve listened to programmes for. It also tracks when you add something to Bookmarks or Subscriptions. By “Allow Personalisation”, you will get personalized recommendations. More information can be found here https://www.bbc.co.uk/usingthebbc/account/about-your-personalisation-settings/.
The BBC uses cookies and similar technologies to understand how audiences interact with our services, content (such as podcasts and radio) and marketing messages. The categories of personal data processed by our data processors include the following:
• IP address to determine which UK city/region you are in, or which country/continent you are in if outside of the UK
• Activity data, such as time when you first used this app and programmes you listened to and interacted with
• Your device information, such as device type and OS version
For more information about how and why we use information about you, please visit the BBC Sounds App Privacy Notice. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/help/questions/about-bbc-sounds-and-our-policies/sounds-app-privacy-notice
To read the BBC’s Privacy Policy go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/privacy/
If you install this app you accept the BBC Terms of Use at http://www.bbc.co.uk/terms/
The app is published by BBC Media AT (BBC Media Applications Technologies Limited) which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).
Full details of BBC Media AT are available on the Companies House website at: http://data.companieshouse.gov.uk/doc/company/07100235 BBC © 2022
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking: http://www.bbc.co.uk/help/web/links/

What's New in Version 2.19.0

Small bug fixes and improvements. Thank you for your feedback.

Seller

Name

BBC Media Applications Technologies Limited

Information

Categories

Version

2.19.0

Size

89.9 MB

Game Center

No

VPP Device Licensing

Yes

Rating

Rated 12+ for the following:
Infrequent/Mild Alcohol, Tobacco, or Drug Use or References
Infrequent/Mild Realistic Violence
Infrequent/Mild Sexual Content and Nudity
Infrequent/Mild Horror/Fear Themes
Infrequent/Mild Mature/Suggestive Themes
Infrequent/Mild Medical/Treatment Information
Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humour

Compatibility

iOS 15.0 or later

Devices

iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad (5th Generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (6th generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro, iPad Pro (Cellular), iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad Pro (9.7-inch) (Cellular), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (10.5-inch), iPad Pro (10.5-inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro (11-inch), iPad Pro (11-inch) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air, iPad Air (Cellular), iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 (Cellular), iPad Air (3rd generation), iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini Retina, iPad mini Retina (Cellular), iPad mini 3, iPad mini 3 (Cellular), iPad mini 4, iPad mini 4 (Cellular), iPad mini (5th Generation), iPad mini (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (7th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (4th Generation) (Wi-Fi), iPad Air (4th Generation) (Wi-Fi + Cellular), iPad (8th generation) Wi-Fi, iPad (8th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (5th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (9th Generation), iPad (9th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini (6th Generation), iPad mini (6th Generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air (5th generation), iPad Air (5th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad (10th generation), iPad (10th generation) Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPod touch (6th Generation), iPod touch (7th generation)

Languages

English, Welsh

App Store: Customer Ratings

All Versions

 4.7 (279,131 Ratings)

App Store: Customer Reviews

What I like about BBC Sounds.

 – 
sitt as sittat
 – 
2024-04-20
Version 2.19.0
These are the good things: -I can listen when and where I want, e.g. when going to sleep, practising my choral soprano part and when I am working on detailed botanical painting. -I like to listen on a phone and on an iPad. -some of the podcasts are invaluably informative e.g. Ukrainecast, Americast and sometimes Newscast (although infrequently). My favourites are historical drama such as all Jane Austin, Dickens, Hardy, the current “Mary Barton” is excellent. More good stuff is documentary e.g. In Our Time, Archive on 4, From our own Correspondent, and recently Who Is Xi Jinping. Etc What I dislike: -Pop music….too much of it. The Scottish programmes in the section from Scotland are very poor as is the BBC Scotland programming on TV. (I’m Scottish!) -contemporary drama, it’s mostly dreadful! Sorry! - A lot of the drama is left on for far too long in sounds particularly historical. - I’d like more Dickens, Emile Zola, Somerset Maugham, William Trevor, Maupassant………please!
I have to congratulate you on the truly excellent comedy “It’s a Fair Cop” I’ve listened to all of them and am addicted Alfie,to his humour and cheeky interaction with studio audience. My Favourite…….”Zeus!”

Alexa integration / multiroom

 – 
Will562562
 – 
2024-04-20
Version 2.19.0
App is good but would be so good to be able to control bbc sounds currently playing on an alexa device and enable multiroom devices like you can with spotify.

User Unfriendly

 – 
Delta Flyer
 – 
2024-04-20
Version 2.19.0
There’s undoubtedly plenty of ad-free content worth the licence fee but getting to it on this app is bordering on hostile with inconsistent layouts of regular programs week to week (tracklists sometimes?!) and no logical queue management. I live in rural no-signal land so I download before heading out but trying to get things to play in the order I want is arduous. The ‘queue’ is tucked away illogically. If I subscribe to a program, it does nothing. Every week I still have to search first, find the program and download. It’s not my tech nor my old brain. So frustrated. Like iPlayer, this app is clunky and could aim a lot higher on end-user experience.

BBC Sounds

 – 
23bfg
 – 
2024-04-20
Version 2.19.0
Brilliant facility with absolutely fantastic varietyabfghen23bgg. Long live the BBC. Such a shame the Government looks intent on destroying what is a bastion of independent broadcasting not only for the British people.but for the world. The quality of programs although decreasing still exceeds all other broadcasters.

Comprehensive cover

 – 
Me+ 1
 – 
2024-04-19
Version 2.19.0
Whatever I want or need I am able to find it on the BEEB.
It has been there all through my life. It’s very comforting to be able to open the app. It has connected all my family and helps me cope now that most of them have left.

Pillow Talk

 – 
Sarkyfarky
 – 
2024-04-19
Version 2.19.0
The very best range of listening for people who cannot sleep!

My review from Simon

 – 
Big Si Si
 – 
2024-04-19
Version 2.19.0
I love listening to variety of programs on the BBC Sounds app mainly comedy’s and documentaries and history programmes as well
I like to download programmes so I can create a playlist of programmes as I drive for a living
The only downside is not all the programmes on BBC Sounds are downloadable

Confusing user interface

 – 
Mike-soar
 – 
2024-04-19
Version 2.19.0
Great material but the user experience is truly awful.

Just love it!

 – 
rbdbk
 – 
2024-04-17
Version 2.19.0
Access to everything and all

Northanger Abbey

 – 
from Faversham
 – 
2024-04-17
Version 2.19.0
Really enjoyed listening!

List I’d episodes

 – 
BBC7 Fan
 – 
2024-04-17
Version 2.19.0
The complete list of episodes would be useful. Sometimes we need to go back and listen to an earlier episode or two again - it’s a nuisance having to search for the programme in order to get an earlier episode. Not being able yo listen to earlier episodes of programmes broadcast as podcasts is very annoying. Even when subscribed to them, the episodes already broadcast are not available.

Caroline B

 – 
Caroline from France
 – 
2024-04-16
Version 2.19.0
The best content and most interesting podcasts. An everyday companion, whether at home doing chores, on my way to work… even in the shower! I am BBC Sounds’ number 1 fan!

Must go to daily

 – 
Must go to
 – 
2024-04-15
Version 2.19.0
Great for music, kids programmes but most of all Newscast and Americast.
Jackie

Content is ok

 – 
Jamento
 – 
2024-04-15
Version 2.19.0
UX is horrible. Totally user unfriendly imho.

Great app

 – 
snuggleblat hogworthy
 – 
2024-04-15
Version 2.19.0
It’s a great app that always works well, and there’s a brilliant range of programmes.

All

 – 
kiralily
 – 
2024-04-15
Version 2.19.0
It’s good being able to listen to certain things on the radio. I do find there’s not a great choice. But in general enjoying listening to the podcasts etc.

Bob

 – 
LogoMytroip
 – 
2024-04-14
Version 2.19.0
Really enjoy the variety

Love it

 – 
333338888844444
 – 
2024-04-14
Version 2.19.0
Love bbc radio it’s the best thing I would be lost without it.. it’s 100% my best friend in my pocket thanks

Please add “download all episodes”

 – 
Tobias.p
 – 
2024-04-14
Version 2.19.0
Good app in general but I’d love to be able to click on a podcast or audiobook series and press one button to download every episode. If this button already exists please make it more obvious because I couldn’t find it xD

Good app but it locks up.

 – 
677mrcooldude
 – 
2024-04-13
Version 2.19.0
Every now and again the app locks my phone and I have to restart my phone and get back to where I got to. This happens on a Saturday when I listen to Sounds Of The Sixties. Please fix.

Shuffle

 – 
seanioh
 – 
2024-04-13
Version 2.19.0
Using the shuffle forward or backward not working properly. If you tap it a few times it stops working and then have to wait for it to start playing again. Used to work fine.

Please update the app to correct AirPods forward/rewing

 – 
Udohulk
 – 
2024-04-11
Version 2.19.0
If selecting to forward or reading in AirPods, instead of forward/backward 20 seconds like on the lock screen it skips to the very beginning or end of what is playing. Very frustrating. Please fix. Also it would be great if a user could configure the number of services to forward and independently the number of servings to rewind at a time. Thanks

Just what you want when you want it

 – 
swipespoons wife
 – 
2024-04-11
Version 2.19.0
A lovely way to make a boring or tedious job bearable or making a long journey seem shorter. You choose what you want to listen to and it’s free!!

Annoying features

 – 
Thorkellthetall
 – 
2024-04-11
Version 2.19.0
BBC Sounds has several inexplicably annoying features. Where there is a series of episodes, the earlier episodes will often be removed before the later ones…making the later episodes useless for new listeners. Also the ‘drilling down’ features are ill thought out. Listening today to a series of short stories accessed through the audio book section, it was impossible to move from the episode in question to scan what other episodes were available; I’m sure I could have obtained this information by starting afresh in the search engine…but this is so laborious. Then there is the question of the very limited content available. Given the decades of broadcasting that should be accessible, the same old programmes are repeated over and over again. I begin to wonder whether anybody from the BBC has actually used the Sounds app. I should imagine that BBC’s archive is vast, but where are the accessible programmes? I can obtain a far greater number through Internet Archive.

BBC Sounds

 – 
Parluament
 – 
2024-04-11
Version 2.19.0
Love being able to catch up with programmes which I was unable to
Listen to at their original hearing.

Phenomenal

 – 
Maryccole
 – 
2024-04-10
Version 2.19.0
Quite extraordinary stories of incredible human endeavour’s . Caught me on my tracks and I was hanging on every word! (Guy Deacon interview)
Thank you

My review,

 – 
Betsy, G
 – 
2024-04-10
Version 2.19.0
I think BBC Sounds is very good. You can pretty much feel as much as you can and music. I also love the time I have all stars because I think there’s always room for improvement. A spell error there was supposed to say you can filter it as much as you like. I was supposed to say you can as much as you would like and listen to music and podcast.

Wrong content

 – 
SingingIsabel
 – 
2024-04-10
Version 2.19.0
Playing inside health but get loop of statement that the daily service has moved to bbc extra. The problem is that there doesn’t seem to be any help - hence this review. It would be four stars but in this instance is 0

Finding new shows

 – 
susie pops
 – 
2024-04-09
Version 2.19.0
I love bbc sounds but I find it quite difficult to find new shows I’m interested in , not the easiest platform ti navigate xx

Add “car” screen

 – 
W.WhiZZ
 – 
2024-04-09
Version 2.19.0
It would be good to have the “car” Bluetooth option (like Audible and Spotify) to keep my phone unlocked when I’m listening and cooking please

Shreds

 – 
Marrow 64
 – 
2024-04-09
Version 2.19.0
An excellent Podcast!!
I could NOT stop listening til the very end.
Great research and detail in a very tragic and sad story.

Good

 – 
Fred and all
 – 
2024-04-09
Version 2.18.0
Good

Dramas

 – 
Dene22
 – 
2024-04-08
Version 2.18.0
I love my evening pre bedtime dramas. It’s ‘me’ time for myself. I love listening to various dramas, discussions etc. I would be lost without it. Great quality listening

Nostalgia

 – 
Jagmanbmw
 – 
2024-04-08
Version 2.18.0
I’m a great fan of yesteryear radio. The Goons, Navy Lark, Clithero Kid etc. etc. This is an ideal way of enjoying those “blasts from the past” again. I often wish I could trawl through the archives even more, but what I have at the moment keeps me entertained.

BBC Suffolk

 – 
harlowboy
 – 
2024-04-06
Version 2.18.0
Excellent service and great coverage of all Ipswich town football

Battery usage

 – 
Jaaasasy
 – 
2024-04-06
Version 2.18.0
This app absolutely hammers my phone battery. I only listen for an hour or two daily but BBC sounds is always top when I check my battery usage statistics on my phone, check it out yourself and you might be surprised. This is after totally closing down the app after using it too.

My friend & constant companion

 – 
Max dobroslavic
 – 
2024-04-05
Version 2.18.0
My morning made clearer my afternoon filled with interest & drama and a good companion my evenings never lonely always spent in good company - with an ever aging population why the obsession to appeal to the young? I found you my friend 43 years old & recently enjoyed celebrating your 100th - you’ve been my most constant star these last 15 years ….please don’t keep changing - a little constancy is welcome relief in this noisy chaotic over fast time

Sight Impaired

 – 
RYA1234
 – 
2024-04-04
Version 2.18.0
Considering the BBC’s efforts over the years to create content and access to visually impaired communities, it is a shame that the verbal commands to search for content, usually require GUI for finalising selections.
This makes BBC platforms unusable for my 92 yo mum.

BBC sounds

 – 
XxZ!
 – 
2024-04-04
Version 2.18.0
Fabulous choice.
Only chance we in remote rural areas get to experience great drama.
Appreciated.

Its a Fair Cop

 – 
GathercoleP
 – 
2024-04-02
Version 2.18.0
Brilliant it’s like the best teacher for any young cadet
Reminded me of my late Father a Policeman in Stockport for over 27 years ❤️

Jump back in.

 – 
JJaswilow
 – 
2024-04-02
Version 2.18.0
Needs a better (more extensive and easily navigable) “what you currently listening to” interface on the main page. To jump back into shows. Even they’ve expired on the episode you were on.

History’s Secret Heroes

 – 
BHStitch
 – 
2024-04-02
Version 2.18.0
Fascinating stories beautifully narrated by Helena Bonham Carter.

BBC Triumph

 – 
Roger100449
 – 
2024-04-02
Version 2.18.0
I listen to BBC Radio for a minimum of eight hours a day, EVERY day.
As a former vocal critic of SOUNDS, you've now got it just about right, so please don’t go tinkering with its format. BBC Radio is the last and certainly the most satisfying bastion of civilisation.
Suggestion: Make the algorithm recognise when you’ve listened to a programme rather than keep it in your ‘feed’, especially when it’s no longer available to listen to.
Thank You

Brilliant

 – 
KG**
 – 
2024-04-02
Version 2.18.0
I listen to BBC Sounds every day mostly radio 2 and 4. Love the variety and quality of podcasts I can listen back to.

OK but need registration to listen to radio?

 – 
Hairless Jim
 – 
2024-04-02
Version 2.18.0
Falls over at the first hurdle by not respecting my browser choice. I use DuckDuckGo but the BBC will not work without Safari. So much for user choice. Also, what’s with the BBC becoming a data-grabber? Why should I sign in for a non-license content app? I expect this of the cheap-seat news and media providers but not from a good, national provider. Gone back to the genuine radio and deleted the app. BBC content is first rate. The app needs to catch up. UPDATE - It’s even worse using CarPlay. Getting a radio station can take three presses on different screens in different locations and nothing is intuitive. A real aid to crashing the car. No favourite stations and it doesn’t start on the last played station. The CarPlay presentation needs a root-and-branch redesign. Having to reach across the screen from a playing radio station to hit a small ‘back’ icon to get to the station list is ridiculous, distracting and dangerous. All BBC radio stations should be on an easy access editable ribbon at the bottom of the screen and ideally, have a favourites section at the front.

I enjoy BBC Sounds

 – 
pmm0608
 – 
2024-04-01
Version 2.18.0
However
The drama section has much the same on offer as it did before and after the pandemic. The really old crime series have had their day I think. There must be more of your top quality offering that you could replace them with. Otherwise great.

Downloads oldest first ?

 – 
Nz no stay
 – 
2024-04-01
Version 2.18.0
I use Sounds to catch up on programmes like “In our Time” and “Witness History” by downloading them. App starts by playing newest first. Would be lovely if played oldest first please

Luv Sounds BBC

 – 
the art of magic
 – 
2024-03-31
Version 2.18.0
Love listening Archers Everyweek Love your whole library of selections podcast Thank you BBC For your exceptional creative teams Keep up
Your Love & Innovation

A wonderful BBC addition

 – 
Fender 74
 – 
2024-03-30
Version 2.18.0
I can only highly recommend BBC Sounds as a wonderful addition to the BBC Radio. One never again will miss out on missing programmes on BBC Sounds all is at hand. I personally enjoy radio 4 and in particular the afternoon plays. Due to child care commitments it is not always possible to listen to one’s programme. With BBC Sounds l listen to all broadcasts at my own convenience currently enjoying McLevy a Scottish detective set in Edinburgh with top actors Brian Cox and Siobhan Redmond the crème de le crème.

Going too far

 – 
Jimbob2134
 – 
2024-03-30
Version 2.18.0
If it wasn’t bad enough you were making shows appear first on BBC Sounds, now you are planning to play adverts on Podcast services outside of BBC Sounds, even in the UK. This isn’t making me want to listen to BBC shows more. In fact it’s having the opposite effect.
I personally use Apple Podcasts to have everything streamline across my devices and also keep track of what I have and haven’t listened to yet in the same way the Apple TV app works. Having to split it across different apps means I forget about the shows on Sounds more often than I don’t.
If the plans to advertise on non BBC apps come to fruition, then can you please integrate the BBC Sounds account “subscription” with the Apple Podcasts third party feature (and other apps that allow it). I’ll accept keeping the Sounds app and account if it means I can easily keep track of my shows.

So much potential

 – 
Celt_Ross
 – 
2024-02-28
Version 2.17.0
I’m glad the app exists but it could be so much better. Simple fixes: - why does it buffer such a small amount of content? I will be within signal, listening to a program that has 40min content already live, which I’ve rewound to listen from the start on a phone that could happily buffer the entire program and a connection that load the program in a few seconds. Yet I find I have a few minutes content before it cuts out. - Please immediately fix the error that makes it regularly/ daily forget where it is in a program when it changes internet connection or just feels like it, - finally, linked to the above, when you suddenly find you’re not listening to the program you were following but the one after because the app has got confused about time, why does it often take more than 30 minutes to upload the program I was previously listening to? Surely no human interaction is involved? Just make it available when the program finishes? Are you adding any value or trying to be annoying ? Generally, if this was a commercial app no one would buy it. Also, surely you would welcome some actual user feedback on your programmes? I can’t be the only person who doesn’t want to write a formal letter to R4 Feedback to mention that I think Count Arthur Strong is about as funny as norovirus? I don’t have to be a minority but other channels welcome feedback. Anyway, keep up the good work.

A reasonable app that’s spoilt by adverts and ineptitude

 – 
bungawalla
 – 
2024-02-10
Version 2.16.0
The app is technically OK, but I feel I need somewhere to publicly rant about the poor governance of content. 1. Why am I being bombarded by adverts in the middle of podcasts when I pay a licence fee to not have to put up with that rubbish. I listen to a lot of cricket, so the assumption is that I must like all sport and therefore want to hear about football. I don’t. 2. The other gripe with this app is again not with the tech but with the content. I’d estimate that about 10 times in the last year, in the final exciting moments of a cricket match the programme just stops. If the live broadcast is extended, for some reason nobody can be bothered to adjust the recording on Sounds to reflect the later end time. I’ve complained to the Beeb twice, a lot of form filling is required. As has become common the customer relations role seems to just consist of sending out pre-drafted generic apologies instead of looking at the problem and finding a solution. Come on Beeb, I want to like you, but these little things grind.

Download failed.

 – 
Pezwong
 – 
2023-12-27
I mainly use this app by downloading content to listen to on my travels.
When it works it’s great but, all too often, chosen programmes will not download &, instead, just sit there at 0% completion until eventually failing. I’m not even told they’ve failed, unless I stay on the programme’s screen. It’s not my connection or phone as I can download podcasts, on another app, with impunity.
A second, more minor point, is the editing of the start & end of programmes. It seems there isn’t any as programmes repeatedly have the start &/or end missing, sometimes ending in the middle of a song.
Finally, the inclusion of news broadcasts, that fall during a programme, should be removed as listening to news from weeks back is pointless.

Totally worth getting 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

 – 
Dog detective
 – 
2023-12-11
I love listening to it and there’s no adds like somethings I know it’s absolutely immense and I love it so much I just can’t get enough of it every night i always listen to it and befor you know it I’m a sleep and you don’t need to get out of bed to get the next episode it automatically comes on and if I can’t listen to it at nhigt I go nuts by the way spot the difference 😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😚😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗 no but seriously 5stars for you⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ if there were even more to choose from I would have given it all of them out of all of them ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️this is me giving you all of them out of them⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Appallingly illogical

 – 
Zantrop
 – 
2023-12-10
Where to start with an app which needs to be clear and helpful, yet is just so badly executed that it’s constantly frustrating:
Subscribed items are only organised by date so a series ends up scattered. Why not group programmes by series?
Once you’ve listened to an item it still stays in the list and to delete it takes several key strokes.
If you subscribe to a podcast why doesn’t it download them for use off line?
Why can’t you download a whole series rather than one at a time?
Listening to programmes it’s not possible to move within the item to hear something again.
If you subscribe or download a series, it should be easy to listen to the next episode but you need to know which one you’ve just heard in order to be sure which one is next.
Like many features it’s positively dangerous to use in the car: tiny play buttons and this necessity to search for the next episode requiring reading tiny episode numbers.
And the search facility seems incapable of finding programmes sometimes - searching by presenter or a word in the title should work but often doesn’t.
Normally it functions without bugs but occasionally refuses to play for no reason.
Please reconsider the logic, and make it work in the car easily. At the moment it’s a constant frustration.

Standing up for Natalie

 – 
Bazzaf123
 – 
2023-11-26
Version 2.15.0
Not sure what the Latin is for binge listening but I am completely hooked on Natalie Hayne’s Stand Up for the Classics shows. I have enjoyed them previously when they popped up on the radio in the van. But now I am a captive audience, confined to bed getting over Covid. Very funny, from a place of passion and fills in all the posh gaps in a comprehensive education. They are the perfect sweet spot for convalescence. Funny but doesn’t make you laugh out loud and set off your cough. About something clever so you feel you’re building cultural capital not wasting time but it is mostly gos so your congested head doesn’t start spinning. There’s morals and gore but it is a long time ago so you don’t have to get upset and our civilisation won’t be silly and collapse like the Roman’s will it. Hope I feel better soon but secretly hope it coincides with finishing of all the episodes. Brilliant work.

Poorly designed and frustrating

 – 
Tim Print
 – 
2023-10-17
There is no way to mark a podcast as played and the app doesn’t seem to be able to keep track of this itself. My subscribed page is full of stuff I have already listened to. I can’t order a podcast feed. Sometimes I want latest first for others I want my oldest first. This seems a simple request. Why can’t I queue podcast up in the order I want them. Just a simple queue, it isn’t much to ask.
The only reason I use the app is because the content is not available anywhere else. If the content was available in any other app I would happily never open Sounds again. The whole interface is massively frustrating.
Pocketcasts is so superior it’s embarrassing. Please just look at that and copy some of the really basic functionality that has been in there for years. Nothing, groundbreaking, just simple, logical features that are useful.

Call Jonathan pie

 – 
El Inglaluz
 – 
2023-08-31
An absolutely hilarious piece of social satire, hilarious to the extreme, the writing is fantastically funny, it’s everything I have either said or wanted to say or meant to say but in a side splitting condemnation of the completely messed up world we live in, delivered by the main messed up and affect character Mr Pie( ooops) but by the other main characters who do seem to be just floating in general through all the issues, where as MR Pie always seems to be wrangling and smashing in to his clarity of vision and a complete #%^*#¥ up sense that ether he or everyone els is simply running in circles.
The historical bits are sublimely accurate and again side splitting arguments and delivery.
MR Pie you are my new hero but please dude, get a grip🤣😀🤣😀🤣😀🤣😀🤣😀🤣😀🤣😀

Sounds

 – 
storyheaven
 – 
2023-06-30
Listen to sounds every night and have done so for the past 10yrs. I tune in to radio 4 and mainly radio 4 extra. There is usually something that piques my interest but occasionally it is either a feast or famine, surprising given the choice available, but we humans are fickle! If I had to pick a favourite then it has to be “Falco”, like the actor and especially his voice, and the story lines, it makes history human, and whether your a Roman or a modern day person the problems remain the same , greed, honesty, dishonesty, power. It seems not much changes or evolves. Radio has helped me through some difficult times, so a very big thank you to that .

To the developer who responded to me

 – 
Vonharlot
 – 
2023-03-14
YES I KNOW YOU TAP ON THE SEARCH ICON ON THE BOTTOM NAVIGATION BAR.- TRY IT YOU HAVE TO SCROLL DOWN PAST ALL MUSIC TILES THEN YOU GET TO THE COMEDY TILE - ONCE IN THERE YOU HAVE TO SCROLL DOWN PAST ALL THE CATEGORIES TO ‘ALL COMEDY’ TO GET A LIST OF NEW STUFF- ITS CUMBERSOME AND DAFT. THERE USED TO BE A DIAL AT THE TOP. ALSO I AGREE A VOLUME BUTTON ONSCREEN WOULD BE BETTER- ALSO IF YOU PLAY A PROG FRIM THE ‘DRAMA’ SERIES YOU DONT GET THE NEXT EP AUTOMATICALLY BECAUSE ALL THE DIFFERENT BOOKS/PLAYS SERIALISED UNDER THIS TITLE ARE MIXED. ‘GEORGES’ BY DUMAS FOR INSTANCE- THE NEXT EP DOESN'T AUTOMATICALLY PLAY. ALSO TRY SEARCHING ‘DUMAS’ or ‘GEORGES’ IT DOSEN’T COME UP. There are some really obvious problems that should’ve been fixed by now, such as the list of ‘subscribed’ shows - the ones where there are no available episodes used to be greyed out- now you select a show and there’s nothing to listen too . Really disappointing, time wasted doing this. Also the ‘featured’ offerings never change when I look, if the shows don’t tempt me, I don’t play them and they just sit there, the algorithm must be weak. Also why do I have to scroll past ALL music to get to comedy, say, then scroll right to the end to get a list of ‘all comedy’ . These things have been exactly the same since the Sounds app was first released. C’mon it could be so much better. What is the mater here????

My New Best Friend

 – 
Glasclune
 – 
2023-01-01
Hola ! I’m on my own now …… Why ? Because my very best friend
& husband died 2 years ago & like giving birth to your children,
you remember the date & time so accurately it would feel like a criminal to forget. August 14th 2020 @ 9am. Right bang in the middle of COVID. It was a beautiful morning, the sun shone, the air was calm & comforting, the garden looked & smelled wonderful, full of colour, life & vigour.
My darling husband now resting peacefully after a momentous struggle to beat a very nasty aggressive variant of Prostate Cancer struggled no more. Our two wonderful children were with me.
Yes, there were tears, hugs, disbelief and what do we do now to keep the ship steady. And yes, there are tears now as I write & remember that very morning.
Two years on, how my life has changed, but so has our wonderful : world. And yes, I am a firm believer that with all its faults we do live in a wonderful world . The personal upset learning about the appalling behaviour of our politicians during COVID who are the custodians of our “National Ship” for want of a better word, they did not keep us on a steady course & here we all are floundering on and into an uncertain future. I am ever the optimist & with kindness, empathy, compassion & a great sense of humour, things will eventually get better. NAMASTE 🧘‍♀️🦋

Need to have list of your listens

 – 
JaxDoodah
 – 
2022-12-28
General ease of use is excellent, just one or two niggles.
I'd like to see a list of progs you've listened to recently. Sometimes you come across a programme or series you really enjoy listening to, maybe you've listened to 3 and a half episodes of 6. Then next day you've caught up with the Archers and Popmaster a usual. Then you try to remember what that great series was. But if you can't remember it's name, you're stuffed.
Also I wish they'd sort out your 'subscribed' list. Please don't list every single episode of every series. My list is completely useless. Just list a series as one item, then when that is selected, open another list of episodes, preferably sorted in some way.

Sounds app

 – 
grey arches
 – 
2022-11-15
Version 2.10.0
November 2022
I have 2 major frustrations
1) when following historic series, the episode that has just finished disappears from the easily accessible list. If you were distracted and missed the end of it, you have to scroll back through the subscribed list, and back through all the subsequent series to find it again - say I was listening to episode 4 of series 2 of ‘Rutherford and Fry’s Curious Cases’ there are now 20 + series to scroll back through to get that episode back.
2) The Subscribed list doesn’t work for repeats (eg on 4 Extra) as there is no flag to indicate which programmes have available episodes. You just have to open each in turn to find out . As such, it isn’t useful, you are better off scrolling through the current week’s 4 Extra schedules
The bright white background is a killer at night, which is when I use it most, I also really miss the ordering of ‘favourites’ according to latest episode, so you can quickly find new shows to listen to, and you are alerted to the start of a new series of an old favourite, i also find it very annoying to be presented with a completely random ‘next show’ when you finish listening to the latest episode of a favourite. i haven”t yet got the hang of how to navigate to find the programmes I want to watch quickly, The main reason for low score is the bright background: and the length of time your eyes are exposed to it while trying to find the programme you want,

Brave Journalism

 – 
Harry999Zee
 – 
2022-11-05
Mobeen Azhar is an excellent incisive journalist that strove for the truth in a community that were in denial.
To conduct this investigation in your home town, without being influenced by old friends and acquaintances is admirable.
I watched the programme when it was first aired but after listening to the podcast it has resonated with me just how committed, focused and brave Mobeen was to report the facts and the truth no matter how harsh or grim they were.
Although it must have been incredibly upsetting for him when he heard the social media post about his family disowning him when he was younger, by the same token he had got to those that have been perpetrating the misery that drugs can cause a community. They couldn’t dispute the results of his investigation so they just attacked him personally.
Having worked in serious and organised crime with different law enforcement agencies for many years, I found Mobeen’s representation of the organised crime groups hierarchy and conduct very accurate. I did however feel the ex police officer who was interviewed in the final episode was less credible than most of the other people he interviewed during his investigation. This however didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of this super journalists seres.

Fabulous, but glitchy!

 – 
L1541983
 – 
2022-09-29
I love this app and use it all day at work to listen to the radio, however it does have a few seriously irritating bugs! Firstly, I’ve lost count of the amount of times it crashes out completely, mostly when the signal drops for a few seconds (which is an o2 problem) sometimes it will wait for the signal to return and either carry on where it stopped, or from where it’s got to in the live stream, but mostly it just crashes out completely.
A new thing it’s started doing when the signal drops and returns it can’t connect and I have to force close the app and restart.
I think the most irritating thing it does, again down to signal dropping is it will restart playback, however it’s jumped back 30/40 minutes, this is really frustrating if you rely on the radio telling you the time as you work, as happened on one occasion it dropped out, restarted, I was merrily working away until the 1pm news when it was time to move to my next job, except it wasn’t 1pm, it was 1.40 and it had jumped back 40 minutes, and I was 40 minutes late believing the radio was telling me the truth 🤣

More flexible listening to my favourite radio 4

 – 
No -name!
 – 
2021-12-10
I now listen Radio 4 mostly on Sounds. If I’ve missed the beginning of a programme or am interrupted I can still listen to the whole programme. Or choose to listen to something I’ve missed at another day or time. I can send links of programmes I’ve enjoyed to others who I think would too. The books that are serialised in 15 minute short broadcasts can also be listened to as required instead of missing episodes. Programmes can be downloaded if you expect to be away from WiFi. And then there’s all the podcasts……. Huge quantities of archived programmes. And I believe other radio channels apart from 4 exist too!

A bit of a rant, actually a loving rant, about Radio4 Extra

 – 
Patty Sharp Ears
 – 
2021-09-30
Too many inconsistencies and silly spelling mistakes in plot descriptions as well as in the cast AND character lists of plays. It can be very confusing even for those listeners who can usually easily distinguish between the voices of the various actors in most cases. But sometimes it’s almost impossible, and I can tell who most actors are just by the timbre of their voices, but when I can’t I need the help of CORRECT information.
Sometimes the grammar in these necessarily short outlines is pretty worrying (as opposed to the oft mistakenly used word “worrisome”) and some prudent proofreading would help.
Oh well, as you might have guessed, I’m writing about Radio4 Extra. Irritating slips aside, I LOVE IT and during lockdown and a recent and serious change in my mobility it’s been an absolute GODSEND. Please take these criticisms as those one would give to a thing so good but with a little more care could be/should be just about PERFECT…IMO!

PLEASE add usage warning!

 – 
Bexbythesea
 – 
2021-09-29
I LOVE this app and have been using it since it came out. I mainly download Radio 4 extra and Radio 4 stuff, but over lockdown, I really got into the mindful mixes and they helped a lot. This led me to programmes such as Classical Fix, Nightime mix and the one after it (sorry, the name eludes me, but it is brilliant). I appreciate the non “traditional” voices showing that music is for all. I’ve even tried the chill mixes from radio 1 . So I am a massive fan.
One small thing - PLEASE could you put something on the My Sound downloads that tells me when I am nearing my limit. This is the 5th time I have had to redownload the app because it is too full. Meanwhile thanks for a brilliant and free app. We are lucky to have it. Best wishes x

💖But for two main missing things!

 – 
laurita corazon
 – 
2021-08-20
Why can I not make a play list? The app will auto play the next episode in the same series. However, I love lying back and listening and dozing and I want to set up a few programmes to follow each other so I dont have to wake up fully to put the next thing on. A little Crowd science followed by some Life Scientific with a drama or book of the week to follow would be perfect! Dev team? Surely this would be easy to set up? Please?
Second, DEV TEAM? It would be really great to have a ‘contact programme’ option in the programme details. Sometimes I want to comment, send feedback, or contact the programme for some reason. And you don’t make it easy to do. In this day of interaction it would be amazing to have a ‘click to contact’ option inside the programme information.
Do you even read the ratings and reviews?

Recent update removed good features

 – 
Loz LH
 – 
2021-06-29
Up until the latest update I would have given this app 4 stars. It wouldn’t have got 5 stars because, although it’s got a lot of content it’s a bit cluttered and it’s not particularly intuitive where things are.
However, in the latest update they’ve removed the ability to select a radio station and browse the listings. I listen almost exclusively to Radio 4 so I’m not looking for a genre of music, I’m looking for a programme that catches my eye because it sounds like it would make interesting listening, whether it’s a series I frequently listen to (so bookmarked) or something new. Trawling through a load of genre spaces which have all of the same type of programmes from all of the BBC’s stations dumped into them is tedious when I just want to listen to the latest R4 6 o’ clock news that I missed, for example. What would have taken me seconds to find 2 days ago took a frustrating age yesterday.
Basically, I’m asking them to bring back the listings set out by the different radio stations and make the rest of the app more user-friendly.

Saved through Sounds

 – 
chaswikle
 – 
2021-03-12
Who could have predicted the pandemic and its effects on our day to day habits and routines. For me one of the things that has saved me and enabled me to keep a positive perspective has been listening to the radio throughout the day. At first new items were of vital importance for being kept up to date with the developments around Covid. The ensuing lockdown and being at home more meant that my listening habits increased.
I’ve always been a radio 4 listener, enjoying the varied programmes on offer... Start the week, In Our Own Time, Desert Islands Disc, Saturday Morning, The Now Show.... etc
With occasional ventures into radio5 to listen to Naga Munchetti who presents so well, and Radio 3 and Radio 6 for music.
What I love about the Sounds App is that there is always something to listen to or catch up with... day or sleepless night... it’s always there... and in uncertain times when we don’t seem to have complete control on this virus, ‘Sounds’ has been my life line.

Great variety

 – 
trains&pours
 – 
2020-12-22
I love this app and use it often. It’s great for listening to the radio live using my Bluetooth speaker or especially good for catching up on programmes. I often search / browse and will use it in the same way I use a TV catch up or streaming service, discovering new programmes. Most importantly I catch up on woman’s hour but I also love the sleep / meditation podcasts and books. I use these to help me get to sleep.
One small criticism, I was recently listening to a subscribed book reading of the perigrine by David Attenborough (his voice perfect to aid drifting off to sleep!) but with no apparent warning it just stopped being available. I may have missed the warning that the book reading would no longer available but I honestly did not see it so this could be improved with an obvious end date being highlighted in bold as the last few days approach (say the last week?) or even an email to the user? It’s minor really I was just a bit sad as I had it on my subscribed list for so long and then while actively listening to it lost the opportunity to hear the end!!

Still Very Poor need to try harder (Still only 1 star)

 – 
ressotgib
 – 
2020-12-09
One feels that the developers do not use the app, or have any idea how people use Sounds.
A recent change to displaying programs in the LATEST list means that programs are ordered by the date they where originally played.
This is not much help if your SUBSCRIBED programs are repeats from a few years back. This means that if you subscribe to Them Infinity Monkey Cage’ you program can be anywhere in the list. The answer is obvious and that is to give the option to sort the order of the display - this should be in the ability of the developers who need to look up the definition of the word latest.
It would also help that as well as showing the date the program was originally played they should the date it was last played when you look at a program in the schedule or catch-up listings.
It is also time that you can set the stations you want to use rather than being given everything that is available. Another simple option to give the end user, that is you and me, the option to use their own settings or the Default settings.
If developers are going to change a feature they need to make it better not worse, or at the least give the user the option to revert to the original settings.

Disappointed

 – 
Tumbridge Wells
 – 
2020-11-11
I’m very disappointed with this app trying to find plays and stories is difficult. When you are listening it is very difficult to playback as the ap just doesn’t let you do it unless my iPad goes into sleep mode, so I have to close the lid, relift it and then adjust. Sure, if you just want to listen to a station it’s there in front of you, but anything outside this is a fail.
Also you have a section called Electric (something) but it’s just a mess and different stories are mixed in with Book of the Week. There is absolutely no delineation between each book/story. You are left just to scroll through a pile of different titles and work out how many episodes they each have (and this is never actually listed) so in some cases you don’t even know if the book has ended or not, you just have to keep on looking in case another episode appears. Also informing the listers when the next episode will be available, something that used to be the norm, has just simply vanished. The typographic style is woefully inadequate, you really do have to clearly list titles, episode and how many episodes there are. Take Home Front, this is a huge production that should be broken down into manageable sections and then numbered accordingly. Yes it is good to include the date of say ‘16th Oct 1917’ but this needs to be in subtitles. Apps should make things easier not a load of hard work. Regards Tighe

I struggle with it and it makes me miserable!

 – 
Pondenperson
 – 
2020-08-02
I miss the old app so much. Thought I would adjust to Sounds but it is so awkward to use. Hate the way that when you download things it plays through them in reverse order to the order in which they were loaded. It’s difficult to find podcasts or to browse them. Loathe the colours and design. Often my ’subscribed’ programmes don’t pop up in ’My Sounds’. I have to wade through lots and lots of programmes in ’My Sounds’ to find the ones I want. It’s easy to miss new episodes of things I want to listen to.
I listen to radio all the time and having to struggle with this app makes it a far less pleasurable experience. Obviously you’ve sunk a lot of money into it so can’t just ditch it but please could you have a think about the way in which it is organised. (I hate the name too c it’s pretty meaningless...

CarPlay support is a little dangerous

 – 
madeupcake
 – 
2020-05-31
My main use for this app is listening to Radio 6 music and Radio 4 in the car, when connected to CarPlay. I’m currently living abroad, so this is really useful for me.
Having CarPlay support in the app is really useful, but the execution could be better.
For some reason, the main app screen shows a list of recommended recordings/podcasts to listen to. I’m never interested in this. I almost always want to start Radio 4 or Radio 6.
To do this, I need to change to the stations tab, and scroll down a few pages to find the station. This takes time, and takes too long to do safely when stopped at traffic lights.
I would prefer if the start screen showed a list of icons for all the major stations. I want my favourite stations to appear right at the top. I also don’t want to see a summary of what’s on, just a quick icon of the channel.
Secondly, I’d like to be able to toggle between stations when using the track skip function on the steering wheel. Currently the app jumps between shows, which is useless to me. At least give me the option in preferences.
Hopefully these kinds of issues can be ironed out. It’s great to be able to listen to digital stations when I’m abroad.

Sounds

 – 
Save the bbc
 – 
2020-03-06
I very much appreciate Sounds as I love the radio, and being able to catch up with or listen again to programmes, like Saturday Review, Start the Week, Medical and Science programmes, Analysis, The Briefing Room, The Moral Maze, Hard Talk and the Why Factor plus others on the World Service. I also like the podcast versions with extras at the end.
What I don’t like as an older person with somewhat impaired eyesight is not being able to escape from a page I am on to go back to the main schedules. For example the icons at the bottom of the favourites page which I sometimes accidentally find myself on, are tiny and I don’t know what they are for. Tapping them takes me somewhere else I don’t want to be and don’t know how to get back from. i often can’t see, or can’t find, an arrow to taken me away from the page and back to what I want. This is on a full size modern iPad which normally I can see without difficulty even with my visual problems.
So that is why I have given a four rather than a five star review. Great service but often frustrating for older people with less than perfect eyesight..

Make the app stay on until the app is closed.

 – 
JustVid
 – 
2020-03-04
I would love to see the app all ways on display when I am in my car driving. It auto-lock the screen and goes blank. Before l can drive off I have to manually go into setting, display and brightest, auto-lock then select never. It is doing my head in having to go through setting every time I want to use the app in my car. Then when I leave the car I have to go through the process of putting auto-lock from never to 1 minute. Please make the app stay on when in charging mode Until I close the app. I love dark mode It goes well with my car dashboard. That's the main reason why I want the display to be all way on. Also to see when the program is ending.

Bookmarks list

 – 
GingerRosso
 – 
2020-02-21
Please could this be in order of availability so that the programmes about to vanish from the app are at the bottom (or top) of my list of bookmarks
Also please could you put availability info so that it can be seen in the bookmark list view. At the moment I have to click on the programme, scroll down to see when it’s available to, go back to the list, click on the next one. And so on.
You emailed me a survey today saying “We noticed you haven't used SoundCloud recently...” Which is strange as I use it every day. I couldn’t answer anything past question 1 because the survey assumes that you use the app purely to listen to music whereas I listen to spoken word

Not good

 – 
Ch00ey1
 – 
2020-02-05
The way that subscribed or bookmarked series is poor. A list of the same episode repeated over and over is a waste of screen. I just want to see the programme title and how many episodes are inside the folder at this level not every available one??? And many updates ago any series that had no available episodes were greyed out and left at the bottom of your subscribed list not getting in the way every time you look for a series to watch. Now you are having to open everyone to see if there’s available content and are then forced to delete your subscription to it just so you don’t have to open it to check every time. Ultimately meaning you won’t see new episodes when they do reappear.
I love technology and I love change but I have consistently been left thinking that absolutely no user testing goes on with any of the updates for this app over the years. Such as shame as I think all agree that the content is great.

Idea for an improvement

 – 
Hi890738919377
 – 
2019-12-27
Problem: If I want to browse the recent shows on a radio station I can’t do this with one tap anymore (like tapping the station on the wheel in the old app).
Instead I have to tap the station on the home page (which then annoyingly starts playing live on whatever I have plugged in) then tap again on the station button. Or go to all stations and scroll through to the one I want because it doesn’t remember what I last listened to. Either way it’s 3 taps instead of 1 with some annoying auto playing and extra unwanted loading.
Solution?: Perhaps a recent stations on the home page? Or make the station icon next to the current show picture take you to the station schedule on the home page like it does on the playing live page? Or favourite stations in My Sounds and the app remembers to load there of you used it last?

The old app was so much better

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Shafty_Boy
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2019-12-22
My wife and I were both big users of the old app and reluctantly have been trying to learn how to navigate the new one .... it's not exactly easy!! We have both said how much easier the old app was and I have been tempted to write a review before but what has driven me to write this now is that it won't see any of my Airplay devices (yes app developer all my other apps can see and play on them perfectly!).
I know I will get a polite response from the app developer saying 'have you tried this?' but that would be missing the point. Reading through the reviews I am not alone in thinking that this app is difficult to navigate, unreliable and just not as good as the old one. I really do think it is about time you all sat down as a team, admitted to yourselves it really isn't very good and moved on trying to address the swathe of criticism from myself and other users.

Great as a digital radio but ...

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MountainTim
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2019-12-17
It is not easy to use as a podcast app. Downloading is easy but then the problems start. You cannot create custom playlists; the one list of downloads you can create can only be sorted alphabetically, by date or expiry. Why can’t you drag and drop? The ability to drag and drop table cells has been in the api since at least iOS 4. How was this app built?
I would love to use the app more but when I plug it into my car I can start to play the downloads list before I leave but then I have no hands free control at all. Other apps expose their playlists and content to the audio system so that I can control it safely. Why not this app?
I don’t understand why it has these flaws given how much you are spending on it. You are right to have an app, but you need to think about it’s usability.

There was nothing wrong with the old one, better experience online

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Lil.E.K
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2019-12-02
I do not think this app deserves a 1 star rating, because it is a fairly decent app. But my reason for the review is that I have identified many problems with this app. I have no idea what was wrong with the original app, and to continue listening to the radio, I needed to download the new app on my iPhone 5. This app says that it needs a newer phone, which I find ridiculous. I also had trouble finding the schedule and many other useful features which were very easy to find in the original app. I do not think this is very user friendly for elderly people or for people who have just started using the app. I found this app to be very confusing. I really hope this app gets improved. I recommend going onto the website to listen to the radio at home if you would like something easier to navigate.

Clunky

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Zampa maintenance
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2019-11-22
Listening to a programme on my radio, I read the programme description on the Sounds app on my phone. When said programme finished I picked up my phone to read the description of the next programme, so clicking back a page takes you back to the schedule but not where you were but to midnight. So a lot of scrolling on that page or click back again to the channel list and scroll through to the wanted channel which will be showing next programme. Wow
Tonight I tried to find the podcast ‘No such thing as a fish.’ I went to podcasts and there was a short list of podcasts, not the one I wanted. So I tried to use ‘search’ and a 5 minute interview about the podcast on 4xtra appeared but not the podcast. So I went to help and it asked me if I would complete a survey ‘Yes’ I answer. It takes me to a page with a short message and then nothing I gave up. Went to ‘Tune in radio’ put in a search and the podcast came up immediately.
Why can’t Sounds do that.
I quite like the app but it needs more testing and more thought about making it useable.
It’s clunky.

Downloading is clunky

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MancPodder
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2019-11-11
The download feature is prone to stalling even on Wi-fi to the extent that you can end up with all the episodes but completely out of order in the download screen 🤦🏻‍♂️. Download over cellular works sporadically so even though it’s downloaded the screen icon can show “queued” or less than 100%. Thinking of just using this app for live radio and Apple Podcast app for the stuff I want all episodes for until all the bugs are sorted out. Not sure why there couldn’t have been a few changes made to the old Radio Player app too accommodate Podcasts instead of trashing it completely and starting again with a new app. App also needs to support the auto switch to iOS Dark theme at night. All white (but only in certain screens 🤷🏻‍♂️) persists whilst others a persistently black - you’ll be mixing fonts next like this Apple App Review form ‘coz its trendy to mix fonts 😁

Only one program please!

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Carolyn & Co
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2019-11-07
Before the last changes I could listen to one 30 minute (bedtime story!) and afterwards my phone/iPad went silent...... now it carries on..... putting more programs on that I did not want.... often waking me up hours later to have to turn it off.
The second problem with this is these programs that played when I was asleep are now marked as listened to.... when I haven’t actually heard them!
I’d like to just hear what I’ve actually chosen and started..... or much as I love your programs and listen every night to a comedy of my choice..... I’m going to have to stop if I can’t make the device stop after 30 minutes..... if I’m still awake I can pick another program to listen to... and another etc (I don’t sleep well). Please help!

A marvellous way to recover from an operation

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Scotguide15
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2019-10-31
I normally have a busy life as a tour guide but have always enjoyed the radio. However, running about has been put on hold for a while as have just had a hip replacement. I already had my Apple phone and used to listen to The Archers, etc in Catch up - and recently The Country Girls - but a friend told me about Sounds. He also gave me a new adaptor so I can use my big comfortable headphones. I cannot believe how much there is to listen to - plays, music, documentaries and live radio stations.
Particularly during the night when I cannot sleep well, I just drift off listening to a lovely relaxing piece of music.
This is a wonderful asset to people who are on their own at times or going through a difficult painful time.

All change

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RoddlesToddles
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2019-10-26
Took a while for me to get used to this new version after the previous one which I was very comfortable with and was very intuitive. So the new version is not as simple to use and after a while I have started to understand how it works. So I think they have tried to make it more comprehensive and clever. My main problem was working out how to find the full description of a play etc. which eventually I discovered how to do. Also the sound volume control has been removed and the only way to get to access this is by signing out of the iPad so the Sounds app is playing remotely or of course using the device volume controls. But I’ll continue to master it.

Going against the mainstream

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Cwall100
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2019-10-19
I have read other reviews and feel kind of isolated because I quite like the new App. Took a while to get used to but I like being able to start a live programme from the beginning if I missed it. On the negative side I wish there was a volume control button on the main screen of the programme you’re listening to. I have a JBL speaker I listen to the radio on and sometimes I’m on the iPad reading the news or whatever and the sound is way too loud but you can’t control it from the main screen. You have to close the iPad down then open it again to give a smaller screen that has a volume control button. Is there any way the developers could add this function.

Really poor design

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Yornoc123
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2019-10-15
Version 1.13.0
I’ve given this app some time to bed in and still find it infuriating. The design is based upon podcast use rather than a radio station which is its foundation. Therefore to listen as you would to a radio and use it to catch up on programmes you’ve missed or see new content coming up is designed as a secondary poor relative in the structure of the app. You have to hit about 6 buttons to get to where you were last time you listened on catchup to get back to the schedule to see other possible programmes. Moving from radio 4 to 5 is about 20 moves as you have to find small buttons for schedules and then wade through numerous screens to get where you could once get to in 2 clicks. The developer needs to try an navigate using one hand with a child on his hip and attempt to go from radio 4 morning news (preferably when the god bothering bit is on, to add a bit of urgency and irritation to the nix) to radio 5 ((preferably during nick Campbell inane dog rambles) to 4 extra look for comedy ie hancock and then back to radio 4 again . Once they get that in an intuitive easy system with minimum moves and large easy to find buttons which ensures the app doesn’t hang downloading erroneous content it will be an improvement. Ps I get my podcasts on the podcast app not through sounds as it’s a cleaner less complicated system and I don’t want my radio app cluttered up with more annoying cul-de-sacs of nonsense.

A huge downgrade from the old app

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Embo75
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2019-10-15
I have to agree with other reviewers - this is a very poor replacement for an app which worked perfectly well. It’s hard to find what I want to listen to, if I fall asleep during a programme it switches to another (not even one I’ve ‘subscribed’ to), the home page lists all the programmes I have ‘subscribed’ to in order of broadcast in one long list which is a pain to scroll through and the whole app is hard to navigate. The old app was so simple to find what I wanted by looking at the schedule for the channel so I could see what I’d missed and setting a sleep timer was easy and useful. These options may be available but I’ve not found them which means they are too difficult to navigate and the app is not intuitive. Please either reinstate the old app or improve this one - I can’t believe there haven’t been vital upgrades since I was forced to use this one, particularly since I am clearly not the only one having these issues.

Frustrated

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bbciplayer
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2019-10-11
I am not even going to give one star to this as I get very frustrated with it. I listen to series and on the old ap I could see easily which episodes I’d listened to and if I’d fallen asleep while listening it was easy to go back to the previous episode. I know there is a list of the episodes but it has taken me ages to find which episode I was listening to. One of the things I am listening to is Home Front at the moment and as I don’t always know which episode I am on it has taken me ages to find out where I was. The old ap was so much easier in many ways. Why change things that were working so well? Now I find to be able to publish this review I have no choice but to rate it! Angry!

TERRIBLE!! Please bring back the SCHEDULED function! ZERO STAR RATING FROM ME!

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R.C.M.79-21
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2019-10-09
This new app is terrible! I have for years been a huge fan of radio 4 but, due to a frantic daily schedule in recent years, have listened to radio 4 via the ‘scheduled’ function of the old app which enabled me to see what i had missed and catch-up on all those programmes that i was interested in. It was a fabulous function of the old app. I have tried every way possible to find the scheduled list of past and future programmes in this new app, so that i can continue to listen to the programmes that interest me, but to no avail. Am about to give up on radio 4 now as trying to search for programmes missed is taking too much of my time. BRING BACK THE “SCHEDULED’ FUNCTION THAT WAS IN THE OLD APP. ASAP PLEASE!!! (Also, it appears i cant submit this review without giving the app at least one star, but i dont give it any stars until i can easily get into the ‘scheduled’ function if there is one.

I am too old

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Reg12629
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2019-10-08
I realise that the app was not intended for existing listeners especially those who listen only to radio 4 speech programmes and can just about tolerate Desert Island Discs. It doesn’t even deserve one star from me because it does not allow me to select a programme from a daily schedule and set the sleep timer.
The only options are : live, (listen to the current offering) my sounds( the types of content which I have listened to in the past) and search. The way I search for a programme is to look at the schedule to see what is available. I can not see how your target listeners are going to be attracted to listen unless you tell them what there is available!
Update: An extra star for helping me to find ‘sleep’.
Still searching for schedules which I suspect is to be found under the calendar symbol because there is an message there “ ! there was a problem during loading”.

Rubbish if you listen to dramas rather than music

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Rab Anybody
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2019-10-07
On BBCiPlayer, all episodes of a bookmarked drama were gathered together in one folder. At which point ‘autoplay’ did what it was supposed to and gave you the next episode in the story.
Now, each episode is listed individually so what gets played is the next item on the list. ETA: this seems to have partially been fixed, and now only seems to happen if there isn’t a next episode in the series. HOWEVER, once a random episode has started to play and been stopped, it gets put into ‘finish listening’, so appears ahead of programs I actually want. 😠
You would think that the functionality they already had would be a simple thing to bring to the new app, but apparently not.

Not happy

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MarkKins
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2019-10-07
I’m only awarding this 2* as it’s such a poor replacement for the old Ap. Why does it not go directly into the site when I press the Ap? Instead I have to go into Open Ap mode every time and start from scratch. Then finding what I’m looking for is long winded. The only thing I like better than the old Ap is that you’ve split the comedy section up by type of show. However, even then you have to scroll down a load of other stuff to find the menu. If you fall asleep listening to a show, you wake up to find it’s automatically moved onto another show. Not even another episode in the same show, but a completely different show altogether. You then have to start again to find your original show so you can listen again. It’s just messy, overly complicated and long winded. Why mess with something that worked fine before? If you need to change things, please improve them and not make them worse. I’m clearly not alone feeling this way looking at the other reviews and I’m staggered this Ap was passed by your team as fit for purpose. Sorry to sound miserable, but it’s really really poor.

Not user friendly at al!

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Em-lou-66
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2019-10-06
I absolutely detest this new app, as others have said I don’t see why it had to change. The screen is bright and very unattractive, I listen at night time to fall asleep it’s like having a torch in the room, ok I know I just turn my iPad over but I shouldn’t have to. It’s not easy to find anything, the sleep button, and how do you stop it playing every episode???? I think whoever developed this thought they were moving with the times and being trendy, a big fail in my opinion. I’m sorry for the negative feedback but I honestly do not want to use it and have in fact started to move over to using other apps. Sometimes you should stick with the phrase “ if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”

More difficult to navigate, smaller font than before

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mabel2712
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2019-09-29
You may well dismiss this review as just another middle-aged person who doesn’t like change however I do hope you consider my complaints as valid.
As much as I prefer the former app, I always found it annoying that one couldn’t increase the screen view for easier reading. That seems so minor now, considering that you have made the font even smaller with still no way to enlarge it.
How many taps does it take to finally find the desired programme? Too many. More than before.
It is not intuitive and is certainly not an improvement on the old version. It feels like change for the sake of change, not for the viewers’ ease of use but because you had the funding allocated to create a new one. Why not just improve upon the former one rather than reinventing it and making rather a hash?

More work needed!

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dunniom
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2019-07-28
I know nobody likes change but:
There seem to be way more button presses to wade through now; for example having just downloaded 6 episodes of a comedy series I was forced to scroll back through every one of them to get back to the comedy main screen.
Talking of comedy, the comedy main menu page used to list just the show name and on entering that you then got the different episodes. Now the main page lists every single episode plus every series and some duplicates. This means that instead of having to scroll through say 100 “shows” you now have to scroll through in excess of a thousand “episodes”. (Difficult to know how many as I gave up after the first several hundred).
To sum up the developers need to actually try using their app and to learn from any shortcuts that were available in the radio app.