Apple introduces transcripts for Apple Podcasts
Sometimes older news is still worth sharing. Apple has introduced transcripts for Apple Podcasts, which gives uses the full, searchable text for each episode. The idea is that the feature should help improve accessibility for these shows.
They also make them more useful in the long term as you can more easily find and retain sections of a transmission you need.
Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director, Global Accessibility Policy & Initiatives said. “We are thrilled to make transcripts widely available for all, adding an additional layer of accessibility to the Podcasts experience.”
How to access the transcript
You can access the show transcript from the bottom-left corner on the Now Playing screen.
What you can expect
With transcripts, users can read the full text of an episode, search the episode for a specific word or phrase, and tap on the text to play the podcast from that point in the episode. As an episode plays, each word is highlighted, making it easy to follow along.
Transcripts are available for English-, French-, Spanish-, and German-language podcasts on iPhone and iPad with iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4. They will automatically be made available for new episodes as they appear, with previous shows transcribed over time. The feature does not support translation.
Making them accessible
Apple chose the font and color used in the transcripts with accessibility in mind. That means long-form text is easier to scan and read. Users who are Deaf or hard of hearing are also able to access transcripts without having to press play on the episode.
What about podcasters?
Podcasters who prefer to provide their own transcripts can do so through RSS tags or in Apple Podcasts Connect for subscriber episodes. Learn more about this here.
Availability
Transcripts are available with iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 for podcasts in English, French, German, and Spanish, with back-catalog episodes being added over time. Transcripts can be accessed in over 170 countries and regions.
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