Apple has officially launched the iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 updates after a month-long beta phase, introducing a wealth of new features, including fresh emojis, the integration of third-party app store support, and customization options for default browsers. A standout addition is a novel transcription functionality in the Apple Podcasts app, aimed at enhancing the overall podcast listening journey.
This innovative feature ensures that, shortly after their release, podcasts are accompanied by automatically generated transcripts. This allows listeners to access the entire episode text for reading, efficiently pinpoint specific words or phrases, or even follow along with the text as the episode plays. Apple has also announced plans to provide transcripts for episodes that have already been aired gradually.
Apple elaborated on the utility of this feature, noting, “Transcripts enable users to engage with the full episode text, conduct searches for particular segments, and jump directly to a desired part of the episode by tapping on the relevant text. The dynamic word highlighting feature as the episode progresses further enriches the listening and reading experience.”
To enhance podcast accessibility, Apple has optimized the transcript feature with user-friendly design choices, such as font selection and colour contrast adjustments, facilitating the easier reading of lengthy texts. This improvement notably extends to Deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals, who can now access the transcripts without needing to play the episodes.
The transcription service, introduced with the iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4 updates, is available in over 170 countries and currently supports podcasts in English, French, Spanish, and German. It’s important to note, though, that the transcripts will not provide language translations.
With these updates, Apple continues to enrich the user experience, offering new layers of convenience and accessibility to its audience.
