Is it just me or is the bbc sounds app a bit shit?

[museumum]

So BBC’s radio app is going and we must switch to sounds. Hmmm ok.
But it’s crap. I can never find what I want, downloading is almost impossible (still haven’t found a programme with a download symbol) and why can’t I find the podcasts I follow? I’m going back to my apple podcast app.
Anyone else?
What am I missing? BBC should know what they’re doing with app design really.

Because it was someone's pet project and they'd rather upset the app users than the someone.

And get ready for next month when the BBC News and Sport apps on your TV will shut down. This is so the BBC can provide you with 'a better service.'

Hi there,
I wrote to complain this is what they sent me back - makes me see red!
"Thank you for contacting BBC Sounds Support with your comments regarding BBC Sounds.

Your feedback concerning the usability of the BBC Sounds app is greatly appreciated.

When we launched the BBC Sounds app last year, we said it would replace the iPlayer Radio app when it had all the key features of iPlayer Radio. We’re now at this point – and in fact, BBC Sounds offers even more, including Live Restart, Continue Listening, My Sounds Latest, Podcasts, Music Mixes, more personalised and curated recommendation and more categories. Having two audio apps is not a good use of BBC budget – and as we said when we launched BBC Sounds, it is now the home of all audio from the BBC.

We also appreciate your feedback about the categories section on the BBC Sounds app."

Thing is lots of stuff is no longer there. It's way more difficult to use. The cother was great I used it all the time.

I hate the sounds app too.

I think I've got used to it now, and actually use the subscribe button, which I didn't before.

However I remain incredibly grumpy about the lack of alarm clock.

"Thing is lots of stuff is no longer there. It's way more difficult to use. The other was great I used it all the time."
@Mum1andnet2 - you are so right, that's exactly how I feel. The Sounds app is so user-unfriendly, I just don't bother any more.

Xiaoxiong only the Radio 3 website itself offers the functionality I want nowadays - and it does it reluctantly. Sometimes the day’s schedule is immediately viewable, sometimes I have to scroll for what seems like days ... Right now they have listings for the writers and composers on Words and Music, but separately, which kind of misses the point.

But I absolutely cannot go back to Sounds ...

Are you allowed to use sounds if you're not a licence payer? Or is it limited the way iPlayer is? (Not that using it sounds easy, but I miss radio programmes a lot, and would like a catch-up facility).

I've got used to it
To be fair, the indexing on iplayer radio was rubbish too. As an example, I knew there was a Dickens series on but it would only be found if I searched 'Charles'
I just browse what's been on in the schedules every few days and bookmark. This is better than relying on their drama index as not all series that belong in the categories appear there (e.g a recent Zola didn't appear under 'classic and period' .

I’ve not used it. I was so annoyed when they stopped the ability to add tracks to a playlister which I could then add to, in my case, Deezer. Had a really good collection in the making.

It annoys me that there’s no volume control

Is there anyway you can make all the programmes you have downloaded play one after another? That is something radio player used to do. Sounds seems only to have a feature to play the next programme in the series, or to start playing some random thing that you haven't downloaded. When I'm driving I might want to listen to a variety of stuff I've downloaded, but I find I actually have to stop the car so I can start the next programme in the list.

It's so bad. Is it right that you can't download? Or maybe it's only certain shows, ie the ones I want to listen to

If I'd downloaded multiple episodes of a serial then the previous app (very cleverly) seemed to play them in order. Sounds won't, and its really irritating.

I also hate it, works fine on Apple tablet but I have an (expensive) 3.5 yr old android phone which I mainly listen too where app NEVER turns on live listen. I use an online radio site instead as PP posted. Cannot navigate the podcasts at all. Hate it.

Are you allowed to use sounds if you're not a licence payer? Or is it limited the way iPlayer is? (Not that using it sounds easy, but I miss radio programmes a lot, and would like a catch-up facility).

You don't have to be a licence payer. It will work anywhere.

BBC are definitely missing a trick by not letting people who live overseas PAY the licence fee in order to access i-player.

"BBC are definitely missing a trick by not letting people who live overseas PAY the licence fee in order to access i-player."

Absolutely, @katzenellenbogen - I'd willingly pay a fee to access just the radio player, myself, and a lot extra for BBC television programmes. US companies have got it well worked out and I'm guessing it's a great moneyspinner for the likes of CBS, ABC, etc.

Not just the BBC - all of the other "catch-up" services are not accessible outside of the UK.

I would have no issue with paying an annual fee to be able to catch up with stuff occasionally.