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Add to SafariWhen comparing Downcast vs Tasker, the Slant community recommends Tasker for most people. In the question“What are the most useful Android phone apps?” Tasker is ranked 12th while Downcast is ranked 21st. The most important reason people chose Tasker is:
Tasker has an impressive amount of triggers, actions, and parameters that can be used together in an incredible variety of ways. It can even accept scripts to follow instructions.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Auto-downloads podcasts
Downcast can be set to automatically download new episodes of podcasts in the background.
Pro Adjustable playback speed
You can change the playback speed to fit your needs up to 3x the speed.
Pro Sync between iOS devices
Downcast can synchronize podcasts and settings across iOS devices through iCloud.
Pro Supports password-protected feeds
Pro Accesses iTunes podcast library
Pro Gesture shortcuts
Downcast supports multi-touch gestures for navigating around.
Pro Sleep timer
You can set Downcast to shut off podcasts after a set amount of time.
Pro Adjustable skip interval
Pro Set the end time to be x seconds / minutes from the end time.
The ability to set the end time to be x seconds / minutes from the end is so excellent.
Pro Set the start time to be x seconds / minutes from the start time.
The ability to set the start time to be x seconds / minutes from the start time is amazing.
Pro Straightforward discovery system with feed support
This app helps users subscribe to podcasts through browsing top lists and categories as well as entering a feed or OPML address.
Pro Simple to use UI
Downcast has a straightforward, intuitive user interface.
Pro Mac App available
Pro Can stream episodes without downloading
Pro Can prioritize playlists
You can have Downcast prioritize your playlists automatically, allowing you to listen to podcasts in the order your prefer without you having to manually reorganize them.
Pro Set how long you wish to keep your podcasts locally
Downcast can be set to automatically remove podcasts that have been on your device for a certain amount of time or take up a certain amount of space on your device. This can be done to groups of podcasts or on a per podcast basis.
Pro AirPlay support
Pro Prioritizes show notes
Selecting a podcast for playback will bring up shownotes, instead of the more common choice of album art.
Pro Infinitely tweakable
Tasker has an impressive amount of triggers, actions, and parameters that can be used together in an incredible variety of ways. It can even accept scripts to follow instructions.
Pro Create powerful custom applications
Tasker has the ability to create custom applications, effectively replacing multiple installed apps in your phone with tasks that are triggered automatically. What's even better is that they will be custom tailored to fit your specific needs.
Pro Can adjust system software
With Root access it can also dabble with system software which other apps are not likely to achieve at the moment.
Pro Export tasks as standalone apps
Tasker allows exporting workflows you've created as standalone applications that can then be shared or even put on the Google Play store.
Pro Awesome plugin support
Tasker has awesome plugin support to connect with hardware that usually requires installing specific apps. For example, it has a plugin for Pebble smartwatch so that you can automate tasks that require using Pebble.
Pro Purchase only once
The dev does not keep bringing out revised apps expecting you to pay each and every time; the same app has been developed consistently for nearly a decade.
Cons
Con Extremely buggy
Around mid-2015 Downcast implemented some code that started to leave infinite loop processes that have the potential to cause the phone to heat up, lag, crash Downcast, or crash other apps. The bugs have only continued to get worse. Go with Overcast or Pocket Casts, or even Podcatcher for the Downcast feel.
Con Doesn't sync with iTunes
Con Awful user interface
While it's incredibly powerful, Tasker's user interface is counter-intuitive, confusing, and just plain clunky at every turn.
Con Steep learning curve
Tasker lacks good documentation or tutorials, which is important as the learning curve is very high if you want to use its advance features where this app actually shines.
