Developers running the iOS 6 beta Apple released earlier this month noticed that, among the many changes present in this new version, iTunes no longer certain content categories, including that for podcasts. While there was speculation at the time that this might just be a temporary oversight, it's now clear that Apple was planning to bring podcasts to the forefront of its own app. Today Apple launched that very app -- simply called, Podcasts.
Besides keeping you up to date on the latest installments from your favorite podcasts, the Podcasts app is all about helping you discover new content. You can scroll through categories by genre, or check out Apple's new list of top stations.
When you're ready to start listening, the app supports live streaming in addition to the standard download-then-sync behavior, and the playback screen -- designed to look like a reel-to-reel player -- supports multiple navigation options and speed controls to help you jump right to whatever point you're looking for.