July 17, 2012
If you're an iTunes Match subscriber who lives where you can count on an Internet connection wherever you are, you don't need to worry about what music is on the device you're carrying--you can always access it via iCloud. But Internet connectivity isn't always reliable, especially during the summer travel months. To see what music you have stored locally on your device, open Settings, go to Music, turn off Show All Music, then return to the Music app to browse your library. You'll see cloud icons wherever there's music in your library that's not on the device. Tap the ones you want to add to your local library. For albums, scroll to the bottom of the list for a Download All button. That way you'll have the music you want with you even in the remotest parts of the earth.
July 2, 2012
The new Podcasts app (available for devices running iOS 5.1 or later higher) gives you focused control over your podcast subscriptions and fun ways to look for new possibilities. Top Stations, for instance, are compilations of popular podcast series organized by topic, which are automatically created and that you can play with a tap. You can stream episodes as well as download them, and you can turn on podcast syncing for your devices in iTunes (10.6.3 or later) on your computer, so you'll be able to start listening to or watching an episode on one device and pick up where you left off on another. You can manage your subscriptions directly within the app and, while you're listening to audio, you can simply tap or swipe up to reveal controls to speed up, slow down, or skip to a particular spot. There's also a sleep timer for bedtime listening, and you can share your enthusiasm for particular podcasts via a message, email, or Twitter.
