I already have the desktop app, what difference should this even make? Pointless gatekeeping by the devs

  • edric@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    There are a lot of features all these companies make available only on their mobile apps, because it’s where they have the most control (and access over your data). It’s the same for social media sites as well, because you can limit them a number of ways on a desktop browser.

    • GissaMittJobb@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      Wasn’t OP running the desktop app, though? If that’s the case, then this theory doesn’t really hold water, as desktop apps can do everything that mobile apps can do.

    • kratoz29@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      because it’s where they have the most control (and access over your data).

      It shouldn’t be this way… Is there anything we can do against these practices? Client side.

      • miss_brainfart@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        Tracker Control is an app that basically acts a DNS based blocker. Recognizes what your apps connect to, groups it into necessary and unnecessary domains and so on. It does set up a local VPN though, so you can’t use it alongside an actual VPN.

        The Duckduckgo app does pretty much the same thing, no need to explain more.

        There’s more that do the same DNS-based blocking, Netguard being another popular one.

        Another option would be to have a blocker running network-wide, a pihole for example. But again, won’t do anything in case you’re using a VPN, obviously.

        And then some apps will straight up refuse to run if you block their trackers. If this happens, it should be the last straw when deciding whether to actually keep the app or not.

  • Jeena@jemmy.jeena.net
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    1 year ago

    People who use Spotify for Podcasts already sold their soul to that company they might as well just use whatever Spotify wants them to use.

    Everyone else can just use one of the podcast apps which just download the podcast from the podcast website. This includes Apple’s Podcast app or if you’re on Android I’d use AntennaPod which is packed with great features.

    • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      People who use Spotify for Podcasts already sold their soul to that company

      Lmao. Why should I not use the functionality if I already pay for it? Doesnt make any sense.
      Not like Apple or Google are much better.
      They are as evil as Spotify in their own regards.

      Your actual best bet would be to set up an RSS feed and download to your own media server and stream from that.

      • Jeena@jemmy.jeena.net
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        1 year ago

        That is exactle what I wrote I’m not sure why you cut the quote just before I say that those people should use whatever Spotify gives them.

        And Apple podcast, AntennaPod and all the other podcast catchers do exactly that they use the RSS feed.

        I really don’t get the sentiment of that comment.

        • owen@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          He can only view the first 100 characters of posts because he forgot to pay his subscription for Spotify Explorer Premium

        • money_loo@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I really don’t get the sentiment of that comment.

          That dude is really emotionally invested in their Spotify decision, lol

  • gila@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Yeah we’re deprioritising the platform you use, because it’s niche. We have analytics, and they say your use case doesn’t matter. Just accept it and keep paying us, like all those other times

    • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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      1 year ago

      But what if we show the button, and other frequently used functions that are blocked, to rope you into installing the app and buying premium?

  • yeehaw@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    I don’t do podcasts in Spotify cause I hate how it melds together with my music. I wish I could turn the feature entirely off. There’s not enough separation.

    • admiralteal@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      Also, Spotify is actively trying to ruin and fragment podcasts by running exclusive content. Fuck them with a rusty rake for trying to ruin one of the last mass interoperable platforms with their walled garden horse shit. Fuck them so much.

      Don’t use Spotify. Even if they fix the app and make it good, don’t use it. They’re evil little fuckers. Use literally any other podcast app.

      • eighthourlunch@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Podcast Addict has worked for years for me, and he’s constantly improving it. Why the fuck would I ever want a paid service to manage and profit on the podcasts I’ve always listened to for free?

    • TurtleTourParty@midwest.social
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      1 year ago

      I left Spotify because of that and the pop up ads every time I opened the app. All I want is to pay for a library of music that I can download and play.

      • yeehaw@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        I complained about the ads to their support and they kept telling me they’re sorry about the promotion but they’re not ads.

        Uhhh what. That’s like the definition of an ad. Lol.

  • Bruncvik@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    That’s similar to Audible. I can’t rate the books I listened to because I downloaded the instead of streaming them through their app. I think it’s to prevent brigading and fake ratings.

  • Greg Clarke@lemmy.ca
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    1 year ago

    Pointless gatekeeping by the devs

    More likely it’s to ensure that you’ve actually listened to the podcast you’re rating

    edit: Can someone explain the downvotes, what am I missing here?

    • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 year ago

      It’s easy for the service to know if the user account has listened to the podcast, and equally easy to track listens in a webapp. The line between webapp and app is very thin these days anyway.

      • Greg Clarke@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        The line between webapp and app is very thin these days anyway.

        While the user experience may be similar (and in many cases is identical) access to device information is different. For instance, a webapp can not determine the devices volume whereas an Android app can. Device APIs can provide much more confidence that an activity has occurred. I doubt this was an arbitrary decision or gate-keeping by the developers.

    • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I’d say you’re getting downvotes because it’s not a design standard to block rating access based on confirming someone’s consumed content.