Instacast 3 has a brand new look and also removes a lot of friction. We thought about the interface a lot and tried to make everything much easier and reachable with fewer taps. Not only did we refine the looks, but also improved on how it works.

With this new version of Instacast, for the first time you're getting a universal app. Underneath iPad and iPhone app are the same with the same powerful built-in features. The only difference is the interface which is delightful no matter what device you're playing with.

Not only does it look better it also feels a lot better and faster. We switched out old technologies like manual reference counting (like a stick shift) and SQLITE and removed them with automatic reference counting (like automatic gear shifting) and Core Data, the powerful object layer. We invested a lot of time into modernizing the app, but using these technologies makes the application more robust and also enables new features like our new Cloud Sync.

You know, I know it: Apps that don't have a working cloud syncing architecture simply do not fit into modern times. And our new cloud architecture will beam us right into the modern era of data ubiquitousness. It's a simple as making a free account. All your data is moved over the cloud seamlessly.

The Instacast Online Directory consists of over 30000 podcasts from all over the world and more are being added every day. See what's currently most popular, what's being added recently or select from a variety of genres. And if that's not enough you can also search the iTunes podcast catalog.

As well as finding podcasts in the Online Directory, you can also import subscriptions from episodes stored in your iPod Library. Open the iPod tab and choose the podcast you want to subscribe to. Instacast searches the internet for the podcast information automatically.

You are also free to choose the order of your subscriptions and unsubscribe as you wish. Instacast saves all playback states in case you decide to subscribe to the podcast again sometime later.

The integrated custom player has been optimized for playback of audio and video podcasts. You can set the player to play audio podcast only in portrait view and video podcasts only in landscape view. The position can be changed with fine grain control.

Instacast can remember the last playback position and if a podcast episode has been consumed or not. You can switch between episodes and always continue playback where you left off.

Select multiple episodes and preload them from the comfort of your home or wherever there is accessible WiFi. You won't believe how easy it is.

Having an iPhone or an iPod you always want to be mobile and you may want to play podcasts on the way, in your car, on the bus, during your commute, etc. Lots of places where you have no WiFi and maybe only expensive mobile bandwidth. With preloaded episodes you don't need any of that. Just start the show and enjoy your way.

Instacast gives you access to show notes where available, reformats them in a nice way and connects with the web, YouTube and your favorite Twitter app.

With the integrated web browser you can read linked articles without leaving the app. Like Safari Instacast uses the most powerful mobile web engine on the planet - WebKit.

Found great sites and articles you like? Share them with your friends on Twitter or via email. You can also send the link to yourself and save the page for later reading.

Instacast works great in background while you use other apps or have your iPhone locked to carry it in your pocket. To make use of it, you need at least an iPhone 3GS or an iPod Touch 4th generation and the latest iOS installed.

Instacast interfaces with the system playback controls to enable controlling playback from the lock screen, from the taskbar or from the controls on your headphone cable.