[davenport]

To get the standalone Google Podcasts app after OTA 2.7 uninstall your Google Assistant - in the car app, then update Google Assistant in the AAOS Play Store right after the uninstall.

Google Assistant - in the car - Apps on Google Play

Navigate, call, and play media — all with Google Assistant.

play.google.com

The final step is to voice command Google Assistant to “Open Google Podcasts.” I also tried “Install Google Podcasts”, but I don’t think that worked.

Google Podcasts in the Play Store with the square icon will still say the app is incompatible, but the Google Podcasts with a circular icon is what will be installed. Google News will also be added to the home screen.

It’s also possible that the voice commands are not needed for the install, maybe they automatically install with the fresh install of Google Assistant.

 

[Dalswede]

I just tried this and it worked

All I did was uninstall the Google Assistant and then I rebooted by holding home button down. Google Assistant was automatically installed along with Podcast and news apps

 

[davenport]

Finding the apps back on the screen was a bonus, so I didn’t know which step was enough. I was just trying to make Google Podcasts work through the Google Assistant again. Thanks for clarifying that only the fresh install of Google Assistant - in the car is needed.

I have been trying to contact the Google Podcasts team for months, it is surprisingly difficult to report that we had an issue, but very happy the app is back.

 

[M_at]

Not sure how long it will stay around for - Google doesn't seem to know what they want to do with the thing...

Google Podcasts disappears from Google Search (podnews.net)

 

[Jwgill]

Mine actually appeared for the first time ever on version 2.6 which had been installed at Volvo on one of my recent visits. It has survived with the 2.7 OTA. I finally have it! Hooray. Not used it yet, but hooray

 

[davenport]

That could explain why it seemed nearly impossible to find the google podcasts group to submit the error in Polestar 2 to them.
Google Podcasts is great, less ads and hassle, plus easy to offline. I use it mostly for 1-2 hour music sets, so when I get in the car I want it to resume the playback which might be an issue on 2.7. I keep hearing an error when I get in the car that says something can’t be performed because no internet and I think that is the Google Podcasts playback resuming before the data connection is ready.

Google Podcasts via CarPlay is also messed up because you can’t move the time slider, you can only jump the increments of 10/30 seconds.

 

[Mick]

Interesting - I had only seen the Google Podcasts UI once in one of the 1.x versions and this was after initiating playback via voice (voice control has worked pretty consistently even with no UI). After this update, both Google Podcasts and Google News showed up as icons and work properly. I didn't have to uninstall or anything. Nice!

 

[davenport]

Your car probably automatically updated the Google Assistant - in the car prior to the OTA Polestar 2.7.

There are definitely still Google Podcasts bugs, but happy to have the icon back.

Issues are with resuming playback entering the car after parked, I usually need to hit the Play twice to get it moving again (also giving it minutes to resume).
In the quadrant tiles (bottom home) quick view controls are still tangled with Google Assistant so no top level transport controls, only voice command suggestions while Google Podcasts is the active app in the tile. Also in big 4-tile view, when you pull down on the 4-square the Google Podcasts is missing from the selection of expanded icon choices.

 

[TonyJ]

Your car probably automatically updated the Google Assistant - in the car prior to the OTA Polestar 2.7.

There are definitely still Google Podcasts bugs, but happy to have the icon back.

Issues are with resuming playback entering the car after parked, I usually need to hit the Play twice to get it moving again (also giving it minutes to resume).
In the quadrant tiles (bottom home) quick view controls are still tangled with Google Assistant so no top level transport controls, only voice command suggestions while Google Podcasts is the active app in the tile. Also in big 4-tile view, when you pull down on the 4-square the Google Podcasts is missing from the selection of expanded icon choices.

In the big 4 square menu if you open up the square you can reprioritise the icons to choose which show on the view

 

[davenport]

I do have the Google Podcasts app in the primary grouping that is displayed before expanding the box.
When you’re in the simple 4 tile view, if you swipe down on the square you’ll see other apps that can be chosen to change sources; the Google Podcasts app is not displayed in this situation.
The problem likely stems from the unnecessary entanglement between Google Assistant and Google Podcasts.

 

[Deanogtv]

Mine has never dissapeared and I use it every day

 

[davenport]

Mine has never dissapeared and I use it every day

Your Google Podcasts app icon?
Try this:

• Begin playback on a Google Podcast so that it’s the active app in that tile.
• Press the bottom home key on the tablet.
• In the quadrant that has Google Podcasts you’ll see no transport controls, but voice command suggestions.
• Swipe down in that quadrant to reveal the other apps behind.
• This is the location where the app is not displayed as a source.