Blog: notes & changelog

What changed in the index and why — verification passes, additions, removals and rejections. Entries land when something moves, not on a content calendar; a quiet month here means the index simply stayed true.

Jul 29, 2026 — renamed: Podcastle → Async

The flag we attached at launch resolved the same day: the rebrand wasn't "in progress" — it completed on February 4, 2026, with a new name, a new domain (async.com), and accounts, projects and pricing untouched. The listing is now Async, and the old profile URL stays live as a signpost for everyone still searching the old name. Moved is not dead: the header tally now reads 15 listed · 1 moved · 0 dead.

Jul 29, 2026 — index launched: 15 tools, 0 dead

First full verification pass complete. All fifteen listings confirmed alive against vendor pages — pricing, free-tier limits, platforms and release activity — and every fact table now carries its check date (Jul 28–29, 2026).

Notes from the pass:

• Rejected: Dolby On. Considered for the mobile slot, declined on mixed liveness signals — the store listing shows recent updates while third-party mirrors flag it discontinued. Ambiguity fails our bar; a listing you can't trust is worse than a gap.
• Listed with a flag: Podcastle. Active and verified, but mid-rebrand to Async during 2026 — its profile says so, and we'll re-check names, URLs and plans at the next pass.
• Freshest checks: Audacity 3.7.8 (released Jun 29, 2026), OBS Studio 32.2.1 (Jul 24, 2026) and Auphonic's current pricing were verified same-day at launch.
• Weakest sources on file: SoliCall licensing and Utterly's terms — both listed accurately as of the stamped date, both first in line for the next pass.

Next scheduled verification pass: October 2026. If a tool dies before then and you notice first, tell us — removals don't wait for the calendar.