“History” was stripped out of the Music app with iOS 10’s debut (left). Yet it’s still available… in Podcasts (right).

The iOS 10 update delivered a bold new look for most everything on the iPhone. But while many of the changes added both style and usability, I was severely disappointed that we lost a perfectly useful feature – one I often used. I’m talking about Recently Played tracks in the Music app.

Yes, it’s true – since iOS 10 debuted, you were left with only the Up Next list, but hit a dead end trying to see your recently-played tracks. Swipe down all you want – that list won’t budge.

While I griped about this before, I now notice that the exact same feature remains available… in Podcasts.

Really?

It’s true. When a podcast is playing and it full info screen is displayed, hit the tiny “bulleted list” icon on the right. You’ll see Now Playing and Up Next. But pull the list down, and lo and behold: the other podcasts you already played slide into view.

Yes, the same way it used to work in the Music app.

I remain baffled, but hope a future upgrade (and yes, my continued emails to Apple) will restore the feature.

It’s this sort of arbitrary thing that turns off some people to the Apple ecosystem, and I can see why: you get used to a feature and then it’s yanked away for no apparent reason. And any alternative software will likely not give you the same seamless experience you get with native Apple apps. You kinda can’t win.

But you can write them. Yes, it’s a handy web form for general feedback. Feel free to drop them a line – no reply expected, but the more grumbles they get the more likely (one hopes) they are to fix this.