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Google get all the metrics, particularly on popularity of podcast apps available in the Play store. When new features are added they can see the metrics on increase or decrease in uptake, etc.. If the top podcast apps are using Google for advertising then that's more useful data.

This surely means Google are in a position to eat any apps lunch if they choose to. If Google couldn't release a product and have that hit the top 3 [on Android] in a few months then they have some serious problems; they'd have to majorly mess up their design or functionality, by not bothering to look at the metrics.

Now of course Google might choose to make something "innovative", but at least as far as which functions to include, and what people using podcast apps like, they're starting with a major advantage.