The iOS 5 update from October 2011 introduced the following issues that have yet to be fixed:
1 The playback speed control for podcasts has gone
2 Chapter support in audiobooks has gone
3 The 30 second rewind button for podcasts has gone
4 Customizable menu so podcasts and audiobooks can be moved to the front page
5 Podcast count–You now have to open each podcast “folder” to see the number of unplayed podcasts
6 Time elapsed/remaining–used to be able to look at a podcast/audiobook and determine how far along you were. Now it has to be the active track.
7 Link to more episodes has gone
Please give us back these useful features and address the bug(s). iOS 5 is exciting but for podcasts on the iPad it is a great disappointment, and very unworthy of Apple.