That's no longer entirely the case. If you've downloaded Apple's and apps, you'll find that this content no longer appears in the Music app but instead in the appropriate app.

And that's very much the theme of iOS 6's Music app--from all appearances it's lost more than it's gained. The single new element is a grayer interface with the iPhone and iPod touch version. In the Lost column are any references to Apple's now-defunct music social-networking service, Ping; the capability to download single iCloud Match tracks; and, again, podcasts and iTunes U content appears to be missing.

"Appears" is the key word here. As mentioned, if you've installed the Podcasts and iTunes U apps, that's where you'll find this content. However, if you haven't installed these apps and you sync, within iTunes to your device, podcasts and iTunes U content, you play that content within the Music app. Just tap More and you'll find entries for both kinds of media. (You'll also find an Audiobooks entry here if you've synced audiobooks to your device.)

This is fine as long as you sync this content from iTunes. However, if you were hoping to obtain podcasts or iTunes U content from the iTunes Store app and play it in the Music app, you'll find that under iOS 6 you're out of luck--neither kind of media is downloadable from the iTunes Store app. To directly download this material from Apple you must install the Podcasts and iTunes U apps and use them to obtain the content you want.

Other than the aforementioned emphasis on gray and silver hues, the functionality of the Music app hasn't changed. This is still the app you use to play music stored on your device, as well as to stream and download iTunes Match tracks. Cosmetically, a few icons have been rearranged: On the Now Playing screen, for example, the Volume slider and AirPlay button sit next to each other; on an album screen the Download All button has been moved up next to the album art; the Shuffle button bears only the Shuffle icon rather than the word "Shuffle" as it did previously; and the icons throughout are generally smaller.