If you listen to talk radio programs similar to what you’d hear on NPR, then this is definitely the app for you. You get current radio stories based on your personal tastes and only have to listen to a short commercial every once in a while.
Rivet Radio is free to download with very minimal advertisement. This app is only useful if you are always connected to Wi-Fi or don’t have any concerns about data usage.
I really wish there were a way to download shows for offline listening. It reminds me of the NPR One app, only stories aren’t relegated to NPR specifically. Tech info from How Stuff Works, news programs from the Associated Press, and lifestyle stories from NPR are all within the type of news stories I like to listen to. The stories generated are very compatible with my tastes.
You can add stories to your queue or play them in order, directly from this section. Under “For You” you will see all stories from hosts, shows, and program producers you’ve followed. Tap on Saved items to view and listen to stories you’ve added to the saved queue. When you tap the Search icon, you’ll be able to view stories you’ve saved and followed, as well as your recent listening history. Here, you can rearrange your playlist or delete stories you don’t think you’ll want to hear. You can view your upcoming queue by tapping the Playlist icon in the upper right corner of the screen. You can also share a story via social networking and save a story to replay later. You can follow the show, host, or program producer by tapping the Follow icon at the bottom of the screen. Stories will begin to play automatically. Pick the categories that appeal to you and hit Play. Categories include Politics, Business, Technolgy, Science, and more. Once logged in, you will select topics you’d like to listen to. You will first be asked to log in using Facebook, Google+ or by submitting your email address. Additional controls and options are available from the menu. The screen will display the title of a story, the date it was first aired, the host, and the program source. Once you’ve chosen topics, tap the play button to begin listening.
The app has a fairly simple user interface.
Some content is also provided by Rivet journalists directly. Additional content comes from the top popular podcasts like How Stuff Works, Mashable, 99 Percent Invisible, and more. Most of the stories come from partner media organizations like PRI, The New York Times, and the Associated Press. Instead of being forced to listen to what your local radio station programs for you, select your favorite topics and further customize your experience by following topics, hosts, and programs that you like. Instead of reading the daily news, listen to it.
We’ve got a full app review of Rivet Radio for you right now. Rivet Radio is like listening to a version of NPR that only reports the stuff you are interested in. But, what about an app that reports stories to you? You’ve probably got a couple of apps in your stash that provides curated stories for you to read.