Really Useful Travel Apps for iPhone: RSSRadio

The reason we travel isn’t to put ourselves in a bubble, isolating ourselves from everything we knew before. It’s comforting to listen to news from one’s own country and what can help homesickness at bay better than to listen to the latest podcast of one’s favorite shows? RSSRadio is there.

RSS Radio

RSSRadio is an application that will allow you to download recordings of your favorite radio station and their podcasts onto your smartphone, allowing you to listen to them wherever you want, whenever you want.

So, you’re in Kathmandu? No problem! You can still listen to to Allo la Planète from Le Mouv’.
Did you say you’re in Timbuktu? No worries! You can still listen to Appload from NoWatch.

How does it work? It’s simple. You choose the podcasts you wish to subscribe to from the directory (you can find them amongst the favorites listed or by searching for the radio station name or other keywords). Then sign in as soon as you’re in a WiFi zone and RSS Radio downloads the latest programs available. All you need to do is listen.

RSSRadio has an application fee (€1.59 for iPhone), but the free version will allow you to subscribe to 3 different programs with a banner ad displayed to compensate.

What’s more, everything is customizable, and it has these handy features:

• Listen to and download podcasts while using another application at the same time
• A configurable skip button that goes backward and forward (handy for advertisements. Mine’s set to 30 seconds)
• The podcast pauses automatically when headphones are disconnected
• The app safeguards the moment you stopped listening to a podcast, handy when you cannot listen to an entire podcast at once.

You’ll understand that RSSRadio is an app I use regularly, even when I’m not traveling, especially now that Allo la Planète has changed their broadcast time.

It’s ideal to remain connected to your country of origin, so you won’t feel completely lost upon return.