Swell Radio facts for kids
| Developer(s) | Concept.io |
|---|---|
| Initial release | June 27, 2013 |
| Operating system | iOS 6.0 or later; |
| Type | Streaming Radio |
Swell Radio was a special app for your mobile phone that let you listen to audio over the internet. It was like a smart radio that learned what you liked. The app would figure out your favorite audio shows by seeing what you listened to. It also looked at what other people in the community enjoyed and used a clever computer program, called an algorithm, to pick content just for you.
Swell Radio was created to be used when people were traveling, like on their way to or from school or work. It focused on giving users "spoken-word" audio. This means you would hear things like news, interviews, podcasts, or stories, instead of just music.
You could get the Swell app on iOS devices, like iPhones and iPads, all around the world. However, the audio content you heard was specially chosen for people in the United States and Canada. A cool thing about Swell Radio was that it did not have any advertisements, so your listening experience was not interrupted.
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How Swell Radio Worked
Swell Radio was designed to be very easy to use. Instead of you searching for things to listen to, the app would do the work for you. It was like having a personal DJ who knew exactly what you wanted to hear.
Learning Your Tastes
The app used a few ways to understand what you liked:
- Your Listening Habits: If you listened to a certain type of show a lot, the app would notice. It would then suggest similar shows or topics.
- Community Choices: The app also looked at what other people who had similar interests to you were listening to. This helped it find new things you might enjoy.
- Smart Algorithms: An algorithm is like a set of rules that a computer follows. Swell Radio's algorithm used all this information to create a personalized stream of audio just for you.
Spoken-Word Content
Unlike many radio apps that play music, Swell Radio focused on spoken-word content. This included:
- News updates
- Talk shows
- Interviews
- Audio articles
- Short stories
This made it great for learning new things or staying informed while you were busy doing other activities.
Swell Radio's Journey
Swell Radio was created by a company called Concept.io. They worked hard to bring this unique audio experience to mobile users.
Getting Started
To help build the app, Concept.io received a lot of money, about $5.4 million, from a group of investors. This money helped them develop the app and make it available to more people.
Swell Radio first launched in Canada in early 2013. After that, it officially became available in the United States on June 27, 2013. It quickly became a popular choice for people who wanted a personalized way to listen to spoken-word audio on their phones.
