The ABC has upgraded its flagship mobile apps for iPhone and iPad, adding 19 new live radio streams – but has warned users to keep a wary eye on their data consumption.

The ABC has upgraded its flagship mobile apps for iPhone and iPad, adding 19 new live radio streams – but has warned users to keep a wary eye on their data consumption.

The new streams comprise 10 metropolitan ABC Local Radio stations and nine of its Radio Australia streams, which broadcast to the Asia-Pacific.

Users can also access new podcasts from ABC Radio National and three new ABC News categories: rural, technology and games, and science.

The updates also include a slicker interface and minor bug fixes. The apps now support multitasking, so users can listen to radio streams and podcasts while doing other things on their iPhone or iPad.

But Aunty adds: “As with all online content, the ABC encourages users to be aware of their data consumption whilst using mobile devices. When designing and building mobile applications the ABC does all it can to prevent unintentional data use.”