Torian InFusion clears FCC, coming Stateside early next year

Well, that Torian InFusion portable WiFi radio has moved from concept product, to being on sale in Australia (in theory), to now being available worldwide for $230. It just cleared the FCC (although the company's site says that it began shipping on November 17), which means that the InFusion will hit more formal retail channels in the US (and other locations worldwide) starting next year. For the uninitiated, the InFusion will play your traditional FM radio, along with internet radio over WiFi, and can record your streams as MP3s to your SD card. We'll report back when we get our hands on it at CES next month -- that is, if we don't get too distracted listening to SOMA FM first.

[Via FCC]

[ceaseoleo @ Dec 11th 2006 7:42PM]

the RIAA will shut this down quickly .. recording streams to mp3's. Didn't Sirius and XM have issues with this. w

[PEZ @ Dec 11th 2006 8:32PM]

let me stream sirius, and ill buy it.

[Rev. Nathan @ Dec 12th 2006 12:39AM]

I love SOMA FM! That was what I was gonna say... "I would love to stream Illinois Street Lounge from SOMA FM to my car"!

But how does this work? I mean, we aren't a nation covered over WiFi... is there a repeater service or something I would have to subscribe to?

[Churba @ Dec 12th 2006 7:17AM]

"the RIAA will shut this down quickly .. recording streams to mp3's. Didn't Sirius and XM have issues with this."

Not down here, dude - The RIAA, in Australia, doesn't have the power to pull the skin of a rice pudding.

But as for that we're not a nation covered in wi-fi - Well, I'd say the product is mostly aimed at those in the city - Most of the Brisbane CBD and Southbank has wireless that you can hook into, for example, and home users who want to use it around the house.

[Dokino @ Dec 12th 2006 7:47AM]

The RIAA cannot do a thing about this. If they do, then they will have to go back in time and start going after everyone who recorded the radio back in the day on cassette tapes, which technically you can still do if you have a stereo with cassette tape recorder on it. And guess what, you can give the cassette to anyone you want, just as long as you aren't selling them. Wait.....isn't that what I am doing with mp3? Sharing music with friends and such without profit....

[Mary Ann ModelXXX4 @ Mar 1st 2007 12:17AM]

I would rather listen to (((Blast Radio))) on the "Infusion"
Been listening to this station for about a month now, And never get tired of hearing new music.

They also play some old stuff, that I have long forgotten.
really cool station.
there at this URL:
http://blast-radio.tripod.com

[bree @ Nov 10th 2007 9:31PM]

riaa and others need not worry, the device does not work properly - and the support is not that good. i have struggled with the infusion for a year now. the latest firware update allows it to work, but still very very frustrating. how so? well, it is very difficult to program it and the buttons are not user-friendly. no one would want to punch in each letter for a stream... especially when it is missing some characters (for exampel an "=" sign). also, 90% of the streams i try to add with teh web interface do nto work. and when i try to go over a previously saved preset button -- the previous station's ID stays on the top line, while the bottom shows the newer attempted stream address.

basically, the way the device is now made and sold - it will only be for very die-hard fans of internet radio, who don't mind listening to general streams that are somehow available in the device's list. but if you are hoping to add special webcasts that you commonly listen to - forget it. it will rarely add them properly, and it often shuts down for no reason at all. so, kudos for the first attempt - and maybe future devices will work better...

[asymptote @ Mar 10th 2008 1:12AM]

I am so frustrated with the release of this device. Ever since it was first announced I've tried emailing, calling, and faxing Torian for answers with no replies. I usually just do a Google search and stumble upon some old review for Torian, or this engadget post from almost two and a half years ago (thanks for the update Bree), but this time I decided to post something. Wasn't this thing originally the size of a credit card? I appreciate the company's efforts to put this product on the market, but it is very frustrating to hear about it for almost 5 years now with no results. Hey Torian, thanks for that "Store" link on your site! I did a lot of shopping there!