Nexus One now a step closer to FM radio support, thanks to modified kernel
By Ross Miller 
posted July 13th 2010 3:41PM
posted July 13th 2010 3:41PM
As you may or may not be already aware, the Nexus One and HTC Desire have the same Broadcom chip. Seems trivial at cursory glance until you realize the Desire has a FM radio app, which should ergo be just as feasible on the Google-branded device. Cut to xda-developers' intersectRaven, who's released a custom N1 kernel that theoretically brings life to the FM receptor. It's available to download, but as for when you'll get a chance to really use this yourself, that's entirely up to the custom ROM developers updating their respective wares. For his part, Paul O'Brien said today he's already got it working on an upcoming Froyo Sense build for the device -- hang tight, folks, it's coming.[Thanks, John]
I just need a good radio streaming app for my Hero...
Funny, had it on my Incredible forever but never used it. Now that I read this article decided to try it and guess what...it works. Neat but like Pandora or Slacker better than all this talking on the FM.
honestly who listens to fm anyways. its either sirius/xm or go home.
@flash0517 Not free.
@flash0517
Who listen to sirius/xm anyway? Android have plenty of free apps for internet radio without commercial.
@flash0517 honestly who listens to sirius/xm anyways. its either last.fm/pandora or go home.
@KAL326 The EVO does support Wifi N, after the recent patch.
While this is cool news, the radio isnt that fantastic. Its clear when you get a signal but its easily disrupted by things like being deep inside a house or in a part of a building thats even partially underground.
Well this is the nexus one article so I might be able to get some help here... I have a question for you guys. I am on t mobile an I need a new phone. Which should I get... Nexus one or the Samsung vibrant???
Nexus One
@SN7 I'm curious. I am thinking about returning/selling my i4 and getting an N1. The problem is that I can't really play with one before buying.
I have been watching videos on YouTube and am disappointed to see the buttons under the screen are very unresponsive and laggy at times.
Is this a problem anyone has experienced? I have been hearing bad things about the N1 but it is the only Android phone ATT can't cripple
@Awall
Yeah I been wondering the same thing... I don't want to give $500+ and than buttons don't work ok...
This is one of those types of apps (or eventually will become an app) that really got me interested in the Android platform. I mean in all honesty, there is almost nothing worth listening to on the radio, but it's still very cool to see a community tap into the hardware capabilities of a device that the original manufacturer is not willing to support.
LOL you take it for granted actually
- Desire owner
Yeah, cuzz if it ain’t featured on Android phone, it’s shit. My, my. Google drones are really priceless.
Maybe one day, we can catch up with Japan and South Korea who enjoy TV on their phones for years. What's so difficult about a built-in TV tuner in every smartphone?
@Trickymaster Just got a coalition built around a mobile standard in recent months.
Delay is due to senseless industry squabbles combined with mobile operators not wanting to allow a feature that they not only cannot monetize, but that would likely impact revenues on services they have thrown their weight behind (FLO TV, iTunes, others). Since no one buys unlocked in the US that means the mobile operators control what features are in US handsets. There's no incentive for them to include DTV tuners in their handsets, and without receivers in pockets stations won't bother with even the incremental cost of pushing out a secondary signal using the mobile standard.
That is changing, but it may be too little too late.
I wish root wasn't required for this.
This is certainly what i've been waiting for the last 10 years, a $200 plus $100 a month fm radio. woo hoo
iDont have FM radio
Yes!! This is ironic b/c I was just telling myself last week that my next phone will need an FM transmitter. Couldn't care less about music as I already get better streaming through Pandora and other apps, but I would love to listen to local sports and live ESPN radio via my phone. I could easily do both right now w/ the MLB and ESPN Radio apps, but if I can get it for free and not have to worry about 3G reception, I'm all for it.
Maybe if you try tuning to something other than 97.4 you might get something. :)
Thank the lord for yahoo releasing there radio app. Fm tuner not needed on my nexus now
Hey guys,
I've been a long time follower here and this is my first post. Now, let me preface by saying that this post would be better in the "Ask Engadget" section, but I cannot figure out how to post there.
The story is simply this; I'm in the market for a new phone. There are obviously certain features I want my new phone to have. The thing is, even though I live in Hong Kong (and to a certain extent, the US too), I travel a lot. My current situation dictates that I am in the US (specifically, the northeast) for the majority of the year.
Currently, I use an unlocked E71 which I bought from Hong Kong. I use T-Mobile in the US. I don't really need a data plan as I use wifi. Really, I use my phone for calling, SMS, Music and light web browsing. The E71 has served me extremely well in those respects. People might say the S60 is dated, however, I have found it to be extremely functional, and it serves my needs extremely well.
However, I am now inclined to go touchscreen. This touchscreen phone needs to be GSM. I travel a lot, and CDMA is...well, its CDMA. I switch out my SIM Cards very often, so, CDMA is a huge "no" for me. The phone also needs to have very strong multimedia functionality AND support either T-mobile or AT&T in the US on 3G. Currently, I use T-mobile, but, I'm willing to switch.
The phone must also be unlocked. Call me old fashioned, but I like to have a SINGLE device for everything. Currently, my E71 is just that. I don't want to have a different phone for the US and a different one for Hong Kong and a different one for Australia.
Now, I have been loyal to Nokia for many, many years. The E71 has given me no reason not to stay loyal. However, I do use Google's services (Gmail, Google Calander) and currently, they sync extremely well to my E71. However, obviously Android would be better for Google and its services. Hence, my dilemma.
The phones that I am going to pick between to replace my trusty E71 (which has been with me ever since it hit the stores) are the HTC Desire, the Nexus One and of course, the Nokia N8.
The Desire takes a huge step back because it only comes with a 900/2100 3G radio. This is the ONLY reason (atleast for me) to opt for the Nexus One in this regard. The Nexus one is tri-band 3G with either T-mobile support (1700/2100 AWS + 2100) or AT&T support (850/1900+2100). Most countries I am in (places in Europe, Hong Kong, etc) use 2100 for their 3G data, though, not all (Australia....).
The Nexus one, alas, loses to the Nokia N8 in some rather important respects. First, the Nokia N8 comes Pentaband 3G. This is ideal. Second, it has stronger multimedia (HDMI, great camera, inbuilt 16GB+ expandable 32GB of Micro SD expandable, more formats supported, etc). The Nokia N8 also wins on things such as battery life, call quality (I say this based on testimonials from friends with the Nexus One and I assume the N8's call quality will be good as thats the one thing Nokia always gets right).
The two tie in things such as web browsing (Nokia N8 has flash support like the Nexus One + Froyo). The Nexus One might slightly edge the Nokia N8 in this regard, but if the N8 loads a page 3 seconds slower, it is of no consequence to me.
The Nexus One wins out in the App support for Android. I might be a die hard Nokia user, but I can see that Android has more apps. However, whether I have any use for them, I do not know; I've never used Android before. I absolutely refuse to go Apple for a whole laundry list of reasons.
So, the Nokia N8 is looking to be the better choice for me and my situation. However, I do want to give Android a chance, and I came here to ask a few questions:
1) Is there an Android, other than the Nexus One, that has atleast TRI-band 3G?
2) Seeing that I use my phone for E-mail, calling, SMS and multimedia almost exclusively, is the Nexus One really that much better than the N8 (the Nexus One is certainly pricier). The N8 will come with the excellent Nokia Messaging E-mail client which pushes all manner of E-mail accounts.
3) Seeing that Nokia wins out on some extremely important "phone things" (Battery life and call quality, both of which, I hear, perhaps wrongly, are an issue on the Nexus One), is the Nexus One still worth it for Android?
4) All the apps I need are currently on my E71: Skype, Mobbler, Wikipedia, Opera Mini, Skyfire, Gmail, Google Maps, OVI Maps, Youtube, FB, Ebuddy for IMing on all sorts of networks. They will certainly be on the N8 too. The question is, there there something more than Android can offer me?
Sorry for the long post guys. I would like some opinions. Currently, I am leaning towards the N8. but perhaps, the discussion here can change that.
It sounds like android would work just as good for you.
What's tm radio? I remember faintly some ancient box with dials that had to be turned so you could hear twenty or so songs in a loop .
I vaguely recall something called shoutcast.
but why would you want any of that with Pandora in existence?
seems silly to me....
My Incredible has the Radio tuner as well. The only problem is I cannot get any stations to work. You need to have the headphones plugged in to act like an antenna, which is pretty weak. If anyone has a tip on getting this to work, it would be much appreciated. I am in a very strong 3G network area just outside of DC.