Engadget

Roku adds Slacker Radio to app locker, Watchlist now live on Amazon Instant Video

Edgar Alvarez — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:34:00 EST

Well, hello there Roku owners. Via its blog site, the creator of the tiny, but entertainment-packed boxes announced it's now giving you access to the renown Slacker Radio application, allowing you to listen in on over 200 music stations -- much like you already do on your iOS and Android slabs. That's not it, though, Roku also notes the recently announced Amazon Watchlist feature is now live on the outfit's channel, which should make Instant Video junkies very happy. The fresh goods are available now, so power on your miniature box and put 'em to good use.

Roku adds Slacker Radio to app locker, Watchlist now live on Amazon Instant Video originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: And smartplayers for all

Ross Rubin — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:30:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

A few weeks ago, Switched On noted the challenges that even wildly popular, highly penetrated devices such as MP3 players and portable GPS devices have faced in the era of the converged device. Some of these devices, such as digital cameras, still hold on because of genuine advantages such as better image quality or optical zoom. For others devices, though, such as MP3 players and portable GPS devices, the grim news is that one of the main reasons consumers use them is to save smartphone battery life.

Continue reading Switched On: And smartplayers for all

Switched On: And smartplayers for all originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 May 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 1

Ross Rubin — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

Part II of this article will be coming next week -- stay tuned!

The rise of smartphones hasn't been kind to makers of devices such as digital cameras, digital music players and portable GPS devices. Handsets with a rich selection of apps have been increasingly cannibalizing sales of these products, leaving few ways for these once hot holiday gift items to compete. In some cases, though, they have enabled functionality that was once envisioned for standalone products that either failed in the market or never went much beyond a niche audience. Here are five examples of failed devices that never made much headway. The concepts behind them, though, ultimately found acceptance on smartphones.

Continue reading Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 1

Switched On: When the smartphone giveth, Part 1 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sonos software updates bring Android tablet support, Slacker and Spotify upgrades

Brian Heater — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:01:00 EST

Wireless music streaming kingpins Sonos rolled out a number of software updates tonight, including System Software 3.6, which brings added controls to Sonos Wireless HiFi, integration with Slacker and some improvements to the service's Spotify offerings. The newly revamped Sonos Controller for Android, meanwhile, offers up support for Android tablets running 2.2 or higher. More info after the jump.

Continue reading Sonos software updates bring Android tablet support, Slacker and Spotify upgrades

Sonos software updates bring Android tablet support, Slacker and Spotify upgrades originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Droid Incredible 2 review

Myriam Joire — Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 EST

It wasn't that long ago that we were jonesing for a Nexus One on Verizon. What HTC gave us instead was the Droid Incredible, with the same 1GHz Snapdragon CPU and gorgeous 3.7-inch AMOLED display -- not to mention a better camera (8 megapixel vs. five), 8GB of built-in flash storage, an optical trackpad, HTC's Sense UI on top of Eclair, and a dash of funky industrial design. The Incredible was an impressive phone with a lovely camera, marred only by questionable battery life and lack of supply, forcing HTC to build a Super LCD-equipped model to satisfy demand. Judging by the popularity of the Incredible, it came as no surprise that following HTC's announcement at MWC, the Incredible S eventually became Verizon's Droid Incredible 2. With a 4-inch Super LCD display, global CDMA / GSM radio, front-facing camera, updated internals (including 768 MB of RAM), trick capacitive buttons, and a Froyo-flavored serving of Sense, the Incredible 2 seems like a worthy successor to last year's Incredible. Does it live up to our expectations or is it just another fish in the crowded sea of Android? Does it significantly improve upon the original formula or is it merely a refresh? Hit the break for our review.

Gallery: Droid Incredible 2 review

Continue reading Droid Incredible 2 review

Droid Incredible 2 review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker intros Premium Radio subscription service, makes Radio Plus look like Basic Radio

Brian Heater — Tue, 17 May 2011 03:01:00 EST

Internet radio provider Slacker is bulldozing the thin line dividing itself from subscription-based music services today, with the launch of Premium Radio. The new pricing tier joins the existing gratis Basic Radio and ad-free Radio Plus plans, adding an all-you-can-eat music model akin to services like Rhapsody and Rdio. Subscribers who shell out $9.99 a month receive all of the features of the $3.99 Radio Plus users, plus unlimited access to eight million songs, letting them listen to what they want, when the want, and generally play god with the site's existing radio services. Premium Radio also gives you on- and offline access to music on a number of mobile devices, including the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android, and BlackBerry handsets -- not to mention unlimited bragging rights to all of your broke friends who are still rocking the Basic Radio plan. Don't feel too bad for 'em, though -- at least they didn't get suckered into slotRadio.

Continue reading Slacker intros Premium Radio subscription service, makes Radio Plus look like Basic Radio

Slacker intros Premium Radio subscription service, makes Radio Plus look like Basic Radio originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 May 2011 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Streaming music breakdown: how Google Music and iCloud will impact today's options

Brad Molen — Fri, 06 May 2011 12:00:00 EST

Gone are the days of going to the music store, finding a vintage CD or cassette tape, happily unwrapping it and thoroughly perusing the cover art as you listen to your new album for the very first time. In a want-it-now world, that simply takes too long -- and we have the internet to thank for the change in pace. As preferences seem to shift in the music consumption universe, it feels as if tastes are centered around consuming the largest amount of music possible. And thanks to the sudden proliferation of online streaming services, satisfying those desires in record time has become a reality.

Unsurprisingly, competition is mighty fierce -- consumers have options for user-made radio stations, on-demand streaming content, and cloud-based multimedia. But if you've been hearing the word on the street, Apple and Google could soon make their way onto the scene by offering streaming music options of their own. Almost everything these two tech giants touch turns to gold (emphasis on almost -- we don't think Ping and Buzz built the best reputations), so there's reason to believe that these oft-rumored services will become automatic front-runners the day they're released. Head on past the break to see some of the lucky / unlucky contestants planning to give Google and Apple a run for their (near-limitless) money, replete with a breakdown of what they offer and how hard they hit the wallet.

Continue reading Streaming music breakdown: how Google Music and iCloud will impact today's options

Streaming music breakdown: how Google Music and iCloud will impact today's options originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Windows Phone 7 launch day app roundup

Chris Ziegler — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:43:00 EST

With thousands of developers churning out thousands of apps, we've no doubt exploring the Marketplace is going to be a full-time job for at least a day or two after you nab your Windows Phone 7 device this fall -- but with all the hullabaloo today, we thought this would be a good opportunity to highlight a few that Microsoft and its partners have been talking about recently. Dig in!

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 launch day app roundup

Windows Phone 7 launch day app roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC HD7 is a HD2 lookalike with Windows Phone 7 and 720p video, exclusive to T-Mobile in US

Vlad Savov — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST

Stop us if you've heard these specs before: 4.3-inch WVGA (800 x 480) TFT screen, 1GHz Qualcomm MSM8250 system-on-chip, 576MB of RAM, 5 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash, and Microsoft's latest mobile OS on board. Yes, the HTC HD7 is almost a carbon copy of the much-loved HD2, albeit with a major upgrade to Windows Phone 7 software and an appreciated bump to 720/24p video recording. Beyond those enhancements, American buyers will be greeted with preinstalled Netflix, Slacker, and T-Mobile TV entertainment apps, along with 16GB of built-in storage.

T-Mobile gets the honor of being the exclusive US carrier, with exclusives also going out to O2 in the UK and Ireland and Telstra in Australia. O2 Germany will also distribute the phone, along with Movistar in Spain, Bouygues Telecom in France, and a choice of carriers in Italy. Bear in mind that the non-US HD7s are likely to come with a less capacious 8GB of storage. The phone is scheduled for an October 21 retail debut in Europe, to be followed by a mid-November arrival on US shelves. You'll find the full press release after the break, although you shouldn't bother if you expect it to explain why the nearly identical HD2 isn't getting a WP7 upgrade.

Gallery: HTC HD7 press images

Continue reading HTC HD7 is a HD2 lookalike with Windows Phone 7 and 720p video, exclusive to T-Mobile in US

HTC HD7 is a HD2 lookalike with Windows Phone 7 and 720p video, exclusive to T-Mobile in US originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Thunder in the cloud

Ross Rubin — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:05:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.

With each passing day it becomes less of an insult to say someone's head is in the clouds, as more and more people begin to outright rely on web sites and applications like Facebook, Google Docs, Flickr, Farmville, YouTube and Hulu. Among these popular services are Slacker and Pandora, two internet radio services that have grown tremendously since becoming available as smartphone apps, and which have recently completed the three-screen trifecta by being offered on connected televisions. These services have always had plenty of online competition, including simulcast internet radio stations, streamed Sirius XM, and Rhapsody. But it appears as though the landscape of Internet music services in the US is preparing to accommodate two more game-changing newcomers from profoundly different backgrounds.

The first is a startup from Europe called Spotify, which has been winning fans across the continent in the five countries in which it is offered. Spotify's Open service represents something of a holy grail for on-demand music from the cloud: you can play any song in its catalog as often as you like for up to 20 hours per month for free, and share songs with your friends. The service gets high marks for its responsiveness. Becoming a premium Spotify member essentially turns the service into something more akin to Rhapsody, with no ads, better audio quality, and offline listening. Spotify has begun offering a private preview of its U.S. service to a lucky few, and is expected to be rolling out more broadly this year.

Continue reading Switched On: Thunder in the cloud

Switched On: Thunder in the cloud originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 May 2010 17:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker Radio 2.0 for iPhone to feature station caching, out 'soonish'

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:29:00 EST

Ever since Slacker Radio decided to flee the hardware business, we've been looking forward to bigger and better things from its mobile apps. If the hands-on that Dave Zatz got with the version 2.0 software for iPhone is any indication we won't be waiting in vain, either. The big news here is station caching: that's right, users will soon be able to store music for off-line access, whether you're listening on a plane or in a dead zone. Exactly how many stations (and for how long) you can store is currently a mystery, although the reviewer said it took about 20 minutes to cache six stations, with each one being good for at least a couple hours playback. In order to take advantage of this, you will need to purchase the Slacker Radio Plus package, and you'll have to wait for the app to be approved by Apple, which could be a couple days from now -- or it could be never, depending on Apple's mood.

Slacker Radio 2.0 for iPhone to feature station caching, out 'soonish' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 May 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's $200 BDP-S470 is company's first 3D-ready Blu-ray player

Darren Murph — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:41:00 EST

And the flood gates are now officially open. Just hours after Panasonic introduced its newest 3D Blu-ray recorders and players, along comes Sony to brag about its first 3D-ready standalone deck. The BDP-S470, which is slated to ship later this month for $200, arrives with the ability to handle BD, DVD, CD and even SACD, with a 3D Blu-ray upgrade (via firmware update) planned for this summer. You'll also find BD-Live support, BRAVIA Internet Video, a USB socket for playing back media stored elsewhere, 1080p DVD upscaling and TrueHD / DTS-HD Master Audio decoding. If you were planning to snag a BDP-S570 BD player or one of the BDV-E770W / BDV-E570 Blu-ray Disc home theater systems, you'll be elated to know that those systems will also get a gratis 3D update in just a few months, with exact pricing and release details tucked down there in the source. Time to pick up a pair of 3D Gunnar Optiks, don'tcha think?

Sony's $200 BDP-S470 is company's first 3D-ready Blu-ray player originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker phases out hardware business, focuses on other devices

Donald Melanson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST

It's not exactly a huge surprise considering we haven't even heard so much as a whisper about a new Slacker device as of late, but it looks like company president Jim Cady has now finally confirmed that Slacker will indeed be phasing out its hardware business altogether. At the moment, that business consists entirely of the Slacker G2 personal radio, which will still be available "though at least the first half of next year," and offers a number advantages over the Slacker app for other devices. Those apps (and Slacker's online music service) will be the company's sole focus from here on out, however, so we'll no doubt see some expanded functionality sooner or later -- especially considering that Slacker has apparently raised a "few more million" dollars in funding on the basis of its new mobile strategy.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Slacker phases out hardware business, focuses on other devices originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget HD: How can I get internet radio in my home theater?

Richard Lawler — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST

Despite how much money and time is spent on the display in your home theater, sometimes you just want to kick back and listen to some music. While SACD or DVD-Audio might get it done for some, a craving for more selection or just letting someone else pick the songs has lead our friend Reginald to seek internet radio in his home theater, we'll let him explain:

"I have been looking at internet radio that I want to stream through my wireless network so it can be picked up on my home stereo. I have DirecTV that can pick up the network as well as a PS3 that also can see the network.

Would a program that runs on the PC be the best way to go or should one get a special tuner that is placed at the AV Receiver that connects wirelessly to the network be the best way to go."

So, can one of his networked devices double up as a streaming radio source or would a new receiver with the feature built in be the way to go? Let us know what setup works for you.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Filed under: Ask Engadget HD, Other hardware, Receivers

Ask Engadget HD: How can I get internet radio in my home theater? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony's X-series OLED Walkman now priced in real American dollars, ships mid-June

Thomas Ricker — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:51:00 EST

Sony has yet to offer us official US pricing or availability on its eagerly awaited X-series of OLED Walkmans. As such, we have to grasp at whatever bits of desperate information we can as this 3-inch Walkman with built-in noise cancellation makes its way West following the Japanese launch. Amazon lists the little guy at $399.95 (32GB) and $299.95 (16GB) which just happens to be the same pricing as Apple's iPod touch, for whatever that's worth. It's not in stock but you can pre-order now if dare.

Update: And just like that, it's official. Sony's 16GB NWZ- X1051 with 32GB NWZ- X1061 will be priced $299 and $399, respectively, when they go on sale nationwide Stateside in mid-June. As a surprise, they'll also feature embedded apps for YouTube and Slacker Radio for all the free video and audio you can consume over WiFi.

[Via OLED-Info]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Sony's X-series OLED Walkman now priced in real American dollars, ships mid-June originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 May 2009 04:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker radio added to Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link

Laura June — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:36:00 EST

If you've found yourself dumbfoundedly staring at your Bravia Internet Video Link-equipped HDTV thinking "when am I going to see some Slacker radio up in this piece?" -- you're in luck. Sony announced today that it would be bringing the streaming service to users of the company's $300 hardware add-on free of charge, allowing music hounds to grab "millions" of songs on over "100 individually programmed genre music stations" in CD-quality audio. The service joins other streaming content like YouTube and Amazon, and will be available immediately. So... why are you still reading this?

[Via ZatzNotFunny]

Filed under: Media streamers, Other hardware, Sony, Internet

Slacker radio added to Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker radio added to Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link

Laura June — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:36:00 EST

Filed under: HDTV, Portable Audio

Slacker radio added to Sony BRAVIA Internet Video Link originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker G2 gets reviewed

Nilay Patel — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:16:00 EST

Slacker must have figured our jetsetter friends at Gadling needed some more tunes for their travels, because it hooked them up with an early review unit of the new Slacker G2 WiFi radio. Nothing much has changed about the Slacker service, which basically auto-downloads your choice of pre-programmed channels to the 4 or 8GB or internal storage over WiFi (you can get on Wayport and AT&T hotspots using Devicescape), but the G2 hardware is significantly revised, with a new slimmer, curvaceous shape with relocated controls, glossy front, and premium headphones. We're up in the air over whether the optional $90/year or $10/mo premium service fees are worth it, especially now that Zune 3.0 also does pre-programmed Channels with the $15 Zune Pass, but if you're interested hit up the read link for the full-on review.

Filed under: Portable Audio

Slacker G2 gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker G2 WiFi radio gets more personal thanks to the FCC

Thomas Ricker — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:22:00 EST

A lovely picture like this can mean only one thing -- the fine feds over at the FCC are leaking another unannounced product. You're looking at the new Slacker G2 WiFi radio which appears to have slimmed down from the original Slacker Portable while moving the skip and play/pause buttons to the front of a the device. A peek at the guts reveals a Broadcom BCM4325GKFBG chip which means 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 with EDR, and FM receiver. We also spotted 4GB of flash storage and a 730mAH battery for what it's worth. Check the User Quickstart Guide and a few more pics in the gallery below.

Gallery: Slacker G2 WiFi radio gets more personal thanks to the FCC

Filed under: Handhelds, Portable Audio

Slacker G2 WiFi radio gets more personal thanks to the FCC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Slacker in your slacks (Part 2)

Ross Rubin — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:57:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.

Last Switched On introduced the Slacker Portable, a device that is as noteworthy for great value in bringing a steady stream and great variety of free music -- including on-demand favorites from those with a premium subscription -- as it is for its design quirks.

None of these are as frustrating as the device's touch strip used to provide quicker access to on-screen selections. Unlike the touch strips on older Creative Zen models, it uses absolute positioning that activates the button at that part of the screen. Unfortunately, this means that stray touches can cause the interface to jump from screen to screen and even skip tracks. The Slacker team may have considered the touch strip a compromise for a device without a touch screen, but at some point realized that their implementation wasn't up to the task. Slacker turns the touch strip off by default, and it will need a major overhaul to prove useful in future players. Fortunately, the jog dial Slacker includes is almost as efficient.

Other controls fare better as they represent hardware counterparts. The device's left side has a Favorite button (which designates that a track be played more often) and a Ban button (that prevents it from being played again in the future); its right side has the Skip button, which Slacker sees as a key differentiator from satellite radio. Most station management tasks, such as creating a new station or designating which stations show up on the device, need to be done from the Slacker site or desktop application.

Continue reading Switched On: Slacker in your slacks (Part 2)

Filed under: Portable Audio

Switched On: Slacker in your slacks (Part 2) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker Portable gets Devicescape WiFi manager

Darren Murph — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:38:00 EST

Hey, Slacker Portable users -- yeah, all eight of you: listen up. Slacker has just teamed up with Devicescape Software in order to give you easier access to more WiFi when on the go. Essentially, the Devicescape Connect application is a WiFi hotspot manager which allows users to register usernames / passwords online and then have the software automatically connect whenever in range. For existing users all giddy about having more opportunities to refresh your Personal Radio stations, you can simply perform a station refresh to nab the new goods -- as for prospective buyers, look for all Portables shipping now to have Devicescape pre-installed.

Filed under: Portable Audio, Wireless

Slacker Portable gets Devicescape WiFi manager originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Switched On: Slacker in your slacks (Part 1)

Ross Rubin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:20:00 EST

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.

The Slacker Portable is the proverbial elephant being inspected by blind men. One is the crop of portable MP3 players, to which the device's service represents free, fresh music on the go in exchange for user control of track selection. Another is the bevy of online internet music sites such as Pandora, Last.fm, Finetune and others, to which it represents the leap from the beb to portable entertainment. A third is the traditional consumer electronics industry for which it portends a connected future. And a fourth are XM and Sirius, which now appear on track to merge in part due to the kind of competition that the Slacker Portable will ultimately provide.

The Slacker Portable picks up where last year's promising Sansa Connect left off. While that device was billed primarily as an MP3 player that boasted tight integration with the Yahoo! Music Unlimited service (now shuttering), the Slacker Portable is labeled as a "personal radio". MP3 files can be loaded onto the device, but that feature is more of an afterthought.

The device comes in three capacities that are billed as storing a different number of stations, which are either genres preset by the internet radio service available at slacker.com, or customized for the user based on a particular artist. One nice touch is that a device ordered from Slacker comes pre-populated with any stations you have set up on the site.

Continue reading Switched On: Slacker in your slacks (Part 1)

Filed under: Portable Audio

Switched On: Slacker in your slacks (Part 1) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker Portable available tomorrow

Nilay Patel — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:03:00 EST

We'd heard at CES that Slacker Portable wireless PMP was due to be released tomorrow, and now Laptop's gone and confirmed it for us. Slacker's marketing VP says that 2008 is about expanding the Slacker service, with additional products, including some from Logitech, and even Slacker apps for mobile devices. Still, they've got to get those initial $199 4GB and $299 8GB units out the door -- tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life, Slacker.

Filed under: Portable Audio

Slacker Portable available tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Slacker Portable closes in on release

Darren Murph — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:25:00 EST

It's been a semi-long journey to release for the Slacker Portable, and while it truthfully hasn't quite arrived, it's on the proverbial home stretch now. Demoing at ShopStoppers here at CES, Slacker was pimping its forthcoming Portable -- which is set to be available on the outfit's website on January 31st -- and according to the on-site rep., it'll be out in 4GB ($199) and 8GB ($299) versions. Granted, we're still not elated about the thing, but those who can't squash curiosity can head on through to check on the vid.

Continue reading Video: Slacker Portable closes in on release

Filed under: Portable Audio

Video: Slacker Portable closes in on release originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 05:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mossberg previews the Slacker Portable

Paul Miller — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:56:00 EST

The short of it is that the Slacker is an intriguing concept and decent product with some serious bugginess in the prototypes -- which is why it's probably a good thing it's been delayed until next year. Walt Mossberg has been kicking around the "blocky" player and related service, and seems to think the idea has some legs. The player is basically a portable WiFi internet radio, but it ties in closely with the free ad-supported Slacker service to give you a bit more of control over your listening experience than a traditional internet radio station. You can navigate the device with either the touch-sensitive strip beside the screen or a scroll wheel on the edge of the unit, and Walt found the sound quality good and WiFi capable. Album art, related photos, artist bios and album reviews are all included with the music and shown off on an expansive 4-inch screen, and the stations are saved to the device for offline listening. You can create custom stations based on artists you like, and if you shell out $7.50 a month for premium service you get unlimited song-skipping (usually limited to six per hour), zero ads, and the ability to pick songs to save to the device and play as often as you'd like. You can of course load your own tracks, but that sort of defeats the purpose of being a "slacker." Mossberg thinks the formula could work as long as Slacker can work out the sub-par battery life, touch strip issues and connection problems before the January 31st launch.

[Via Orbitcast]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Wireless

Mossberg previews the Slacker Portable originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Dec 2007 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker Portable Player delayed until next year

Evan Blass — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:47:00 EST

Not that next year is too far away or anything, but those of you who have been following Slacker's WiFi-enabled Portable Player DAP may be disheartened to learn that its release has been delayed until January 31st, 2008. According to an email received by folks who have already pre-ordered, Slacker has "adjusted" the targeted ship date of its streaming device away from December 13th "in order to deliver the best possible player." Customers who don't want to suffer another six weeks to get their slack on are welcome to cancel their orders, although you don't need to do anything at all if you're cool with waiting.

[Thanks, Matt B.]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Slacker Portable Player delayed until next year originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Dec 2007 08:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker gets official on Portable Player, Premium Radio Service

Ryan Block — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 22:02:00 EST

Looks like Slacker's on the move -- remember those guys? They're the ones with the customizable streaming radio stations that intend to distribute dynamic audio streams by way of internet and satellite. The sat option's not quite ready yet, but the Portable Player is well on its way. The details:

It'll be available in 15 (2GB), 25 (4GB), and 40 (8GB) station capacities. (Station capacity is how Slacker gauges storage. Each station carries with it a slew of tracks). Prices are $200, $250, and $300, respectively.
4-inch screen with touch strip and scroll wheel. (Sorry, not a touchscreen, though, nor is it intended for video playback.)
The device uses WiFi to connect directly to content, and MTP over USB connection. You can do your thing without using a machine, but if you want to use USB you won't have an easy time using it on non-Windows platforms.
It supports MP3, WMA, and AAC playback. The music you sync from the stations is kept in "hidden" storage in DRMed AAC. No, you're not at all allowed to try and grab at this content.
10 hours battery life with removable li-ion battery
Premium Radio Service is available for $7.50 per month, enabling unlimited track skipping, ratings music and banning tracks or artists, station sharing, and ad-free station streams

Slacker inks deals with major, indie labels

Darren Murph — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:17:00 EST

It's been a tick since we've heard any peeps from Slacker, but today it announced that it not only inked a deal with a few "top indie labels," but it managed to sign up the likes of EMI, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group, too. Additionally, "as part of the agreement, Slacker listeners can transfer their personalized stations to Slacker Portable Players with a single click and automatically refresh them via WiFi or USB." On the independent front, IODA, The Orchard, Beggars Group and Matador Records, IRIS, Ubiquity Records and Sanctuary Group PLC are all signed on, further broadening the amount of content available to, well, Slackers. So if your ears are in need of some variety, head on over to the firm's website to try out the (freshly expanded) Slacker Personal Radio beta.

Read - Slacker Finalizes Deals With Major Labels
Read - Slacker Inks Deals with Top Indie Labels

Filed under: Portable Audio

Slacker inks deals with major, indie labels originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official Slacker player pics

Evan Blass — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:37:00 EST

The upcoming Slacker player from Broadband Instruments is never gonna win any fashion shows -- it's not ugly, per se, but that big ol' screen makes for a device the size of a late 90's PDA -- so we're more interested in hearing about the functionality than watching it strut its stuff in front of the cameras. Still, the innovative features and copious storage options mean that this chunkster is likely to make some waves in the market, so we're sure that those of you considering a purchase want to peep all the angles. With that in mind, Cnet's got a bunch of press shots of the satellite radio-playin', internet radio-streamin' DAP; hit up the Read link if you think you might be interested in getting your slack on sometime.

Filed under: Portable Audio

Official Slacker player pics originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker: music device and service via web, WiFi, and satellite

Ryan Block — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:48:00 EST

Remember the mysterious San Diego startup called Broadband Instruments, which pulled executives from Diamond / Rio, MusicMatch, and iRiver, and promised "a new type of integration with online radio stations"? Well, that company now has a product and a plan: Slacker will provide a internet radio network that won't just reach you via browser, but will also stream to a Slacker portable by way of WiFi and -- get this -- satellite service. (On the Ku-band, if you're really interested.) It's all a little complicated, but it'll go something like this: at launch (i.e. now) users will be able to get Pandora-like streaming internet radio for free (the caveat is you only get to skip six songs per channel per hour), with a $7.50 per month plan around the corner that kills the ads and skipping limitations. The Slacker player, which will feature a massive 4-inch screen with scrolling touch strip and debut this summer in varying capacities between 2, 4, and 8GB up to 120GB for between $150 and $350, will have track metadata via AMG, and gobbles up and plays back audio content via WiFi and USB (with tracks purchasable for $1). The satellite part comes into play with a docking station at home or in the car, so you can get Slacker content while on the move or if you're out of range of internet access. Sounds a lot like the WiFi iTunes experience people have been asking for since, well, forever, but definitely with an internet radio bend to it. What we're really dying to know, however, is whether this satellite radio service of theirs will provide enough competition in the market to help the Sirius and XM merger get its wheels greased.

[Via Mashable and Wired]

Filed under: Portable Audio

Slacker: music device and service via web, WiFi, and satellite originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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