InternetRadio
Latest
Archos Arnova is ready to exterminate your clock radio, your Squeezebox too
The consumer electronics company with the phlegmatic name has just dropped its latest device on us, and for once it isn't a tablet or some form of PMP. It's the Archos Arnova, a fancy clock radio, with a 3.5-inch touchscreen in the middle plus the ability to connect to 12,000 streaming radio stations and 1,500 "web TV" channels too. If that's not enough you can play media directly from an SD card or pull it over your local network via uPNP. Why, you can even view pictures on there, if you don't mind squinting. What you can't do is know how much money to save or when you'll need to save it by if you're looking to buy one, as Archos hasn't seen fit to tell us that just yet. %Gallery-117092% [Thanks, Joshua]
Grace Digital punts WiFi radio into a wireless bookshelf speaker system, can't escape Reciva's ghost
Just when we thought Grace Digital Audio had turned over a new, touch-friendly leaf, the company's back with another WiFi internet radio that uses the frustrating Reciva interface. We can't say we're pleased, but the firm's new $250 Wireless Stereo Micro System does have one new feature that might be worth checking out -- it comes with a pair of handsome bookshelf speakers that connect over the ether as well. This time, you can not only connect to your home wireless network (or auxiliary media player) and pull down loads of tunes from the typical array of services -- including Pandora, Live365 and Sirius XM -- but listen in stereo too, while hopefully hiding that ugly four-line LCD and its irksome nests of menus from ever disturbing your view.
Pure launches Contour, One Flow and i-20, also debuts FlowSongs cloud-based music service
It's a heavy day at CES, and it's also a big day for the folks at Pure. Not only have they provided an updated release time table for the Sensia ("later in 2011" for an unknown amount) and Sirocco 550 (March for $499), but it's also branching out with a few unexpected launches. In order to get even more tunes to the outfit's blossoming line of WiFi radios, Pure has revealed its FlowSongs cloud-based music service -- put simply, it enables consumers to buy music directly from their radio and Pure's Lounge iPhone app. Users are instructed to 'Like' songs on FM or internet radio, and then within the same interface, they're able to click 'Buy' while simultaneously scratching that Instant Gratification itch. Customers can download high-quality versions of the MP3 onto their Mac and PC, and it'll work on any Flow radio. Currently, the service is expected to launch as a public beta in North America this spring, with individual tracks priced between $0.99 and $1.49 depending on the publisher. Unfortunately, there's a $5.99 yearly subscription to actually use FlowSongs, which all but guarantees failure in a world where $1.49 tracks feel too pricey on their own. Moving on, the company is also dishing out a few hardware announcements. Up first is the Contour (shown above), an iPod / iPhone-friendly WiFi radio that touts a black crescent shape (not too unlike Meridian's M80), touch-sensitive controls and a trio of video outputs (composite, component and S-Video). The One Flow ($149) is about as basic as it gets, rocking a truly retro motif, a 3.5mm auxiliary input and a pair of alarms. Wrapping things up, there's the i-20, which is hailed as the only digital iPod dock available that supports component, S-Video and composite outputs. In a nutshell, it's a video output stand for your iPod or iPhone, which may or may not be worth the $99 asking price. Head on past the break for specifics on availability, and tap that source link once your credit card is ready. %Gallery-112399%
Grace Digital adds color displays on new Solo Touch, Bravado X, and Mondo WiFi radios
Can't say we had the best of times with Grace Digital's Allegro, but the dawning of a new year means the dawning of a new effort. Three efforts, in this case. Poised for an official unveiling next week at CES, the outfit's new trio of internet radios have all been upgraded with color displays. Up first is the Solo Touch, a $249.99 device with an expansive 4.3-inch touchpanel, bundled remote, Ethernet connection, RCA outputs and a headphone jack. Stepping down a notch, there's the Bravado X ($179.99), which offers a 2.7-inch color display, RCA in / out and a USB connector. Finally, the $169.99 Mondo packs a 3.5-inch color display, a full-on alarm clock (with snooze!) and a USB port of its own. The whole lot can be controlled via a free iPhone app, and they're each capable of tuning into iheartradio, Pandora, Sirius XM, WeatherBug, CBS Radio, MP3Tunes and more. Now, off to Vegas to see if those user interface quirks have been cleared up...
Pure's Evoke Flow, Oasis Flow and Siesta Flow internet radios finally on sale in America
Um, misfire? That's exactly what has happened with Pure's lineup of internet radios, which were supposed to ship to the US of A way back in July. Turns out, the crew hit a few snags along the way, but it looks as if the Evoke Flow, Oasis Flow and Siesta Flow will still be making it in time for the holidays. The company just announced that the aforesaid trio really, truly is on sale now in America, with all three shipping to eager radio zealots right now. Better still (and possibly to make up for lost time), the outfit is offering a 15 percent discount and free shipping for all orders placed before next Monday. Candidly speaking, we'd expect to see a cadre of successors in just a few weeks as CES kicks off, but if you've got an empty box that needs filled and wrapped...
Grace debuts GDI-IR2550p WiFi radio with built-in Pandora controls
It may not exactly be one of the biggest "firsts" around, but Grace Digital Audio's new GDI-IR2550p WiFi radio is apparently the first such radio to pack built-in Pandora controls on the radio itself -- the company's earlier Digital Allegro only had controls on the remote and accompanying iPhone app. Unfortunately, Grace has paired that somewhat unique feature with a radio that seems to have confused retro good looks with bland and dated -- that same four-line LCD used on every other Grace radio doesn't help things either. If that's not your primary concern, however, you will get a decent range of features from the radio, including support for a slew of other internet content besides Pandora, streaming music from your Mac or PC, the aforementioned iPhone app, and all the usual alarm clock functionality you'd expect from a desktop radio. Look for this one to set you back $169.99. Update: Looks like this is just Grace's first of the sort -- this here Livio device did the same thing last year. For shame. Thanks, Brandon! Update 2: Livio CEO Jake Sigal has now weighed in on the matter on his blog. For its part, a rep for Grace Digital Audio tells us that while the Livio radio was indeed the first with thumbs up and thumbs down buttons for Pandora, the Grace radio is the first "that has thumbs up/down plus the play/pause function on the front panel, iPhone app, and remote control."
The Altaz 3.5-inch Internet Clock Radio tells you the weather, 'provides endless entertainment'
"Endless entertainment from a clock radio?" you say, cynically sipping on your tea. "Yes, that's what I said!" desperately cries the Altaz press release embedded below, pledging that its new 3.5-inch touchscreen'd Internet Clock Radio will keep you smiling until the end of time. The device will naturally tell you when exactly that is and wake you up before you get there, also showing the weather, streaming internet radio, and sucking down photos from Picasa. You know, pretty much all the stuff a Chumby One can do. But, can it walk? Unlikely, though the built-in battery, SD card reader, and 802.11g wireless do conspire to make it reasonably independent. All yours for a $99 MSRP, though a little Googling will save you 15 bucks or so.
TUAW Tips: Play internet radio in background on your iPad
Those of us who love to stream internet radio on our iPads can quickly turn into ogres when we switch to another app and the music stops. Until the iPad supports iOS 4 (soon) we're stuck with no background capability, which makes background streaming impossible.The folks over at FairerPlatform have come up with an easy way to listen to many of your favorite streams without a need to jailbreak your iPad or wait fruitlessly for Flash to make an appearance on the platform. While this trick won't work for every streaming Internet radio station -- Pandora is a perfect example of this -- it does work with others like Live365. What you need to do is find a radio-only stream that is playable in Safari, start playing the stream, and then go on to those other apps while listening to your music. As an example, FairerPlatform cites Soma FM, a San Francisco-based, user-supported internet radio station. Their music is available in the pls multimedia playlist format, which the iPad's Safari plays without a hitch. Once you've started the stream, you can do any other work you need to and the stream plays on in the background. If you're a fan of any of the live shows on the TWIT network, you can listen to those shows in background as well. Just point Safari to live.twit.tv, tap "Live Audio Stream," and then you can listen to their shows while doing real work instead of looking at Leo's face. TWIT AM uses the m3u format, which also loves Mobile Safari. It seems that most of the internet radio streams using pls or m3u work beautifully with Safari. Of course, this doesn't work with every radio station, internet or otherwise. I tried to see if a local radio station's coverage of the Colorado Rockies would stream -- nope, they use a Flash player. But this is a good trick to know until we're able to run the native streaming players as a background process on the iPad in a few days or months.
Pure's FlowSongs to rival iTunes tagging, won't be limited to select stations
For whatever reason, iTunes tagging never really has taken off. One could chalk it up to soft marketing or just a limited number of supported devices and stations, but either way, it seems that consumers have far more efficient ways to find music they like than to hear 'em on the radio, tag 'em, and download 'em later. Over in the UK, though, Pure is going ahead with a full-on competitor, as FlowSongs offers select Pure Digital radios (Avanti Flow, the Evoke Flow, the Oasis Flow, the Siesta Flow and the Sensia) to connect with the 7digital network in order to mark songs, purchase them for around £1 each and then have them streamed via one's Lounge account and to as many compatible Pure radios as you'd like. Songs that are found via DAB, FM or internet stations can be tagged, and all downloads are completely free of DRM. Better still, the "vast majority" of tracks will be encoded at 320kbps, though you will have to stomach a minor £2.99 yearly fee in order to pay for the Shazam portion of the service. It's all slated to go live on Monday across the pond, and you can give those links below a visit if you're thirsty for more.
Sony Dash update brings Shoutcast, app shortcuts and the true meaning of life
Got yourself a Sony Dash, did you? If so, right about now would be a beautiful time to unplug it and plug it back in, as that'll trigger a minty fresh update to download and apply. This newfangled software build will not only add Shoutcast as an available internet radio station, but it also brings app shortcuts and a hastened add / delete app process. It ain't much, but it ain't costly, either. Let us know in comments how it all works out for you, cool? [Thanks, Dave]
Grace Digital's Tuner Wireless Radio & Media Player adds internet radio to existing stereos
So, we've two main issues here. One, who in their right mind would pay $219.99 for a device that still requires a dedicated stereo in order to play back the internet radio streams that Grace Digital's Tuner Wireless Radio & Media Player delivers? And secondly, who would want to put up with Grace Digital's thoroughly lackluster UI? If you can't grok the grumbling, the aforementioned company now has a slender new component it'd love to stick on your shelf, with the device shown above able to stream WiFi radio content from 30,000 stations, Pandora, iheartradio, Sirius, Live365, MP3tunes and a smattering of other sources. It can be wired up via Ethernet or used over 802.11g, with composite, Toslink and coaxial digital audio outputs around back. There's a 4-line backlit LCD for displaying not nearly enough metadata at once, and there's even a remote thrown in for those looking to build out their collection. It's available now if you're feeling the itch, though we'd suggest you get that checked out before blindly indulging.
Brite-View launches CinemaGo BV-5005HD Mini CG HD media player
Brite-View's CinemaTube may have sufficed just fine for your home entertainment needs last year, but there's nothing like a little "Special Edition" to really get the gears turning in 2010. Launched today, the CinemaGo BV-5005HD Mini CG is mostly a revamped version of the CinemaTube BV-5005HD, boasting an eSATA interface, USB 2.0 socket, inbuilt WiFi, a BitTorrent manager and access to MUZEE internet radio channels. As you'd expect, the box is built to handle 1080p output and a cornucopia of file formats including MOV, WMV, MKV, AVI, VOB, DIVX, FLV and RMVB, and content can be delivered via locally attached hard drives or a home network / web connection. Best of all, the $149.99 MSRP is being trumped by a $109.99 pre-order price if you get in now, so really, you should probably get in now. Unless you hate saving money.
Grace Digital Allegro review
Dedicated internet radios have always been niche products; when you can get all the same content on your desktop, laptop or even smartphone, it's hard to see the point of relying on WiFi. Without a traditional FM antenna, they're many are chained to your network -- if not your wall -- and the lack of keyboard input for setup and channel search furthers their plight. Even so, there must be something to it, as this gadget category refuses to die, so we thought we'd give one promising newcomer a good, thorough try. The Grace Digital Allegro caught our attention with a packed feature list (including Pandora) and a clean, mobile design. Did it enthrall or disappoint? Find out after the break.%Gallery-92306%
Grace Digital Audio announces Solo WiFi internet radio tuner
Interested in a WiFi internet radio but already have a perfectly good stereo? Then you're just the sort of person that Grace Digital Audio is after with its new Solo WiFi internet radio tuner, which simply turns any stereo (or set of speakers, for that matter) into an internet radio. Apart from the lack of speakers, the device is fairly similar to Grace's recently announced Allegro WiFi radio, with it packing the same support for services like Pandora and Sirius internet radio, the same backlit LCD display, and the same support for Grace's remote app for the iPhone / iPod touch (plus a standard remote, of course). Sold? Then you can snag this one directly from Grace right now for $124.99, or look for it to hit Best Buy, Sears and other retailers in July.
Pure's stylish internet radio lineup ships to America on July 1st
Pure has long since been a stranger to the US market, despite shipping some of the sexiest internet radios this planet has ever seen. The company announced back at CES that all of that would be changing in the near future, but it wasn't until now that we had specifics surrounding the whos, whats, wheres and whens. The Evoke Flow, Oasis Flow and Seista Flow will all be available for purchase in the United States of America on the first of July, with MSRPs set for $229, $249 and $139 in order of mention. Initially, they'll be available only through Pure's website, though we get the impression that brick-and-mortar distribution is only a moment or two away. Check the full press release after the break, and be sure to jot down this here date in your handy dandy date book, cool?
Pioneer announces CD ripping, Internet radio playing, DLNA sporting iPod docks
Up until this point, when Pioneer and iPhone were uttered in the same sentence (or the same Engadget post) it's been in the guise of some sort of integration with an existing product (such as a car stereo or home theater hardware). This time around, however, the consumer electronics company is debuting a line of a/v docks that, truth be told, don't look nearly as boring as most do to these jaded blogsters. All of the kit included herein feature 2.1 speakers, HDMI, component video, and composite video out, and Bluetooth audio streaming. Of all of these, the HTD Series (XW-NAV1K-K) is the "jack of all trades," featuring a DVD/CD player, FM tuner, USB connectivity for external storage, CD-to-MP3 ripping, and "scaling of DVD video to 1080p near HD resolution" via HDMI. Available in June with an MSRP of $299. For someone with simpler needs (and greater means) the Audition Series (XW-NAS3/-K) "unparalleled reproduction of compressed audio files" come April, for an MSRP of $449. Last but not least, the Duo Series systems sport dual docking ports for two different iPods or iPhones and a Double Shuffle feature for continuous playback of music between the two docked players. The XW-NAC1-K ($349) is a more modest device, while the XW-NAC3-K ($449) adds a number of features to the basic dock, including DLNA 1.5 home network support, vTuner Internet Radio, external storage support via USB, and more. Both these bad boys will be available in May. PR after the break.
Stylish Sony Walkman docks sport WiFi radio, ludicrous sheen
Thermos audio wasn't the only idea Sony Japan introduced this week; there's also the company's glossy new speaker docks, the NAS-V5 and NAS-V7M, whose intense reflection make us remember that time mom told us never to stare at the sun. Unfortunately, NAS doesn't stand for Network Attached Storage here, but the ¥50,000 (about $535) NAS-V7M does have 16GB of internal memory onto which you can rip audio CDs with a single touch, and both it and the ¥40,000 ($428) NAS-V5 have internal WiFi that'll have your Japanese counterparts pumping internet radio jingles from Shoutcast, vTuner, your PC and anything else with a compatible wireless audio stream when they hit Akihabara on June 26. They both feature 32-bit DSPs for what we can only guess will be crisp, clean audio quality, have all the standard AM-FM radio features you've come to expect, and include an AUX jack and a powered USB port. Oh, and lest we forget amidst all the bedside table aural goodness -- they're also Walkman docks. Hear a deep, soothing Japanese voice explain why you need one, after the break. %Gallery-90120%
Grace Allegro WiFi radio keeps things simple and portable
While some internet radios try to go all out with either retro or futuristic styling, Grace's new Allegro WiFi radio instead keeps things about as simple as can be, and that's just fine with us. Designed with portability in mind, the radio can run on six AA batteries or an optional NiMH rechargeable battery, and promises to deliver some room-filling sound thanks to "one of the most powerful amplifiers in it's class." You'll also get support for a range of services including Pandora, Sirius and Live 365 right out of the box, as well as an included remote control (and even an iPhone remote app), a headphone jack, and all the usual alarm clock features -- not to mention support for streaming of your own music library in addition to internet radio. Sound like what you're looking for? This one's available to order right now for $169.99.
Mini Countryman to be first production car with internet streaming radio?
BMW's Mini brand is getting a little bigger soon, with the Countryman bringing a taller stance and some AWD to the party, but that won't be the only exciting addition to the mix. The Countryman will be the first Mini to offer Mini Connected, an infotainment system of the likes of Sync or MyFord. This one naturally features iPhone/iPod integration and all that jazz, but most interesting is the so-called "web radio function" that will allow internet radio streams to be beamed right into the car. Stations must be selected from an "extensive" database, so it remains to be seen whether your favorite speed metal stream will be included, but more importantly Mini isn't saying just how those bits and bytes will get to the car. Will a USB modem be required? Will Mini charge a monthly service fee? Maybe you'll just need a really long Ethernet cable? We'll find out when it gets a full unveiling at the Geneva Auto Show next month.
Daimler's Smart Drive kit for iPhone gives you big buttons, a dent in your wallet
If you're one of the trendy hipsters driving a Smart Fortwo, here's another way of pimping up your ride: Daimler has announced a Q2 2010 launch for its Smart Drive kit for the iPhone. As pictured above, the kit consists of a cradle for handsfree communication plus charging, and an app that "combines all the features needed on the road" by the means of "extra-large buttons and extra-large letters." You'll get access to your usual music library (plus Internet radio), contacts, phone functions and map by Daimler (points-of-interest data from Microsoft Bing). There's also the handy "Assist" feature that can automatically mark your parking location when undocked, and can provide GPS coordinates to the Smart hotline for roadside assistance. What's more, Daimler's currently working on a camera for this kit that can identify speed limit signs, and can then warn you if you're speeding. Want it? You'll need to fork out a dear €240 ($326) for the cradle (which may or may not be necessary), then a one-off €9.99 ($14) for the app, and finally the optional annual €49.99 ($68) for on-board European and US maps plus live traffic data. We'll reconsider if the app can also start our car. [Thanks, Jason]
