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Radio in a jar plays your favorite station, and only your favorite station
Despite all the proof that we basically live in a sci-fi future, there's still something a little magical about flipping a switch and hearing a story or a song wafting out of a box. Radio is sort of steadfast that way, but that also means people are prone to taking it for granted. Enter the Public Radio, a Kickstarter project developed by two guys in Brooklyn that both celebrates and severely limits the traditional FM radio. To call this thing minimalist is an understatement par excellence. There's just one antenna, one knob, one station, and not a speck of wood grain to be found -- just a tiny mason jar to house it all.
Rdio update expands its free radio offerings, focuses on curation
Rdio has offered radio-like shuffle listening for quite sometime, but with its latest update, the service looks to be tops in free internet streaming. Across Android, iOS and desktop apps, the tune-minded outfit packs in new features that will help do just that, and it'll lend subscribers a hand with easily tracking down what they're after -- whether it's Stations, playlists, full albums or a single song. The free "Stations-first" option claims to offer a library that's 15 times larger than others with channels for selections based on genres and artists. What's more, there are also streams based on emotion or activity curated by folks at Rdio, and some handpicked by "tastemakers" (Snoop Dogg was offered as an example). There's a station that's unique to each user, too -- Billy FM is mine, for example -- learning from your listening habits to provide a mix to suit your favorites and yet another that's populated with tracks from your Collection.
Pandora's radio app for Glass lets you tune into Haim using your head
If you regularly go out wearing Google Glass, you've probably lamented the lack of major music app choices. There's Play Music and... well, that's about it. Never fear, though, as Pandora has just released a Glass app for its internet radio service. The wearable-ready software lets you control streaming without ever having to reach for your phone; you can create or choose stations solely using your voice, and the touchpad lets you both skip annoying tunes and give the thumbs-up to songs you like. It won't cost you anything to download the app, although you can't really call this free. Besides the $1,500 Glass itself, you'll likely want to buy Glass-specific stereo headphones -- that's a lot of money just to get internet radio on an eyepiece.
Pandora deal helps indie musicians get noticed on internet radio
Pandora's relationship with music labels hasn't exactly been cozy, with more than a few legal disputes over royalties. Today, though, it's extending an olive branch. The internet radio service has forged a deal with the Merlin rights agency's 20,000-plus indie labels to help their artists get discovered. The move will use Pandora's music discovery techniques to bring "additional exposure" to these musicians when they're relevant to listeners. They'll also have direct access to playback data (to help decide on set lists and tour locations), and they'll get custom communication channels to reach fans.
Listen as a Google-backed piano turns live radio streams into 'world music'
If Google promised to fund your bohemian lifestyle for six months, in return for some kind of interactive art installation, what would you create? For the New York-based artist, Zach Lieberman, the answer was something totally out of the ordinary: He built the world's most connected digital piano, which plays notes extracted from our planet's cacophony of live radio streams.
YouTube and SiriusXM bring internet hits to satellite radio
Heads up, internet crooners: your tunes just might make the leap from the web to the radio... sort of. YouTube announced earlier this morning that it inked a deal with SiriusXM to bring the streaming video service's new and trending tracks to a new weekly show called the YouTube 15. The show -- which'll air on Sirius' Hits 1 pop station -- will be helmed by YouTube personality Jenna Marbles when it premieres on July 11, but it's only one part of Google's big new music push. Don't forget, it's also preparing to launch subscription-based music features on YouTube, though exactly when that'll happen (or how they'll work) is anyone's guess. The timing is pretty curious though: with a subscription service waiting in the wings, this SiriusXM deal seems well-equipped to get people thinking about YouTube as more than just a repository for cat videos and viral hits. No, it's a place where people actually discover and consume music; Google's going to make sure all of us know that soon enough.
Hackers use Snowden leaks to reverse-engineer NSA surveillance devices
Over the past year, we've learned of the many techniques the NSA has used to tap into global communications. However, Edward Snowden's document leaks didn't just uncover the gadgets the agency used, they also gave security researchers the necessary insights to develop their own. After the NSA's classified Advanced Network Technology catalogue was published, Michael Ossmann and his team set about recreating two of its approved radio-based surveillance devices: one that could be fixed to a computer's monitor connector to send on-screen images and another that can be fixed to a keyboard cable to collect keystrokes.
iTunes Radio eyes local reach with broadcast content and focused ads
The Beats Music purchase may help Apple compete with Spotify, but iTunes Radio remains focused squarely on Pandora. According to a report from The Information, Apple is said to be working on local advertising while serving up content beyond the scope of musical selections with a hand from broadcast stations. iTunes Radio has yet to take off, and adding items like talk radio and more could give the platform a major boost. Items like ESPN's daily slate and your favorite team's hometown coverage are but a couple of examples that could make for a compelling station menu. There's also the ads. They make money. If the folks in Cupertino can get local -- or even regional -- content, advertisers in those markets may be more apt to spend promotional dollars there. iHeartRadio has shown the interest in streaming broadcast programming with its apps available on mobile platforms and preinstalled in a number of automobiles. With CarPlay on the way, an expansion of iTunes Radio makes the upcoming in-car offering a much more enticing addition.
Anonymous' radio-based networking keeps protesters off the grid
Despite being an internet activist group, Anonymous knows the value of avoiding traditional communication; it's sometimes the only way for dissidents to elude surveillance and service disruptions. Accordingly, the group has just unveiled AirChat, a networking system that uses any available radio connection to share data between PCs. Nearly all of its infrastructure is based on encrypted data packets -- you need encryption keys to get a spot on the network and receive any private information, making it virtually impossible to fake an address. Users can share internet access if they get it, and there's support for both proxy servers and Tor routing to anonymize any online activity.
Labels claim Pandora owes money for streaming old songs, probably won't get it
Pandora can't catch a break, it seems. Just weeks after the streaming radio service escaped paying higher royalties to songwriters, record companies and musicians have sued it in a New York court for allegedly violating state copyright laws by refusing to pay for older song recordings. The labels argue that Pandora is subject to state rules on compensation whenever it streams tunes recorded before February 15th, 1972, when federal law took over; right now, it's only paying for those newer works. The suing parties claim that Pandora is both depriving artists of income and wielding an "unfair advantage" over on-demand competitors like Rdio and Spotify, which have no choice but to negotiate royalties for classic tracks.
Court rules that Pandora won't pay higher royalties to songwriters (update: ruling details)
Pandora has been fighting tooth and nail against potential songwriting royalty increases, and it appears that this tenacity is largely paying off. A court has ruled that the streaming radio service should pay the same 1.85 percent royalty rate that it has paid for years, resisting both Pandora's call for 1.7 percent (like traditional radio) and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' (ASCAP) demand for 3 percent. Details of the ruling are under a court seal, so the motivations behind the decision aren't yet clear. However, ASCAP is more than a little upset by its loss; it sees the verdict as proof that full-scale licensing reform is necessary to "reflect the realities" of modern music. Whether or not that's true, the Society may have inadvertently sabotaged its own case. It pointed to iTunes Radio's higher royalty rate as a model for fair compensation, but Apple is willing to make little to no profit from its music services -- ASCAP may have unintentionally suggested that its proposal wasn't realistic. Update: A week later, the details of the ruling are available. The judge determined that ASCAP was colluding with publishers to force Pandora to pay higher rates; it would ask publishers to leave the group so that they could negotiate more lucrative deals on their own, raising their royalty demands to give ASCAP more leverage at the rate court.
Samsung's Milk Music internet radio service is only for Galaxy devices (video)
Do we need yet another online music service? Samsung certainly thinks so, as it's just introduced its very own internet radio service called, weirdly enough, Milk Music. So named for its supposed "fresh" take on music (Get it? Because milk is fresh? Yeah, we're not sure about that either), it's free to download from Google Play starting today. In fact, you can start streaming tunes immediately as soon as you launch it, no sign-up required. Best of all, the service is completely ad-free (for now at least -- we'll explain more about this later). The caveat, of course, is that it's exclusive to Samsung phones. Milk Music is a completely separate entity from Samsung's existing Music Hub subscription service, as the former is focused more as a free radio service that you can use without having to set up an account.
Spotify just bought the company that powers most online radio (update)
Spotify now owns The Echo Nest, better known as "the company that powers the vast majority of internet radio." That includes competing services like Twitter #Music, Rdio and more. But today's news doesn't necessarily mean that those services will lose support from Echo Nest's API, as Spotify's news announce today says, "The Echo Nest API will remain free and open to support its robust developer ecosystem." The Echo Nest is staying in Somerville, Mass., with employees assuredly making Revolutionary War jokes every now and again to their Spotify counterparts in England. It's not clear just yet what this will mean for Spotify Radio, but there's this one oblique line about the acquisition's potential impact: "The addition of The Echo Nest to Spotify will also strengthen Spotify's ability to help brands and partners build amazing music experiences for their audiences." Sure! Anyway, Spotify now owns the company that powers most of your internet radio. Take that as you will. Update: A Spotify rep gave us a few more details on the acquisition. First, Echo Nest is a "wholly owned subsidiary" of Spotify, and will operate relatively autonomously as such. Second, it looks like relationships with the competition may not last forever. "In the few cases where The Echo Nest does work with direct competitors we will work with them to understand these relationships and determine the next business steps. The Echo Nest will meet all contractual obligations to all customers," we were told.
Spotify revamp for Windows Phone will bring radio and a brand new look
Spotify's Windows Phone app has typically lagged its Android and iOS counterparts, but it's about to catch up in a big, big way. The streaming music provider has revealed a makeover of the app that will roll in the discovery, playlist browsing and radio features that we've seen elsewhere. It will also have a fresh interface that's in sync with Spotify's more recent apps while remaining true to the style of Microsoft's smartphone OS. Premium subscribers will be the first to get the Windows Phone update when it arrives this spring, but Spotify has promised that its free mobile listening option will be coming to the platform later on.
Google Play Music for Android now lets you take radio stations offline
If you thrive on Google Play Music's radio stations but would love if they kept playing while you're away from an internet connection, congratulations -- Google has just granted your wish. An Android app update rolling out today lets you pin whole stations to your device, guaranteeing a fresh set of tunes when you're on that WiFi-less flight. The upgrade also allows you to remotely manage the devices that can access your collection, and a "play next" command will queue up a song that you just have to hear. The new Play Music software doesn't appear to be widely available just yet, but those who refuse to wait can download the installer from Android Police.
airadio pro is a full-featured radio app for iOS that lets you listen and record
There are soooooo many radio apps for iOS that it takes some effort to get my attention. But airadio pro has done that (yes, the app name is all lowercase). This free app is an advanced internet radio tuner that also records what you might want to save and lets you listen later or send them out via email as an attachment. The app contains links to about 8,500 stations, and they are grouped by genre, or you can search by name. The app supports multi-tasking so you can grab the station you want and do other things while the music plays in the background. You can create a favorites list, and "time-shift" streams by pausing or rewinding. The app supports MP3, AAC, AAC+v1 and HE AACv2 streams. If a call comes in, the stream is paused and will resume when you are done. You can even select your choice of VU meters, from traditional physical-looking ones, to newer LED bars. AirPlay is supported as well, so you can get your music out to an external wireless speaker. The app was easy enough to use, with buttons for genres, favorites, searching, recordings and settings right at the bottom of the screen. Sound quality was good, especially with the higher-bit rate streams, but even low-bit rate streams like BBC News at 32k sounded quite good. I have a couple of gripes. One is the way of mailing audio clips. You set up your email address in the app preferences, but if I want to send the clip to someone else, I have to go back in and change it. It would be a lot friendlier if I could just type in the email destination. Also, it would be good to use the GPS on the iPhone to find local stations. Especially handy when traveling. airadio is a clever app that is really full-featured. Best of all, it's free. The app requires iOS 7.0 or later and it's optimized for the iPhone 5. The app is not universal, but runs on iPads.
IBM's speedy graphene chip could lead to super-efficient mobile devices
Chips with graphene inside are theoretically quicker than plain silicon designs, but they've been slow in practice; the manufacturing process often damages the graphene, stripping away its speed advantage. That won't be a big problem with IBM's prototype radio receiver, though. The company inserted graphene transistors into the new chip only after it finished assembling the mostly silicon design, keeping the more exotic material intact. The resulting integrated circuit is about 10,000 times more powerful than previous parts, IBM claims. The test unit hasn't done more than send a text message so far, but it could lead to future wireless radios that are both faster and consume less power. If you eventually get a graphene-powered smartphone with great data speeds and a long battery life, you'll know who to thank.
BlackBerry's latest software update turns smartphones into radios
If you own a BlackBerry Z30, Q10 or Q5, then your smartphone can suddenly do a neat little trick. The company's latest software update enables those devices to become FM radios, letting you stage an impromptu dance party without a data connection. Version 10.2.1 also brings a series of minor, but welcome, tweaks to the platform, including a new screen for answering calls, SMS groups, offline reading mode and picture passwords. The update is making its way to all BlackBerry 10 handsets from today, including the Porsche P'9982, for all you fancy-dans out there. Update: BlackBerry hasn't publicly announced that BB 10.2.1-enabled Android APK installation from the file manager, so we've been waiting for an official confirmation before making it public. However, several of you have been in touch to say that this feature is working on your handsets.
Pandora now recommends radio stations to Android and iOS listeners
Pandora is built around personalizing radio to your tastes, but that's only so much help once you're tired of listening to a given station. Thankfully, the company's Android and iOS apps now recommend new stations. When you're creating a station or browsing your existing list, you'll see suggestions for additional artist channels based on both your history as well as thumbs-up ratings for individual songs. If you've ever been left scrounging for new music to stream, you'll want to grab Pandora's latest mobile app today.
Radionomy acquires Winamp and Shoutcast to boost its streaming efforts
There were rumors that Winamp would find a rescuer following its shutdown, and today that rescue is official. Online radio platform provider Radionomy has acquired both WinAmp and Shoutcast from AOL (Engadget's owner) for an undisclosed amount. The deal is primarily a play for market share; now that Radionomy owns Shoutcast, it's powering roughly half of all internet radio. The company also plans to improve Winamp, making it "ubiquitous" across multiple platforms that include mobile devices and car infotainment systems. It's doubtful that Winamp will reclaim the prominence it had during its heyday, but the acquisition should at least give it (and Shoutcast) a new lease on life. [Image credit: Theis Kofoed Hjorth, Flickr]
