Oh look, here's another device that allows you to record AM/FM radio and then upload the recordings to your PC.

The Pogo Radio YourWay LX not only let's you record à la carte, but also lets you schedule recordings - up to 10 events - for when you're not around. Up to 8.5 hours can be saved in MP3 format even. All for "only" $199.95.

Funny thing is that the Inno doesn't let you copy the songs to your PC... unless you pay for them (which, to me, might be considered a good thing to the record industry). So why doesn't the RIAA take issue with the Pogo Radio YourWay? Oh right, because it's ripping free radio... and I guess that's ok. 

[Product Page]
Thanks Russell!

 

 

 

It looks like PopCatcher has come out with a new device, dubbed the PopCatcher MusicDock MD-601, which allows you to rip over-the-air radio, chop it up into separate tracks, and convert it to MP3 for your media consumption desires.

Similar to the TimeTrax TraxCatcher, the neat thing about the MusicDock MD-601 is that it includes a dockable 1Gb MP3 player. Once the MP3 player gets filled up, simply download the tunes to your computer, and continue to rip straight from the radio.

Obviously this device differs greatly from the Pioneer Inno - in that it's a bit more blatant in it's interests of "stealing" music - but somehow I don't see it causing the same stir with the RIAA. Of course, if the RIAA wins their lawsuit against XM, devices like this will go the way of the Dodo bird.

[via Engadget] 

Zing, the company behind the Sirius Stiletto's WiFi technology, as received $12.5 million out of a $13.41 million third-round funding that it is raising, according to a regulatory filing.

IDG Ventures Boston was joined by return backer Redpoint Ventures.

The first Zing product was the Sirius Stiletto, though notably they've received more recognition from the soon to be release Sansa Connect (pictured). The SanDisk Sansa Connect won CNET's Best of CES 2007 award and features 4Gb of memory plus the WiFi connection so you can listen to Internet Radio.

[PEHub via PaidContent] 

Introducing HD Radio's answer to the plug-and-play radio, the Visteon HD Jump. With HD Radio OEM units running a cool 500-clams, a cheaper add-on solution is necessary (because, y'know, market demand is so high). So the HD Jump is here to supply the yearning masses for all their HD Radio needs.

Now this is state-of-the-art technology here folks. The HD Jump offers a full spectrum of features, including "real-time" song title, artist and album information (amazing!) plus the HD Jump has multicasting capabilities (if you can find one).

Note the gorgeous, and modern-looking, monochromatic display. The six preset buttons allow you to store up to 18 different stations (if you can find them). I liken the large tactile control knob to that of the iPod - just spin it and select what station you want to listen to!

The HD Jump features an FM modulator, so you can interface with your regular car or home radio. Sure, you'll be going from "crystal-clear" HD digital radio back to analog FM radio, but it's worth it to get all that compelling content.

The thin profile is quite attractive and would hardly be noticeable on your dashboard. With the built-in AUX jack so you can plug in your iPod, the HD Jump does it all!

The HD Jump is expected to retail for only $200, and should be available this Spring. Can't wait!

Yesterday Apple dropped a bombshell on the entire tech industry. The most anticipated product of, well ever, was unveiled. And in a way that it seems only Apple can do - it exceeded anyone's expectations.

From the satellite radio industry's perspective, superficially it serves as a "no threat" product, because Apple intentionally downplayed any over-the-air music capabilities. This is smart from Apple's standpoint, because over-the-air downloads are useless to say the least. It's not about convergence, it's about integration. The iPhone won't replace the iPod, but it will most definitely replace your cell phone (even if you need to convince your wife). People have a lot of data that they want to take with them, and the iPhone is the enabler of this.

But the satellite radio industry shouldn't be breathing a sigh of relief just yet.

The iPhone, like the iPod, like Chrysler's MyGig, like Ford's Sync, and like the hundreds of other digital music products out there are all vying for one thing - your ear. Discovery or not, these are all products that erode away at a person's listening time. And satellite radio needs to compete with that.

If there's one thing that Apple knows, it's sex. The iPhone is sexy. So sexy that you want it just from seeing photos of it. Price rationale goes out the window because it's overruled by desire. And XM and Sirius really need to learn how to make their products sexier. Creating sexy products makes others look over your shoulder while you're using it. Sex creates the kind of buzz that you just can't buy.

If we really want to reignite the retail industry, we need to stop thinking like engineers and start thinking like porn stars. 

There goes the neighborhood. Apple has just unveiled the new "iPhone" and it is absolutely incredible.

Quick (and breathtaking) specs:

• 11.6 millimeters thick (!!!)
  
• 3.5-inch wide touchscreen display with multi-touch support
• Display has a proximity sensor that turns off the sensor when it's close to your face
• 2 megapixel camera
  
• 4GB or 8 GB of storage
• Bluetooth with EDR
• WiFi that automatically engages when in range
• Quadband GSM radio with EDGE
• Runs OS X with support for Widgets, Google Maps, and Safari, and iTunes
• 5 hours of battery life for talk or video - 16 hours in music mode
• Cingular exclusive
  
• 4GB iPhone for $499 on a two-year contract, 8GB for $599

See a ton of photos and more on Engadget.

Here's an interesting bit from Jacob's Media, regarding some analysis by Katz Radio Group showing that, wait for it, satellite radio is insignificant to terrestrial radio's listener penetration. I'm not going to fault Fred Jacobs for giving props to Katz (it's his M.O. afterall), but rather let's take a look at the report itself.

The December 2006 issue of Katz Radio Group's newsletter "Radiowaves" (PDF) focuses on trying to debunk "myths" about Old Media vs New Media (are we really still having this argument?). So of course as a key feature they show a neato chart that illustrates satellite radio's penetration versus terrestrial radio's penetration in the Top 25 U.S. markets.

Now, let's ignore the genius editorial copy in this newsletter (which proclaims that while XM and Sirius will have "disappointing" Christmas sales, HD Radio will have "very robust" sales). Let's just examine the data itself, afterall it's data that Jacob's feels should go out "to the advertising community, as well as media outlets like The New York Times."

First off, the Total U.S. Penetration number. This is probably the most relevant since XM and Sirius have no localization capabilities. See, the data that Katz is showcasing is meant to prove to the world that advertising with terrestrial radio is a smarter choice than advertising with satellite radio. But any advertiser who signs with Sirius or XM would be advertising on a national basis, so examining the penetration in each individual market makes little sense. If "Bobby's Used Car Sales" in Minneapolis wants to talk up this Saturday's midnight bonanza, why would he advertise on a national scale?

But I digress, back to Total U.S. Penetration.

The data, which is provided by Simmons, shows that Satellite Radio penetration is at 4.1% for Sirius and XM combined. Hmm, interesting... 4.1% of what? The Katz feature doesn't say. But since the words "total U.S. penetration" are being used, let's assume they mean the entire U.S. population of 300 million. Ah, so that's 12.3 million people. Sort of close to the combined number of subscribers between XM and Sirius (not counting Q4 subs I assume). That ignores the fact that there's more listeners than subscribers. (Simmons, by the way, is partnered with Sirius).

Next to the 4.1% number, Katz shows where satellite radio would be "ranked" among local terrestrial radio stations. This is an average of the local rankings, based on - Arbitron numbers. Not based on the 4.1% figure. So we have two different figures, from two different research firms, on the same line item. Nice.

But how is that possible since Arbitron has postponed the listing of satellite radio in their books? Ah, that's because Katz used individual market penetration data from Scarborough Research, to determine the rankings among local terrestrial radio. So it's really just an "assumption" more than an actual ranking.

So let's break it down. This "eye opening" data is the combination of data from three different research firms, with different methodologies, and different audience measurements - yet they're combined on associated line items. Brilliant.

Yet again, none of this really matters. Not because satellite radio is a national media - and so comparing local marketshare is just plain silly. And not because a majority of the channels on satellite radio don't even have commercials, so this information serves useless to the advertising community. It's because the satellite radio business model isn't dependent on advertising dollars, like terrestrial radio's is.

Do yourself a favor Katz, and leave the apples and oranges alone. Everybody knows that terrestrial radio has more listeners than satellite does. The real question is, if satellite radio is so insignificant... why do you care?

A new survey from the Digital Media Association found that 60% of digital music consumers are listening to more music since they started using an "online music service" (this includes Internet radio and digital music downloads).

Over 60% said they have discovered "some new artists" while 25% said they found "a lot of new artists." Add to that, over 35% said they now talk about music more than before, and more than 75% have recommended an online service to someone else. 15% of online music fans say they are now attending more concerts.

The results aren't really surprising because the act of seeking out and accessing an Internet radio service (or downloading digital music) is a far more of an interactive experience, than simply listening on the radio. Probably more so on the digital download side, than the Internet radio side, because once you find your "favorite" Internet radio station you'll just let it play (much like your favorite Sirius or XM channel).

I'd assume that these listeners - especially downloaded digital music listeners - are far more likely to listen to music in the foreground, or actively, rather than just passive listening like in regular radio. Satellite radio likely would see similar results as Internet radio, containing a combination of "active" and "passive" listeners.

It's these "active" listeners - the engaged audience - that likely will seek out a more interactive environment. Interactivity is key in competing with the iPod and other digital mediums. So how can satellite radio fulfill this need?

[DiMA Survey via FMQB]