We last saw the RCA Infinite Radio at CES 2008 and got mighty excited about it because let users access all types of Internet radio (including Slacker) without a PC. Well, last night it made an appearance at the Pepcom event and now we know more about how it works.
The RCA Infinite Radio receives internet-based music and talk streams via WiFi. Just connect with your router and you're good to go. It also receives Slacker Personal Radio and includes the Heart/Ban buttons built right on to the device.
Additionally, the Infinite Radio comes packaged with a WeatherBug alerts subscription (a free 4 year pre-paid subscription is included with the device). The on-demand weather information - including 1-day and 3-day weather forecasts as well as emergency alerts - gets delivered right to the RCA Infinite Radio. You only need to activate the Slacker and WeatherBug free subscriptions online once, and then you're good to go.
The RCA Infinite Radio also lets you save 10 hours of music into its built-in memory, though you can't save Slacker streams (for legal reasons I'm assuming). And yes, it's an alarm clock, so you can wake-up to Internet radio, Slacker, AM/FM radio or tracks off a USB flash memory device.
The RCA Infinite Radio (model RIR205) will be available this fall for $149.99 MSRP.
Pack in an XM tuner then it's something. But then who would pay $149 for a clock radio.
Too bad it's ugly. I really want some Internet radio in the bedroom. Guess I'll stick with Pandora on the iPhone.
I think this is a scary proposition for SIRI XM. I have the Timex XM alarm clock that was made and sold for about 1/2 hour. Anyway - that thing just didn't live up to what was promised. I really enjoy slacker radio and am close to byuing the handheld unit.
Times are a changing -
Tell me ... how can the music industry give away like this. This is free internet radio - this radio has no means of advertising, right.
So how can this type of radio have a future without revenue?
In all likelihood I will be purchasing this. Slacker is awesome if you are looking for good music channels. While the music channels on Sirius/XM continue to decline its competition is gaining strength. I love satellite radio but musically it is quite disappointing. Unfortunately it seems to only be getting worse.