We're pretty accustomed to see announcements about iPhone App downloads, but this little bit of news is related to the BlackBerry, showing the maturing of the BlackBerry Applications ecosystem. The Slacker BlackBerry App has reached over 1 million downloads since it launched in the beginning of this year. Not too shabby.
Additionally, we hear that the CNET Editors' Choice award will be given to Slacker for the BlackBerry app.
Slacker's library has grown to well over 2 million tracks (that's four-times what Pandora has). Thanks to its caching ability, the Slacker Blackberry app will play even when not connected to a signal (on a plane, subway.. etc).
So what does this mean for satellite radio?
First off, it shows the importance on distributed platforms. Yes, the iPhone is important, but consumers in general are looking at their phone differently now - they're not just phones, their lifestyle devices. And so BlackBerry can't be ignored.
But establishing new distribution channels doesn't mean charging a premium either (such as with the XM for BlackBerry app). Which is why I was happy to hear that the Sirius XM iPhone app would be free. Hopefully they'll be following suit with other smartphones.
Speaking of which... where is that Sirius XM iPhone app anyway?
Slacker's library has grown to well over 2 million tracks (that's four-times what Pandora has). Thanks to its caching ability, the Slacker Blackberry app will play even when not connected to a signal (on a plane, subway.. etc).
So what does this mean for satellite radio?
First off, it shows the importance on distributed platforms. Yes, the iPhone is important, but consumers in general are looking at their phone differently now - they're not just phones, their lifestyle devices. And so BlackBerry can't be ignored.
But establishing new distribution channels doesn't mean charging a premium either (such as with the XM for BlackBerry app). Which is why I was happy to hear that the Sirius XM iPhone app would be free. Hopefully they'll be following suit with other smartphones.
Speaking of which... where is that Sirius XM iPhone app anyway?
(
I loves me some Slacker. I don't even steal SatRad anymore.
Where is the Sirius XM iPhone app?
It is here today and it is called: POCKET TUNES RADIO.
Sirius XM is not even the first to get an app on iPhone for satellite radio...Once again Mel is a day late and a dollar short.
Check out Pocket Tunes Radio at the iPhone app store.
I'm hearing that there will be an announcement on May 11th from Sirius XM Radio about the iPhone app. Right now it's all chatter but I'm thinking it might be true.
I for one am really looking for the Blackberry App. Hopefully Stern can get them to fast track said application.
The Slacker app doesn't work very well on my 8330. Sure, it's on Sprint but I've heard a few others have trouble with it. The XM BlackBerry app works, Pandora works, even Clear Channel's I (heart) Radio app works.
It's sluggish and it hates my login that I use on their website. The damn thing has been uninstalled forever. Rather would pay for the XM app.
I've got the Slacker app for my Blackberry Bold and it's fantastic. Great sound and the caching is great too. Too bad the Iphone won't allow it.
Definitely need an app for Sirius/XM on the Blackberry!!!
I'm using the iPhone Slacker App and it seems to work very well. Never had a stutter or stop while driving. I already have SatRad integrated into my vehicle so I won't need the iPhone app.
Slacker is great...unless you want to listen to Metallica, the Beatles, Prince, Zeppelin and whole bunch of others that they no longer have licenses for. You can hear them on the website, but not on anything portable.
Slacker is great, unless you want to use the portable to listen to AC/DC, Metallica, Beatles, Zeppelin and a bunch of others that they don't have licenses for anymore.
I have slacke and sat radio on my iPhone. What do they not allow?
Sweet. I love this App on my Storm. Good for Slacker!
I used Slacker on a Verizon Curve. The application was painfully slow. Once caching was finished the Audio sounded great. I since got rid of the BB and am waiting on the Palm Pre. Given the development time of a couple of days for apps like Pandora, I hope then make a copy for the Pre.
The caching on Slacker is the king. Makes it a good alternative to my regular mp3. No signal no problem. We have lots of no signal in our building which is why I can't get Sirius here.
They have very recently lost the license for several groups because of the archaic publishing licensing process. of course, first in line was Metallica...who have had a vendetta against digital music files from the git-go. You can still get these groups on the web player, but you can no longer get them on the G2, or any other slacker device (iphone, blackberry I assume these devices allow caching like the g2??) that allows caching. They think - apparently - that you are going to "somehow" transfer the cached songs to your PC and burn them or otherwise transfer them to somebody else. Beatles are gone, Zeppelin is gone, Metallica is gone, Hootie is gone...so it's not just the big groups. They are dropping like flies. I can no longer recommend Slacker. More info on the slacker forums.
You can still get these on the Slacker app for iPhone (I just got Master of Puppets a while back) because it basically is the web player. Metallica has always been notoriously anti-tech. I don't think they'll have much of a choice before too long.
You're also going to see a lot more getting away from devices, and more on portability and compatibility with 'smart' devices like the iPhone and Blackberry. Even Slacker may be getting away from the G1, G2 like devices and going strictly for the portable and web-based audience ala Pandora. If SiriusXM wants to save some money on radios that aren't selling at retail, they may want to consider the same thing. The tricky part would be getting the providers like CNBC and FOXNews' permission to stream their content online.
Therein lies the problem. Using the "web player" on an iphone or blackberry is unreliable. You are required to have a constant wifi connection. Believe me, there still is a great deal of the country where that is not reliable. The G2 is a sweet device and I hope that slacker gets this worked out.