We heard a few months ago that Slacker would be coming to the BlackBerry, and today the company has announced the availability of its Mobile Radio application on the smartphone - for free.
The Slacker Mobile application is compatible with BlackBerry Device Software version 4.3 and higher, and is available as a free download by visiting Slacker.com from your BlackBerry smartphone (or by going here).
The neat thing is that you don't need a constant connection in order to enjoy your Slacker stations.
Using "station caching" (which is exclusive to the BlackBerry), Slacker enables mobile listeners to store favorite stations on a memory card, allowing the music service to play without a network connection. The added bonus is that this caching also boosts battery life up to 5 times that of streaming audio playback.
Now, note the "free" in this whole announcement. I'll guarantee the reason why XM on the BlackBerry hasn't caught on is because XM Radio Mobile is an additional subscription cost of $7.99/month. That's not necessarily an enticing offer when there's already similar, and free, services out there.
[Slacker]
The neat thing is that you don't need a constant connection in order to enjoy your Slacker stations.
Using "station caching" (which is exclusive to the BlackBerry), Slacker enables mobile listeners to store favorite stations on a memory card, allowing the music service to play without a network connection. The added bonus is that this caching also boosts battery life up to 5 times that of streaming audio playback.
Now, note the "free" in this whole announcement. I'll guarantee the reason why XM on the BlackBerry hasn't caught on is because XM Radio Mobile is an additional subscription cost of $7.99/month. That's not necessarily an enticing offer when there's already similar, and free, services out there.
[Slacker]
And it's about time! This week has been wonderful to my Blackberry... first SlingPlayer Mobile, now Slacker! I can finally listen to my custom Slacker stations anywhere!!
F'N cool
It would be REALLY cool if my company didn't block the website... :(
Good to see their base expanding, but I was disappointed to hear this morning that the iPhone/iPod Touch app from Slacker wouldn't allow caching, though apparently it's due to Apple's restrictions. Either way, I'll still get it, I was just hoping to be able to use one device for both functions. Though I guess I can just load AAC's on my Slacker...
Any word on an iPhone app coming down the pike? I'll be getting my iPhone next week.
I have been looking forward to this only to find out my US Cellular Blackberry 8830 operating system is 4.2.2. I don't see any upgrades to 4.3 for my phone. Help????
Using now, great designed program(and great looking). Sound quality is better than expected. The song catching works out very well, downloads the new song and stops to prevent killing your battery.
For Slacker users, it does merge with your paid slacker account and you still have the favorite and ban buttons.
Nevermind. :D
http://www.slacker.com/mobile/iphone/
Between this and FlyCast my blackberry is far more useful, and free, than my Sirius XM subscription had become. Now, if I could just bet MLB Gameday Audio on my blackberry...
Reggie, go to crackberry.com and you can find newer OS for your blackberry. They won't be supported by your service provider, and you do this at your own risk, but if you want the newest OS, it's the way to go. It's not hard and I am sure there is a stable 4.5 out there.
I love Sirius satellite radio, and don't know what Slacker is, except maybe some kind of way to hear songs on a cell phone. Sounds fancy with high cost.
Why would anybody need or want Slacker when Sirius is out there?
I love how people talk about competitors to satrad and always say "It's free". Yeah, free all right. The equpiment costs hundreds of dollars if you want to hear it.
Satrad is by far the best bargain at only $12.99 a month, and if you get tired of it you can cancel it and you're not out hundreds of bucks in equipment.
Umm, since millions of people already own cell phones, and the smartphone market is still growing exponentially, having a music service that IS free on a device that manages your contacts, allows you to chat, check news, store your own music, pay bills, and even make phone calls, etc., DOES sound like a better deal than buying a device that just receives radio service. I've been an XM subscriber for three years, and I downloaded the Slacker player on my Blackberry yesterday and played with it for awhile - make no mistake- this is REAL competition for satellite, especially with people queuing up in the breadline.
Looks like it doesn't work for the BlackBerry Storm. Not sure why but when I log on it says its coming soon, but not available for the storm :(