Come on Apple...give Ipod owners what they want...RADIO!

[Mike Walker]

In one area, Apple continues to ignore what Ipod owners want...A FREAKIN' RADIO! Which has created an apparently huge cottage industry for other companies (large and small) to "fill this hole". Think there's no demand for radio by Ipod owners? They why are there dozens of products designed to address the lack of a radio? I have selected just a few below to use as examples. There are many more. And I mean M A N Y more!

When the portable chips are available, HD will be a natural addition to mp3 players from manufacturers smart enough to give customers WHAT THEY WANT. RADIO...BETTER SOUNDING RADIO, and radio they can record from.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7697058&type=product&id=1140393612912

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8042593&type=product&id=1157068275477

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7752041&type=product&id=1141762609264

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5238424

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5707554

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882103291

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882695001

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882695007

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855998455

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855997056

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882645006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855984002

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855984017

Cassette based headphone portables have come and go. CD based portables are quickly fading. But RADIOS..Walkman-type radios, continue to sell briskly, and new models are constantly in the pipeline. Their numbers dwarf those of Ipods...and Ipods are by far the most popular mp3 players.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

In one area, Apple continues to ignore what Ipod owners want...A FREAKIN' RADIO! Which has created an apparently huge cottage industry for other companies (large and small) to "fill this hole". Think there's no demand for radio by Ipod owners? They why are there dozens of products designed to address the lack of a radio? I have selected just a few below to use as examples. There are many more. And I mean M A N Y more!

When the portable chips are available, HD will be a natural addition to mp3 players from manufacturers smart enough to give customers WHAT THEY WANT. RADIO...BETTER SOUNDING RADIO, and radio they can record from.http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7697058&type=product&id=1140393612912

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8042593&type=product&id=1157068275477

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7752041&type=product&id=1141762609264

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5238424

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5707554

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882103291

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882695001

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882695007

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855998455

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855997056

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882645006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855984002

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855984017

Cassette based headphone portables have come and go. CD based portables are quickly fading. But RADIOS..Walkman-type radios, continue to sell briskly, and new models are constantly in the pipeline. Their numbers dwarf those of Ipods...and Ipods are by far the most popular mp3 players.

If there was any real truth to what you say, then why are consumers buying iPods in droves instead of your much more wonderful HD radios?

I see no huge numbers of orange glow prison jumpsuits waiting in the huge lines to buy iPods or HD radios. Self proclaimed "trendsetter" Paris Hilton tried her best to make the orange glow prison jumpsuits fashionable, but that did not last, and it never caught on.

 

[R.F. Burns]

In one area, Apple continues to ignore what Ipod owners want...A FREAKIN' RADIO! Which has created an apparently huge cottage industry for other companies (large and small) to "fill this hole". Think there's no demand for radio by Ipod owners? They why are there dozens of products designed to address the lack of a radio? I have selected just a few below to use as examples. There are many more. And I mean M A N Y more!

When the portable chips are available, HD will be a natural addition to mp3 players from manufacturers smart enough to give customers WHAT THEY WANT. RADIO...BETTER SOUNDING RADIO, and radio they can record from.http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7697058&type=product&id=1140393612912

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8042593&type=product&id=1157068275477

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7752041&type=product&id=1141762609264

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5238424

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5707554

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882103291

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882695001

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882695007

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855998455

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855997056

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882645006

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855984002

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855984017

Cassette based headphone portables have come and go. CD based portables are quickly fading. But RADIOS..Walkman-type radios, continue to sell briskly, and new models are constantly in the pipeline. Their numbers dwarf those of Ipods...and Ipods are by far the most popular mp3 players.

If there was any real truth to what you say, then why are consumers buying iPods in droves instead of your much more wonderful HD radios?
I see no huge numbers of orange glow prison jumpsuits waiting in the huge lines to buy iPods or HD radios. Self proclaimed "trendsetter" Paris Hilton tried her best to make the orange glow prison jumpsuits fashionable, but that did not last, and it never If there was any real truth to what you say, then why are consumers buy iPods in droves instead of your much more wonderful HD radios?
I see no huge numbers of orange glow prison jumpsuits waiting in the huge lines to buy iPods or HD radios. Self proclaimed "trendsetter" Paris Hilton tried her best to make the orange glow prison jumpsuits fashionable, but that did not last, and it never caught on.

OK, no one in here has access to how many HD radios have been sold nor do we care. We are consumers not employees after all. I do have a question for you. What are you going to do when more and more IBOC stations sign on the air? Right now we have just gained another new one on FM and over the past month or so WNYC AM has put theri IBOC encoder back on tha air. The numbers are going up, not down. Let me help you out here. If IBOC goes away I'll have some great FM tuners. Both of my Sangeans are fantastic radios and beat very FM receiver I have ever seen. My Receptor is a good one and it receives every station in NY with the dipole. It's been my bedside radio since early last year.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

R.F. Burns said:

I do have a question for you. What are you going to do when more and more IBOC stations sign on the air?

More jamming and interference on AM and FM=fewer listeners.
Why do you think I have to do anything?
Broadcasting killing the "goose that laid the golden egg" by jamming itself with problematic HD radio. :'(

 

[PocketRadio]

OK, no one in here has access to how many HD radios have been sold nor do we care.

"Best Buy to Stock HD Radio Receivers" APRIL 23, 2007

"Struble estimates total HD Radio sales in the low hundreds of thousands"

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/tvstations/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003575084

We know and we care - Struble's fudge-factor, minus returns, would realistically put the number in the tens-of-thousands. For a privately-held company, Struble sure can't keep any secrets !

 

[PocketRadio]

In one area, Apple continues to ignore what Ipod owners want...A FREAKIN' RADIO!

This little-read thread is not going to change the fact that FM-tuners will always be just add-on devices !

 

[Mike Walker]

You're making my case for me. People are willing to pay for an Ipod, and then pay EVEN MORE for the "add-on devices" (i.e. radio). Enough are doing it to support MANY companies making add-on radio products for Ipod. Kind of proves there's a demand.

Why are they buying Ipod? Because of clever advertising, "Ipod" means "mp3 player" to most people. Why the add-ons? Because when they get it home, they notice it's missin' somethin'!

 

[PocketRadio]

You're making my case for me. People are willing to pay for an Ipod, and then pay EVEN MORE for the "add-on devices" (i.e. radio). Enough are doing it to support MANY companies making add-on radio products for Ipod. Kind of proves there's a demand.

Apple iPod Radio Remote - White (MA070G\A)"

"Why Do I have to Buy This?", December 22, 2006
"JUST A RIP OFF!!!!", May 3, 2006
"Poor product build, wacky design", December 11, 2006
"Reliability problems", September 1, 2006
"Disappointed", February 2, 2007
"Broken wire inside the cord", April 10, 2007
"Not very impressed"., May 1, 2007
"Too many compromises", April 14, 2006
"$50 for something you already have", November 4, 2006
"Great for radio & remote operation; bad for battery life", December 17, 2006

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,437 in Electronics

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/cu...sort_by=+OverallRating&s=electronics&x=13&y=9

How many FM-tuner add-on devices have been sold ? Just as with HD Radio, a bunch of companies are making them but only a few are being sold.

 

[Mike Walker]

Yeah, 'cause that's the way free enterprise work. People line up around the block to make products nobody wants. You can tell how UNpopular a product category is by how many people rush to fill the (nonexistant) niche. That's how it works in "LintLand".

You found ONE product with some negative comments. Of course you didn't print any of the (many) positive ones. Just like "Faux News"...fair and balanced.

Know how you can tell someone's full of ####? Everything with them is black or white. People who actually ARE fair will concede a good point by those with whom they basically disagree. I am an (FM) HD fan. But when I hear something wrong, I point it out. How else will this technology (or any technology for that matter), get better?

 

[PocketRadio]

Yeah, 'cause that's the way free enterprise work. People line up around the block to make products nobody wants. You can tell how UNpopular a product category is by how many people rush to fill the (nonexistant) niche. That's how it works in "LintLand".

You found ONE product with some negative comments. Of course you didn't print any of the (many) positive ones. Just like "Faux News"...fair and balanced.

Know how you can tell someone's full of ####? Everything with them is black or white. People who actually ARE fair will concede a good point by those with whom they basically disagree. I am an (FM) HD fan. But when I hear something wrong, I point it out. How else will this technology (or any technology for that matter), get better?

"Are you waiting in line for your HD radio?"

"For example, if you wanted to be first to own a Sony PlayStation 3 game system, you waited on line for three days for the chance to spend $600 on one of these babies when the doors opened at Best Buy last Friday."

http://www.hear2.com/2006/11/are_you_waiting.html#comments

As many people saw, on the news last night, people were literally lined up around the block to buy iPhones, too ! If HD Radio has any chance in replacing the estimated 800 million existing analog radios, plus an estimated 80 million sold every year, consumers would need to react in this manner - did any of you have to wait in line for your HD radios ?

 

[dbdigital]

I saw nothing in the above links to indicate that the public wants radio with their iPods.

I did notice that most of the docking stations had mini stereo input jacks so that an individual could plug a CD player into their station. So to use your logic, we have to conclude that the public also wants stereo inputs in their iPods so that they can play CDs through them.

These docking stations are nothing more than a home stereo solution for iPod owners. It would be logical to add radio to the units because they are for the home (or boat, RV, etc.) Also it's very cheap for CE manufacturers to add radio, appears like a value-added feature and they can charge more for it.

I have never heard anyone EVER say they want better-sounding radio. I've heard several complain about programming and lack of selection but never about audio quality.

Now, in all fairness, once HD-Radio appears in portable devices I'm sure it will grow. It's no secret that people are extremely interested in portable electronics and maybe this will make a difference in HD-R sales figures. But a $300.00 clock radio is not a compelling "must-have" product and I think the poor sales of these HD products bear that out.

Again, the rumor I'm hearing is that future iPods will have wi-fi but not a word about radio. I suggest to Mr. Walker that if HD-Radio in an iPod is so important to him that he start a write-in or e-mail campaign to Apple. Maybe they'll listen.

db

 

[PocketRadio]

Now, in all fairness, once HD-Radio appears in portable devices I'm sure it will grow.

db

Maybe, but as Ramsey has point out, consumers do not buy radios but things with radios in them. Besides, using DAB radios as a bench-mark, they have been out for years but still remain expensive and are battery-hogs:

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/dabreceivers.html#portable

Of course, there still remains the issue of problematic HD Radio reception. Who buys radios anymore outside of radio-geeks ?

 

[dbdigital]

Now, in all fairness, once HD-Radio appears in portable devices I'm sure it will grow.

db

Maybe, but as Ramsey has point out, consumers do not buy radios but things with radios in them. Besides, using DAB radios as a bench-mark, they have been out for years but still remain expensive and are battery-hogs:

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/dabreceivers.html#portable

Of course, there still remains the issue of problematic HD Radio reception. Who buys radios anymore outside of radio-geeks ?

This is no doubt true. And should the day come when a portable HD-R device appears, it will probably be a combination MP3 player/HD-Radio/(pick your favorite feature).

But I noticed in today's Circuit City catalog on p. 16, a pair of Logitech iPod docks being advertised. Neither one has a radio. They're just powered speakers with a charger.

So obviously not every iPod owner desires or even needs a radio.

db

 

[vsa]

R.F. Burns wrote: "...I do have a question for you. What are you going to do when more and more IBOC stations sign on the air? Right now we have just gained another new one on FM and over the past month or so WNYC AM has put theri IBOC encoder back on tha air. The numbers are going up, not down..."

I've already greatly altered my listening habits. I know I'm not alone.

At home, I listen ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY to radio via a wifi Internet radio or a computer. Why? Always a very strong signal for every single radio station, no interference, no static, no multipath, no fading, no back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back spots on the music stations I prefer, usually near CD quality, unlimited worldwide selection - with even an all-oboe station!!! Actually, I like Digitally Imported's "Classical Guitar" station. This is a no-brainer.

I enjoy listening to Dennis Prager. In his talk show is on in Los Angeles on KRLA 870. But online, I'm able to listen on-demand, with all commercials removed. Pause playback to pour a cup of coffee or asnwer the phone, and resume listening at will. All free.

Lately, the only time I feel the need to fire up a "radio" is either work-related or to see if any HD-AM radio jammers are jamming away at night yet.

 

[SUPERCASTER]

R.F. Burns wrote: "...I do have a question for you. What are you going to do when more and more IBOC stations sign on the air? Right now we have just gained another new one on FM and over the past month or so WNYC AM has put theri IBOC encoder back on tha air. The numbers are going up, not down..."

I've already greatly altered my listening habits. I know I'm not alone.

At home, I listen ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY to radio via a wifi Internet radio or a computer. Why? Always a very strong signal for every single radio station, no interference, no static, no multipath, no fading, no back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back spots on the music stations I prefer, usually near CD quality, unlimited worldwide selection - with even an all-oboe station!!! Actually, I like Digitally Imported's "Classical Guitar" station. This is a no-brainer.

I enjoy listening to Dennis Prager. In his talk show is on in Los Angeles on KRLA 870. But online, I'm able to listen on-demand, with all commercials removed. Pause playback to pour a cup of coffee or asnwer the phone, and resume listening at will. All free.

Lately, the only time I feel the need to fire up a "radio" is either work-related or to see if any HD-AM radio jammers are jamming away at night yet.

Well said vsa.

About R.F. Burns comment at the top:
Virtually no listeners care about, plan to buy or listen to HD radio, so why do you bother constantly counting the number of HD stations and claiming that as a measure of HD radio's success?
Dividing the tiny HD radio audience thinner and thinner seems more to be a measure of HD Radio's failure to attract an audience, rather then it's success.

 

[rwagoner]

I like iPods. I like HD Radio. I like regular radio (though less and less). I don't want them combined. Why? I use my iPod and my radios in totally different ways. My iPod is my running companion, my airplane travel companion.

There is a reason iPods are so popular: they do one thing and they do it well. Adding a radio, to me, would screw it up. And then you'd have something from Creative or Microsoft.

 

[R.F. Burns]

R.F. Burns wrote: "...I do have a question for you. What are you going to do when more and more IBOC stations sign on the air? Right now we have just gained another new one on FM and over the past month or so WNYC AM has put theri IBOC encoder back on tha air. The numbers are going up, not down..."

I've already greatly altered my listening habits. I know I'm not alone.

At home, I listen ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY to radio via a wifi Internet radio or a computer. Why? Always a very strong signal for every single radio station, no interference, no static, no multipath, no fading, no back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back spots on the music stations I prefer, usually near CD quality, unlimited worldwide selection - with even an all-oboe station!!! Actually, I like Digitally Imported's "Classical Guitar" station. This is a no-brainer.

I enjoy listening to Dennis Prager. In his talk show is on in Los Angeles on KRLA 870. But online, I'm able to listen on-demand, with all commercials removed. Pause playback to pour a cup of coffee or asnwer the phone, and resume listening at will. All free.

Lately, the only time I feel the need to fire up a "radio" is either work-related or to see if any HD-AM radio jammers are jamming away at night yet.

Well said vsa.

About R.F. Burns comment at the top:
Virtually no listeners care about, plan to buy or listen to HD radio, so why do you bother constantly counting the number of HD stations and claiming that as a measure of HD radio's success?
Dividing the tiny HD radio audience thinner and thinner seems more to be a measure of HD Radio's failure to attract an audience, rather then it's success.

Becaue if HD radio was such a failure stations would be spending the money to convert to digital. If HD is such a failure why do you bother to post here? What I mean, you keep coming up with negative things to say about IBOC, if I knew something I was obviously obssesed with was going to die I'd turn my attention to other matters. What will you guys do if IBOC dies? How will you fill that void? Of course looking at it rationally, IBOC isn't going to die any time soon. Keep dreaming.

 

[PocketRadio]

Becaue if HD radio was such a failure stations would be spending the money to convert to digital. If HD is such a failure why do you bother to post here? What I mean, you keep coming up with negative things to say about IBOC, if I knew something I was obviously obssesed with was going to die I'd turn my attention to other matters. What will you guys do if IBOC dies? How will you fill that void? Of course looking at it rationally, IBOC isn't going to die any time soon. Keep dreaming.

The number of HD stations on-air last week was 1,351, but now the number has fallen to 1,346 - in the past six weeks, the number has climbed from only 1,314. I believe, that certain stations have already committed to HD, so they may have paid the fees up-front. HD Radio's success will be measured by consumer up-take, which has been zero. If HD dies, I shall continue posting all over the Web, in hopes of helping HD derail in other countries - for example, continued posting to their FCC equivalent sites ! This is fun !

 

[clouseau]

The number of HD stations on-air last week was 1,351, but now the number has fallen to 1,346 - in the past six weeks, the number has climbed from only 1,314. I believe, that certain stations have already committed to HD, so they may have paid the fees up-front. HD Radio's success will be measured by consumer up-take, which has been zero. If HD dies, I shall continue posting all over the Web, in hopes of helping HD derail in other countries - for example, continued posting to their FCC equivalent sites ! This is fun !

The actual number is 1355 now. Your comment about "Up Front payment of fees" doesn't really make sense. I would figure the "Coming Soon" is the paid but not yet up and running. The 1355 is actually on the air.

Clouseau

 

[rbrucecarter5]

I have never heard anyone EVER say they want better-sounding radio. I've heard several complain about programming and lack of selection but never about audio quality.

I have to disagree - Bose and some of the others make a niche market out of "better sounding radio". That is - if muddy sounding bass at 150 Hz lower limit is your idea of good sound. Personally, I don't. So I think my stable of GE Superradios sounds MUCH better than Bose or these other trendy overpriced radios. And they are portable, I can go to the beach and have plenty of volume to hear it over the waves. Really good batterly life, too. A quick capacitor mod gives me even more bass if I want it. Not the muddy 200 Hz stuff, down to 80 or 100 Hz. A 6 1/2 in ch speaker has fair efficiency at 100 Hz.

The noise floor of IBOC would be lost in a car, where the noise floor comes from the floor - literally - off the tires and road. Since noise adds by the root sum squared law, it would be the dominant noise source, not the radio. Any improvement in the radio would be lost completely unless the vehicle is stopped and there is no noise nearby. And the average home has air conditioning, sprinkler systems, TVs in the other room, kids making noise, the lawnmower next door - everything conspires to raise the noise floor. Even in the middle of the night, I open my door and can hear traffic from every major street surrounding my neighborhood, 50, 60 dB of it. Close the door it get quieter, but still a lot of ambient noise. Now tell me again about the advantages of HD radio with its low noise floor? I don't think you'll notice the difference.