FM Radio in cell phones?

[12 In a Row]

Here is a neat thought, when radio creates a product that people want then you will see a demand in radio again.

That is the tail wagging the dog. Programming on TV hasn't changed one bit, but I bought two brand new TVs in the last year. It's not the content that makes you buy a device. It's the device. People already own radios, so they don't need to buy new ones. Unless there's something about the radio that's new or different. So far, there isn't one. So people keep what they've got. I haven't bought a new radio in 20 years.

Ah but TV gets it on two counts.
1. Programming has changed. Want reality TV, got it. Want sports, got it. News, weather, original programming, got it.
2. You are correct on the technical side. Flat screens, High Def. and now 3D. Always forward thinking.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

TV content isn't quite what it was a couple of years ago so I haven't bothered to upgrade. I like tech toys but my 11 year old 27" Sony looks as good today as it did when we bought it. I'm not a big fan of reality TV and many of my shows ended or didn't get renewed.

As for the new flat screen TV's two of my friends had major failures that would cost way too much to fix both only had their set for a couple of years. One was a Toshiba the other a Sony. I'll wait till they make sets that last a bit longer.

 

[mescutia]

You can't force feed people something they don't want. Radio as a music medium is over like it or not. Why put up with long commercial sets and someone else's narrowly defined idea of what you should like? Today's mp3 players auto CD player etc, let us hear what we want when we want.

Bingo. I rarely listen to music stations on the radio, and when I do, it's usually only when I'm in the car and have run out of podcasts to listen to on my iPod.

Personally I don't get all the antagonism surrounding this issue, particularly from the CEA. Europe has had FM in cell phones for years and still does.

http://europe.nokia.com/services-and-apps/music/nokia-music/fm-and-internet-radio

I don't see a masses of Europeans rising up in a heated lather because FM radio exists on their phones. Whether they use the function or not is immaterial. It's there if they want it and the radio industry, or at least FM broadcasters, benefit because of it.

Yes, but are those FM radios required by law? That's what the NAB wants.

 

[TheBigA]

Yes, but are those FM radios required by law? That's what the NAB wants.

If it wasn't required, the electronics companies wouldn't do it. As I posted earlier in this thread, there has been no new consumer radio products developed in years. In England, the BBC is funded by a tax on radios. If that was the case here, broadcasters would be in far worse shape, because people aren't buying radios, and there really aren't any cool products available anymore.

 

[mescutia]

Yes, but are those FM radios required by law? That's what the NAB wants.

If it wasn't required, the electronics companies wouldn't do it.

I'll take that as a yes.

As I posted earlier in this thread, there has been no new consumer radio products developed in years.

Could that be because there hasn't been the demand for them?

 

[TheBigA]

Could that be because there hasn't been the demand for them?

There really wasn't demand for the Walkman until it became available. That's the trick behind creating products. Was there demand for the iPhone? My Samsung was working just fine, taking calls and emails. But once I got to play with a friend's iPhone, I had to have one.

Regarding the NAB wanting a law, I think radio wants a level playing field. For five years, the RIAA has been saying that internet and satellite are paying royalties, so OTA should too. So if OTA is going to join the royalty-paying crowd, it should have access to the same devices. Sometimes it takes a law to make things fair. This new royalty will be part of that law too.

 

[unpwn]

FM has already been in cell phones. It was kind of cool. And didnt really take any battery power. If FM is brought back, it will be HD, and THAT would be worth it.

Side note: If you don't listen to radio, or gave it up for icrap, why are you on this board? IMO if you aren't a fan of radio, your contributions mean nothing. And you're only feeding to this imaginary thought that radio is dying.

 

[adma]

Side note: If you don't listen to radio, or gave it up for icrap, why are you on this board? IMO if you aren't a fan of radio, your contributions mean nothing. And you're only feeding to this imaginary thought that radio is dying.

Why? To fight entropy.

 

[mescutia]

Side note: If you don't listen to radio, or gave it up for icrap, why are you on this board?

I've been trying to figure that out, myself.

 

[bossbill]

FM has already been in cell phones. It was kind of cool. And didnt really take any battery power. If FM is brought back, it will be HD, and THAT would be worth it.

Why? HD channels are a lower quality than the main channel (which wouldn't matter on a cell phone), the programming is sparse.

Plus, with the licensing requirements for HD, I suspect that cell phone manufacturers would mutiny.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Side note: If you don't listen to radio, or gave it up for icrap, why are you on this board?

I've been trying to figure that out, myself.

For me it's because I love radio and I'm not quite ready to give up on it. Do I enjoy what's been done to radio? I do not.

Some say radio is dying, but some say it's dead. Others don't say anything at all, because they don't care.

If you still can't figure it out, well I can't help you.

 

[SirRoxalot]

There's virtually no chance that the cell phone manufacturers would put HD in cell phones. They still don't have a chip that doesn't eat batteries. And, there are fewer and fewer HD stations. Most importantly, the system used in the US isn't universal, and manufacturers want to make products that can be used world-wide.

Good old analog FM would be a great addition. Talk to me about HD in 5 years - if it's still around.

 

[imhomerjay]

It needn't be "either/or"--radio OR MP3s and the like.

That aside, a hearty heck no to any mandates or Congressional investigations and the like. Enough of my tax money is wasted, thanks. The last thing we need is the government telling companies they must insert a particular chip for a radio into phones or what have you.