The Easiest Thing That Could Make Radio Cool
Written Jul. 2, 2009 by Larry Rosin in Technology with 11 Comments
Nearly all discussions of the future of radio talk about platforms and programming. But it seems to me that there is the tiniest adaptation to the standard AM/FM radio that is in every car, clock radio or any other kind of radio that would make people actually think about radio in a new way.
How hard would be to put a tiny chip into these radios that allows the listener to simply back up the programming 30 seconds? How many times have you spaced out during a traffic report you wanted to hear, or just missed the punch line from the joke, wanted to hear that 800-phone number 'one more time', or couldn't understand exactly what the lyrics to a song were? Wouldn't you have loved to have been able to just back it up a few seconds and catch what you missed?
I know that embedding a true recording device causes all kinds of rights issues. But just capturing a few seconds to allow someone to track back? Could that really cause any objection? And in today's world could such a chip cost more than a few dollars at the most?
I was a relatively early adopter of TiVo, and I loved watching people's confusion when they first saw me pausing live TV. But by now most people either have DVRs or at least they've seen them. Why aren't we offering the same kind of functionality for radio, even on a limited basis?
How do we get the radio manufacturers to add this feature? And what other cheap functions could make the old-tyme radio cooler?
Reader Comments
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There is the Griffin Radio Shark. Not portable or built in, as in a 'chip' but essentially provides tivo like functions for radio through a usb dongled device.
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/radioshark2
On the other hand, don't we have enough road issues with cell phones and texting? I can imagine drivers texting, dialing and rewinding their radio! It's already a nightmare out there.
My 2 year old XM receiver allows me to rewind songs and go back as far as 30 minutes to replay breaks or music. Not sure why this isn't a feature in standard radios today, but it probably has something to do with rights issues with the music labels.
HELL YES!!!! TiVO in your radio, it sings!
I like it: a lot.
Radio's role as an information provider has become even more important in some smaller markets and rural areas where the local newspaper has folded. And BTW: there are numerous local broadcasters who take this role seriously.
The chip would be an excellent way for someone in the car to hear the tail end of a weather bulletin or breaking local news. It would be easier to hit a recap button on the radio while driving, than to read a text alert on a phone.
If you want nearly everyone shopping for a new radio, forget HD and make radios that will turn on for alerts, with the ability to determine which alerts you want to receive. Folks in the Midwest have had weather radios that do this for decades. Why not improve the EAS system and make radio the source for urgent bulletins... enhancing awareness and "need" for radio.
Well this actually is available on about 500 stations. TuneGenie's music wall. Sync's in real time every song and displays the lyrics, video, sound sample, purchase links, bio, recommendations and more.
http://www.tunegenie.com/onair/wplj/
That's a great idea. Here's another one: radios (car or otherwise) should include a display not unlike the iPod's so that artist name, song and album title, artwork(!!), and other content are shown in a visually exciting manner (no RDS LCD lettering, please) while the songs we play are airing. In radio, we seem to have accepted our lot that we are to be heard and not seen. This is unacceptable, as people flock to sexier tech. This will require commitment from both broadcasters and radio manufacturers. But to me, this is the number one thing you can do to make the radio a sexier device. Radio's losing the sexy battle. Consumers are speaking. Hear them.
While many see HD radio as useless tech, I still feel it offers a unique opportunity for radio stations. The public has not come to it because they were not forced to come to it like HD TV. If all stations had to turn off analog and go digital, with the 95-98% penetration that radio has, HD would have caught on. It still could happen if the FCC would force the issue.
BUT on the radio receiver side, I would like to see HD radios remember what HD channel the listeners were on when they turned off the radio. I programmed a Classic Country with a Smooth Jazz HD2. If, as a listener, I found the HD2 and loved what I heard, when I come back to it the next day, I have to go through the HD1 station to get to it. The perception when I turn on the radio is that my new favorite HD2 channel is not there. Yes there are presets, but why can’t the radio stay where it was?
If it's of interest... DAB Digital Radios in the UK already offer this. And have done for a while. Yay!
Of course of interest James! Tell us more -- how many seconds back does it store? Can one 'capture' the stored info? Or just go back once (until you catch back up to real-time)?
Thanks.
The AR Infinite Radio can store up to 10-20 hours of AM/FM or streaming Internet Radio content on it's internal flash memory...(As far as I know it is the only internet radio in North America that does this!)