Jennifer Salerno asked:


Some things in life never really go out of style. Well, they change forms and take on new looks, but they remain. One of such time defying inventions is the radio. No matter what skeptics would have you believe, the radio is very much alive and kicking even in this era of digital entertainment. Of course, the persistent existence of the radio has subjected it to some changes. Bulky radios or even the smaller, battery-powered transistors are becoming increasingly rare with every passing day. But the core essence of radio technology, that of sound and music being transmitted from a central station, still survives and is gaining in strength and popularity with passing time. Let’s investigate this amazing phenomenon.

The radio in the 21st century has taken on a new avatar. It has merged with possibly the most powerful medium of modern times, the Internet. The result? E-radio, (what else?) In this era of e-mails, e-shopping and e-commerce, e-radios, or Internet radios as they are often called as, are a natural occurrence. We are not surprised, and nor should be you! If you’ve been reading the writing on the wall, you already knew that it had to come someday. So, the good news is, it’s here! And how! Let’s take a closer look.

Internet radio networks are on the rise and the reason is not hard to understand. Much of their popularity can be attributed to the huge proliferation of Internet technologies. It is, however, interesting to note that Internet radio, however, is not a very novel innovation. In other words, Internet radio networks have been around for quite a while now. It is only recently, with the proliferation of Internet technology and faster connectivity, that the phenomenon called Internet radio has truly come of age. Today, the listener is pampered with a bevy of channels (or stations), catering to specific areas of interest. This is becoming a standard feature of Internet radio networks that serve music online. The listener can tune into any of dozens of stations covering such genres as Classic Rock, Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jazz, 80s music, 70s music, Oldies, New Age, Reggae, Country, Latin, Euro, Ambient, Lounge, Progressive, Techno and what not. Hours and hours of uninterrupted music at no cost – that’s the magnitude of the entertainment provided by Internet radio networks.

Among the most popular Internet radio networks are the ones that feature Internet Talk Radio. Streaming talk shows and discussions on a wide range of subjects have made them popular among serious listeners or those who carve for something more than just music from their e-radios. Internet talk radio programs host various talk shows with specialists on different subject matters who anchor the show. While traditional radio broadcasters have often used the Internet to advertise or promote their shows, Internet radio technology has actually revolutionized the concept and simple programming requirements have taken it to the extent where individuals, organizations or anyone for that matter, can easily host their own Internet talk radio station from the comfort of their home.

Internet radio networks like Voice America make it easier to host your own Internet talk radio show. Such Internet radio networks not only provide you with the technology to host your Internet radio show but also give you a complete package of Internet streaming media broadcasting, proven support services in web, marketing, and interactive solutions that help you to make your mark and your presence known to the ever increasing Internet audience. If you are planning to host your own Internet talk radio, it’s worth contacting Internet radio networks like Voice America.

aurembs asked:


In today’s hi-tech world, a lot of time is spent working on the computer. While clicking away on either a desktop or a laptop, listening to music may help to make the day go by a bit faster? You can buy music albums and CDs to listen and enjoy, but if you’re worried about spending too much money, there is another option. The Internet of course! With the Internet in your fingertips, you can easily access a wide variety of music. You can gain access to whole new genres of music and visit thousands of radio stations that broadcast through the Internet. For this very purpose USB radios are available in the market. Compactly designed, you can use USB radios to receive and listen to FM radio broadcasts with your PC.

The Aluratek USB Internet Radiois one such USB radio available at Tupelo Super Store. The Aluratek USB Internet Radio Jukebox is a device that’ll help you listen to more than 13,000 internet based radio stations from all around the world quickly and easily. As it does not require any software installation, you can simply plug in the Aluratek USB Internet Radio Jukebox into the USB port of your computer to use it. With such a convenient plug ‘n’ play functionality, you can carry it anywhere. The Aluratek USB Internet Radio Jukebox lets you explore music by different genres from rock and pop to jazz and rock.

The Aluratek AIRJ01F USB Internet Radio is compatible with Windows 2000, XP, and Vista. With the Aluratek USB Internet Radio Jukebox, you can listen to music from radio stations in over 150 countries at no extra fee. When you find a favorite station, you can add it to your favorites folder for future use. You can search and find top ten lists of music genres and stations in each country. The Aluratek USB Internet Radio’s end lights up when inserted into your USB port that allows you to know whether it is working or switched off. For a trouble-free and fun musical experience, get the Aluratek AIRJ01F USB Internet Radio.

Mark Diehl asked:

There are several ways you can listen to your favorite music without purchasing CDs anymore. Everything from terrestrial radio to the newly hyped satellite radio offers you the best music around. However, if you want to get the widest variety of music, online radio stations are the way to go.

There are several advantages to radio stations online over any other kind of music source. As the internet has continued to evolve, internet radio has become increasingly popular. While it has stiff competition with terrestrial radio and satellite radio, it is growing at a steady rate and has begun to develop a heavy listener base.

Online radio gives you the opportunity to listen wherever you have a computer. This way you can listen at work, at home, or on the road while traveling. You are not limited to bringing in an actual radio to work or having a radio at home.

One of the key reasons so many people prefer it over other options is because there is no membership fee of any sort. You can hop onto your computer and listen to music whenever you want without spending a penny. Satellite radio can be quite expensive just to listen to music.

Another big advantage to radio on the internet is the wide variety you have to choose from. There are hundreds of stations to choose from offering virtually any music you can think of. This way you can listen to exactly what you want as oppose to being limited to what the other forms of radio have to offer.

Often times you will find there is no signal to certain stations when you are traveling with other radio stations. Online radio stations always have a positive signal and will have no interference whatsoever to worry about. As long as you have an internet connection you will have a clear signal.

One of the most annoying facets to basic radio is the constant commercials that are played. If it were not enough we have to see them on the television, it is even worse listening to commercials on the radio. Online radio stations allow you to get away from commercials and just listen to your favorite music. There are hundreds of stations that are 100 percent commercial free.

Lastly, with the internet you can listen to radio stations that are broadcast worldwide. This is something that satellite and terrestrial radio stations are certainly limited to. This is connected with the fact that you have far more options to choose from. But it opens up the type of music you have available to you and allows you to broaden your horizon.

Hands down online radio stations are the way to go when it comes to listening to your favorite music. You have a wide variety to choose from, it will not cost you a penny, and you can access the music from anywhere around the world. This makes it a convenient and easy way to listen to all of the hottest music around.

James asked:


What is internet radio?

Internet radio is ‘broadcast’ using the Internet as the connection to the radio rather than radio waves. Conventional AM/FM radio is broadcast using transmitters at fixed locations. The further that the radio is from the transmitter, the weaker the signal becomes until beyond a certain distance and as a result, the station cannot be heard.

What do I need to listen to radio stations?

The basic requirement to use internet radio is that you have a broadband Internet connection to your home (or wherever you intend to use the internet radio).

As all of our internet radios have wireless capability, you can take the internet radio wherever you like (providing it is within reception of a wireless internet access point). If you do not have wireless internet access, but have broadband, you can still use an internet radio by plugging it into one of your internet access points using a standard RJ-45 cable (usually the same cable that your PC will therefore use to gain access to the internet) making it ideal for home and office. All internet radios are simply “plug and play”.

How do I set up the internet radio?

If you are using the radio with a wireless network, you may be prompted to enter a security code to gain access to the wireless network (Common practice to prevent unauthorized wireless access). This is also known as the “wireless network key”.

If you are in an office, contact your IT helpdesk for the “wireless network key”.

If you are using the internet radio with your own wireless access point and you have the WPA/WEP security enabled for your wireless connection, you will need to enter the “wireless network key” the first time your radio connects to the network (the same security key as your computer) you will only need to enter the ‘key’ in once. The radio will store this information for future use on this network.

Most standard wireless internet access points, for example the Orange Livebox or other A/DSL routers, have the default WPA/WEP key printed on the manual or internal packaging. It sounds complicated, but all you need to do is input this key and you’re away.

What internet stations are available?

Contrary to popular belief finding internet radio stations is easy…

You can now access nearly 20,000 radio stations from all over the world. These stations cover every type of radio broadcast imaginable; Music, Talk, Sport, Religion, Kids. You name it you will probably find it.

How do I get the stations I want to listen to?

When you buy an internet radio you will find that the radio will already be set up to link to one of the internet radio providers such as Reciva who already have 1000’s of stations on their portal. When you connect your radio to your wireless network it will automatically gain access to these stations and you can listen straight away.

You can then browse these stations via your internet radio. The internet radio manufacturers have made this very easy for you and you can see on the built in display all the information you need. You can search by:

* Genre (Music Style, News etc)

* Country/Location

* Preset Favorites

If you like you can take a chance and browsing around the countries/locations is great fun and you never know what you might find.

What if I can’t find a station I want on my internet radio?

If there is a station you find on the Internet that is not listed on your internet radio then you can contact the portal and request that your station is added to the list.

Besides searching via your internet radio you can search on the internet directly as all internet radio stations have their own websites.

So if you wanted to search for ‘Country Music’ stations simply type it into any search engine and you will come across all relevant links to ‘Country Music’ stations. You can then get the website address and contact your internet radio portal operator who will add that station to their portal.

What is a Podcast?

It is becoming difficult to ignore the growing trend of podcasting. The boom of MP3 players really took off in 2001 with the release of Apple’s iPod. The iPod ushered in a new way to listen to music, and many others followed. There are currently hundreds of different MP3 players on the market today, and they have become a common possession among both young and old. Podcasting became popular in 2004 and nowadays you can find it on a huge amount of websites. Despite this popularity, many people are finding themselves thinking “But what is it? Where can I do it? What equipment do I need?” If you too are feeling a little lost about it all, then read on…

The word ‘Podcast’ is a mix of the words ‘iPod’ and ‘broadcast’. This has lead many people into believing that you need an iPod to be able to access podcasts, but they would be mistaken. You do not need an iPod – nor any other MP3 player – to podcast, or listen to a podcast for that matter. All you need is some audio-playing software on your computer, and of course, some form of device to allow you to hear it. The majority of people have both speakers and some form of audio-playing software – step one accomplished.

Podcasting is a type of online media delivery, but different to any that have existed previously. Put simply, podcasting allows you to download files via a feed (such as RSS) onto your computer and MP3 player. These files can be music, talk shows, interviews, discussions, news… the list is endless. However, there is more to it than that: The significant characteristic about podcasting is that you can subscribe to a series so that it automatically downloads on to your computer and MP3 player. Many believe that it is for this feature that podcasting became so popular in 2004.

Jeff Bachmeier asked:

Listening to your favorite song, band, or solo artist just got easier due to the internet. You can download your favorite picks from music sites and radio programming online. Does having this easy accessibility effect the time you spend listening to traditional radio? Do you spend more time listening to a traditional radio or an online radio station? That is the cause of concern for traditional radio stations. However, an article by Central Michigan Life claims that traditional radio’s future won’t be affected.

A lot of people balance their time between listening to the radio online and traditionally. While at home or at work it can be easier and more convenient to listen to a radio program online. The advantage of listening online is that you won’t have to battle with any type of bad reception to find a station you like. Some people find that listening to music at work makes them more productive, and most online stations have few or no commercials which won’t be a distraction. Traditional radio is mostly listened to while driving in your car. Traditional radio is beneficial for local information such as weather updates, traffic reports, and local events such as fundraisers or fairs. People also like to hear and connect with local radio personalities and events they sponsor. According to “Radio’s future doesn’t look too different” article, the local advantages of traditional radio will keep it alive and on the air.

Online radio doesn’t pose a threat to traditional radio or the success of an artist’s musical career. The internet is fueling the success of music because it can be listened to at any time of the day and anywhere in the world. Bands from across the globe can be heard by someone in small American town that has access to the internet. Music can reach a bigger audience online rather than traditional radio can. You can also e-mail a link to a song to friends and family which will bring more attention to the band’s music you want to share. Sharing music online is fun and easy. If you hear a song on a traditional radio, there is no way to share the song with other people through the radio. The internet or an online music station is the only way to share the song instantly.

Both online radio and traditional radio will continue to thrive. There are advantages to both mediums and bands can benefit from both. Listening to traditional radio is great for local updates and community involvement, and online radio is beneficial for listening to a wide range of music from all over the world with few interruptions.

*Original Article “Radio’s future doesn’t look too different”

Game Port asked:

If you’re as big a fan of Internet radio as I am, you might want to start being concerned about the fact that thousands of U.S. webcasters plan to turn off the music and go silent to an impending royalty rate increase that, if implemented, would lead to the virtual shutdown of this country’s Internet radio industry. Enjoy the internet radio while you still can, I usually listen radio through this website: www.radio-time.com It organize 5000+ channel by genre and city, country, almost include all the avaible online radio resource on the net so far. One can socialize through search a tag or write comment and share favourite list with orther users. It’s radio, so a negative aspect is that it is impossible for users to fast forward, rewind, or repeat songs. Well a user may not be able to choose a specific song to listen to, but your winamp player may do that job better. Despite this negative aspect, I have found radio-time to be a great resource for accessing both familiar favorites and finding new music.

Aradhana Gupta asked:


With the advancement of technologies a new form of radio is available to us and it is online radio which is often termed as free live radio also. This form of radio is a result of the progress made in the telecommunication technologies. Moreover, you need not required to buy any separate device in order to listen internet radio. It can be listened on the speakers of your home or office PC. Now you are able to enjoy notorious jokes, informative news, melodious songs and lots more while working on the other side of your PC which also enhances and increases your capacity to do work.

Loads of websites are available on Internet which provides the user with free live radio facility. Moreover, some of the websites are specially formed to facilitate the easy access to these stations for the users. Listener can find the list of different nations on those websites. On clicking the name of the nation, you get the list of the stations related to that country in the alphabetical order. One can listen to any channel by clicking on that station. One major advantage of free live radio is that you can easily get to know the current happening of your area even if the person in not at his place.

Day by day many firms are getting into the the work of launching new channels so that people get the appropriate platform to express their feelings as radio stations come up with many programs which play the songs according to the audience interests. What if the listener gets all this without even spending money free live radio has come up with the same.

Cricket lovers has lot to do with live radio if you are working and not in a position to watch ball to ball match then online radio brings you ball to ball commentary, atleast now the user is able to enjoy the match to the fullest.

Radio jockeys style of speaking binds the listener for hours, specially the mimicry artists provides loads of great fun. The jockeys even provide a sense of spirit and their magical words work as the motivational spirit to the listeners and they really feel motivated to achieve their goals. These sites are user friendly and are easy to use and people love to tune into these radio channels. In a short span of time, live radio will be proved as the success story.

Shazia asked:


INTERNET CONVERGENCE AND ITS USE IN SOCIETY

Convergence and the Internet means the incorporation of the wide reaching and linking aspects of the internet with other mediums,This convergence has led to the development of new forms of media technologies.

The obvious angle is Internet Telephony, which allows audio communication over internet lines, rather than through the dedicated transmission lines that regular phones use. The advantage of VoIP technology in society is that by being connected to the internet, the user is connected to the rest of the world.

IPTV is another internet convergence that is a system where a digital television service is delivered using Internet Protocol  over a network infrastructure, that is, a broadband connection. It’s not so long away before the internet and the TV become almost the same thing. We’ll surf the web on our TV, while also subscribing to internet TV shows, buying video downloads, and watching TV broadcast over a broadband connection.

In the world of intenent convergence we have internet radio services usually accessible from anywhere in the world,one could listen to an Australian station from Pakistan or India. Some major networks like Clear Channel in the US and in UK restrict listening to in country because of music licensing and advertising concerns. Internet radio services offer news, sports, talk, and various genres of music,every format that is available on traditional radio stations.

Nowadays current and new mobile handsets are incorporated with GPRS technology, allowing internet access on a cellular phone. Its uses range from wireless gaming to that of information gathering.Incorporating Wifi technology with Convergence and the Internet is another interesting aspect  mean that if you are within range of a Wi-Fi network or hotspot, you would be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi higher data transmission speedo cell phones are to be used for communication over the internet.

The Television, Radio and Newspapers are the worlds main mediums in accessing news and entertainment. Now, all 3 mediums have converged into one and people all over the world now can read news on the internet. They can also watch videos, Television Shows, listen to music, download and upload pictures, music and videos. Now one doesn’t have to wait until the next day to hear the latest in news, fashion and music. The internet is so easy to access that should anything happen, it would be displayed to the whole world within minutes.

A social network service focuses on building online communities of people who share interests and/or activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others. Most social network services are web base  and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such as email and instanmessages services.

Social networking has encouraged new ways to communicate and share information. Social networking websites are being used regularly by millions of people.

Popular methods now combine many of these, with Facebook widely used worldwide; MySpace, Twitter,  Bebo, Hi5, MySpace, dol2day,Tagged, XING, and Skyrock in parts of Europe, Orkut and Hi5 , Friendster, Multiply, Orkut, Xiaonei and Cyworld.

E commerce is another converged interntet application use in socity. It is about setting business on the Internet, allowing visitors to access website, and go through a virtual catalog of products or services online. E-Commerce is not about just online stores, its about anything and everything to do with money. It can be banking, reserve your seat in cinema for a movie, request for a movie at the local video store, and if feeling hungry, access the local restaurant and order dinner In short e Commerce, saves time,traffic jams, shopping crowds, carrying overloaded heavy shopping bags etc

Telemedicine is a rapidly developing application of clinical medicine where medical information is transferred via telephone, the Internet or other networks for the purpose of consulting, and sometimes remote medical procedures or examinations.

INTERNET CONVERGENCE IN PAKISTAN

Digicom launched the first international internet service in Pakistan in 1995. The licensing of commercial internet service providers began in 1996. By mid-1999 licenses to provide internet services had been issued to approximately 100 organizations. By mid-2000, the number of Pakistan users had grown to 500,000. In year 2005, the total number of internet Service providers has crossed 2000 mark and subsequent internet users have reached to a roaring total of 10.5 Million.

Internet develpoment are considered in following sectors in pakistan.

E-learning – it is been initiated and provided by Government  supported Virtual University of  Pakistam in more then 700 cities

E-banking – Online and internet transactions provided by almost all major banks of Pakistan

E-health – Not everywhere but initiatives has been taken by Government of Punjab, Sindh .

E-Crimes – Government of Pakistan is setting up special tribunals in the Federal Capital and provincial  headquarters to investigate and check the incidents of e-crimes(under Electronic Crimes Bill-2006finalized very soon), which has remained unpunished for lack of specific law.

E-Commerce – Online Auctions, E- Billing, Online selling’s of Computer and Books has been started by major shops

E-Governance – Government is working a lot in order to establish e governance system in Pakistan.

 IPTV by PTCL is branded as Smart TV, is all digital providing Electronic Program Guide and Video on demand. TV and video services such as video-on-demand (VoD), subscription, live TV channel lineup packaging and scheduling, and network-based digital video recorder capabilities.Additional “blended” communications applications such as get an alert of phone call on your TV, text chat and live traffic or flight  information.

 

Jeff Bachmeier asked:


People listen to radio for a variety of different reasons; to hear their favorite talk show, sports games, or music. The radio was invented over one hundred years ago, and people still listen to them today proving it to be one of the greatest inventions in time.

Listening to a radio can be difficult at times because there may be bad reception and it can take a while to tune to the right station you want. Listening to internet radio has many advantages over a traditional radio, and finding your favorite station is just a click away. Once you find a radio program that interests you, you just click on the link and the website broadcasts onto your computer. Finding a talk show, sports game, or your favorite music is easily accessible from the internet.

The best aspect of listening to music online is the cost. It can be free or of little cost. If you want to listen online all you need is a computer or laptop, an internet connection, speakers, and a media player. Some online stations don’t require a media player so you won’t have an additional cost of purchasing software. Some online stations charge a monthly fee which usually cost around $10 to $20 a month, but there are plenty of stations that are free of charge.

Another advantage of listening to radio stations online is the wide variety of programming. Unlike a traditional radio where there has to be good reception for tuning, you can listen to stations from across the globe. You can listen to stations from different countries and hear music and talk shows from other cultures. This is great for people who have relocated to another country for work, family, or military duty and want to listen to music or a show that will remind them of home. There are stations available with every type of music ranging from folk, hip-hop, rock, alternative, and jazz, just to name a few. There are thousands of radio stations to choose from online unlike traditional radio where you can only choose from AM and FM stations that are in your area of reception. Traditional radios are also limiting with music choices and most stations only play country, rap, rock, pop, and oldies. Local sports broadcasts are only offered on traditional radio, but with internet radio you can find sports broadcasts from around the world.

There are many advantages with tuning in online such as cost, accessibility, and variety.

John Ash asked:


Although, most people hold the opinion that more recent broadcasting media like the television and the World Wide Web have effectively put the radio out of business, the prospects of radio broadcasting as a career remain bright even in the twenty-first century. With the coming of Internet radio and podcasting services, radio jockeying has acquired totally new dimensions. Even universities encourage their students to take up internships in radio broadcasting.

Radio Broadcasting Schools

For those seriously interested in taking up radio broadcasting as a career, radio broadcasting schools are a good stepping stone. However, you should also remember that this is a kind of job that requires a bit of personal flair to outshine others in the competitive market of today.

Community Radio Stations

Community radio stations, especially college radio stations, are often on the lookout for students. If you are a student looking for alternative ways to pay your college dues, internships in such stations are lucrative and enjoyable options for you that are definitely worth consideration.

What are Internet Radio and Podcasting and how are they Different?

Adding impetus to radio broadcasting as a career, both Internet radio and podcasting use the World Wide Web to distribute media to subscribers. The media thus distributed can be played back on appropriate playback devices like computers, for example. Hosts of podcasts are called podcasters.

In the case of Internet radio, you can simply listen to the media being streamed across the web. You cannot store the media readily as files on a storage device. Podcasting, on the other hand, lets you download the files onto a portable playback device such as an iPod.

Types of Jobs in Radio Broadcasting

Career opportunities in radio are innumerable if you have the skills. These are a few of the jobs in radio broadcasting:

News anchor: Nothing beats the radio when it comes to emergency broadcasts. The openings are modestly salaried and different domains exist for individuals having expertise in specific areas of news.

Disk jockey: Do you have the gift of the gab and a passion for the beats? Disk jockeying is the answer for anyone who wants to make radio broadcasting his career by entertaining with words and the latest hits and fulfilling the public demand.

Voiceover artists: This job is as competitive as it is lucrative. Voiceovers are needed in ventures such as commercials and documentaries.

Talk show hosts: Radio isn’t all about music, news and advertisements. Talk show hosts handle almost any issue; but in most cases, require experience in the industry in order to apply.

Sportscaster: When it comes to sports, it automatically implies that the commentator should have ample knowledge regarding the world of sports. This makes the domain extremely competitive and demands that sportscasters immersing themselves in the world of sports.

Production Engineer: This is the perfect position for people having an extraordinary talent at mixing and editing audio.

If you wish to reap gold with your verbal skills, radio broadcasting has career opportunities designed for people like you.