Internet Radio
If you are a little tired of your local AM and FM radio stations – same old, boring tunes – why not try a phenomenon that has been gradually coming into its own and has now well and truly arrived – internet radio. Unlike conventional radio, internet radio sends its signals through the internet rather than from transmitters that are fixed in one place sending out radio waves. This allows it to be truly global.
With quality second to none, internet radio can hold its own with the best audio around – and sound quality is vitally important for audio. A leading digital radio commentator explains: “Internet radio has the big advantage that the streams can use modern audio codecs.” This is what gives the sound quality an edge over the sound generated by, for example, DAB digital radio, another player on the block, and one being heavily promoted, especially in the United Kingdom, by such big names as the BBC. (In the United States, digital radio is recognized as superior to FM – it cuts out annoying static, and is especially useful in car radios – many listeners are now also tuning in to satellite radio.)
With more than 10,000 stations sending out music, chat and news from all over the world, internet radio gives listeners an enormous choice of listening material, from classical music through reggae to 80s rock and everything between. There is a growing number of web sites providing portals through which you can access the station of your choice. Just one example is shoutcast.com, which gives access to 8000 internet radio stations.
Anyone with a broadband connection can access internet radio via their computer, or buy specially built receivers that look just like radios – well, that’s what they are, after all – at around $200. At the Consumer Electronics Show 2009, manufacturing giant Sony announced that by 2011, 90 per cent of all its products would have internet connectivity. If they put Wi-Fi in their audio products, it will cost only a little more to enable those products to receive internet radio. In fact, many mobile phones are already able to receive internet radio through Wi-Fi or 3G – Nokia’s ‘smart phone’ comes with a standard radio application.
Two classy looking internet radios are the Pure Evoke Flow and Roberts Stream 202.
The Evoke Flow, launched late last year, has a smooth glossy black finish and looks not unlike your average small FM radio, but there the similarity ends. Using fingertip search you can find radio stations worldwide by typing in the first three letters of their name, or you can locate any music genre you want. This radio is portable and will also give you traditional FM and DAB radio, and access the music collection you have stored on your computer.
Roberts Stream 202 is a compact model, operated by batteries as well as mains powered, so you can take it anywhere. Information on a small screen in the top of the radio allows you to browse radio stations easily – it offers Wi-Fi and DAB/FM radio as well. You just need a broadband connection and a modem and/or router to get started.
Afghanistan to Zambia – listening to the world.
Internet Radio Networks – the Gold Pass to Better Entertainment!
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.
USB Internet Radio – Just Plug It In To Enjoy Your Favorite Tunes
December 5, 2009 by admin
Filed under Electronics
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.
Why Online Radio Stations Are The Way To Go
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.
Internet Radio – A Complete Guide
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.
Internet Radio and the Future of Traditional Radio
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”
Enjoy Internet Radio While you Can
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.
Internet Radio: A Free Format For All
August 31, 2009 by admin
Filed under Art And Entertainment
The Internet has evolved and made many changes in our culture including personal MySpace pages, individual blogs, the way we trade information as well as the way the public finds and listens to music.
One of the upcoming and most popular formats is Internet Radio. Let’s discuss an Internet station, www.ilike2rock.net, who promotes, plays and exclusively features independent artists and their music.
Internet radio stations have been online for more than three years and offer listeners an alternative to “subscription radio” and commercial radio because of the eclectic music formats and unique opportunities for independent bands. The music is being brought to the forefront with stations like www.ilike2rock.net.
I spoke with DJ Tom of ilike2rock.net about the radio station and why it is important, not only the bands and individual artists they promote, but to the public as well.
“First and foremost, it is all about the music,” explained DJ Tom. “We offer a chance for the independent artists to submit their music free to us and to do that, they just go to our site and submit the music through a resource called “Music Submit” (we have an exclusive agreement with them). “Music Submit” allows bands and artists to submit band bios’, media kits and of course, the music, and this service in turn helps the bands by promoting them on ezines, other Internet radio stations, blogs and music related web sites.”
And www.ilike2rock.com adds even more to the table. I asked DJ Tom to elaborate.
“This gives the independent band or artist a unique opportunity to be heard with free exposure on our home page to reach their target audience and a chance for the band to attain new fans. We will also showcase bands in our “Talent Showcase,” keeping the band active on our play list. We also use the artists own promotional material (blogs, YouTube, My Space) and link up with them within our web site structure and we even create ring tones for them.”
There is a free program on the site to download called “Destiny Music Player” so you can tune in to the station and other Internet radio stations. It is similar to many of the music players for computers and is very easy to use and navigate.
Tired of the same format from your local radio station? Tune in ilike2rock and you can add more than 150 (and counting) independent bands and artists to your music play list. I spoke to DJ Tom about some of the bands they play and promote.
“This is what is the most exciting to me, we play the independent bands that submit to us (and Music Submit), from all kinds of musical genres and it is a free format, for both the listener and the bands. I am very excited for all our bands and artists. Some of the bands we promote are Hypnogaja, which supplied background music for the hit television on FX called “Dirt,” Black Frog, who have played at the Sturgis Bike Rally and Hide From Cleo, one of Michigan’s hottest bands and we promote all the bands equally.”
I was very impressed with DJ Tom and I too am excited to find new bands to listen to on the Internet. After all, it is always about the music.
Internet Radio Stations offer Free Online Streaming Music
Music has a therapeutic effect on people after their day work. People enjoy listening to music as it brings to them entertainment programs that can simple leave them mad. There are various types of entertainments. One of the best ways of entertaining yourself is listening to live radio. The radio stations that we get to listen on live radio unites people across a region and infuses entertainment in their lives.
The Internet has developed and made many changes in our culture including personal MySpace pages, individual blogs, the way we trade information as well as the way the public finds and listens to music. One of the forthcoming and most popular formats is Internet Radio. Internet radio stations have been online for more than three years and offer listeners an option to “subscription radio” and commercial radio because of the eclectic music formats and unique opportunities for independent bands.
Now the availableness of live radio with these websites allows people to tune to scintillating radio programs that are broadcast by various radio channels from time to time. The radio jockeys also have a great purpose to play for the entertainment of people. Their enchanting dialogs fascinate the listeners. The radio jockeys are also known to tell becharming stories of happenings and incidents in and around them. Thus people are exhilarated with joy on listening to their marvelous tales. Moreover, the websites support several channels of radio. Thus users find immense ambit to listen to live radio programs on any of these channels.
People all over the world can tune to live online radio programs that are broadcasted by various FM channels. The websites help people to access them from anywhere. Now it becomes possible for people to access radio channel from anywhere simply by opening websites. As these sites also serve the communication purposes, thus people get the chance to communicate with friends while listening to the radio.
Radio Musical Extravaganza, Now Online!
Aradhana Gupta asked:
The FM Radio has seeped into every household and has become an ideal companion during the monotonous and dreary moments of life. Not only music but radio has now evolved as a wonderful medium to voice public opinions as well as for playing daily contests and games. Today, we have mobile phones with integrated radio. While traveling or on a boring day at home, there isn’t a better companion than a radio set.
Radio has an element of uncertainty to it. You never know which song is to be played next. That is the reason, why the craze of radio refuses to subside despite having numerous other means of musical pleasure available.
Now the radio is integrated with the Internet and we can quite conveniently listen to it as we do on our radio sets. The trend of live Internet radio is quite recent but has gained a tremendous momentum of appreciation in a short span. The laptops give a significant boost to the usage of the Internet radio, as while traveling one can listen to the FM and keep himself entertained. The radio sets are undoubtedly nearing ‘extinction’, basically due to the fact that radio comes embedded into a number of other gadgets, like a music player, iPod, mobile phone, PDA etc.
With the mobile phones being transformed gradually into computers due to the integration of cutting edge technological marvels like GPRS, high end browsers etc., accessing the Internet radio websites no longer depends on the availability of a computer. Online radio not only allows FM audience, but you have a provision to access AM radio as well. Internet radio has myriad forms. There are websites that provide everything ranging from custom radio stations, to AM and FM streaming stations. They also facilitate instant download of the songs. Some of the websites offer pure musical experience and absolutely 0% commercial interruptions. No irritating advertisements, no radio jockeys; just pure music.
Radio on the Web is the next big leap of the Internet towards engulfing the entire world into it. The radio is now almost omnipresent. You pick up a mobile and you have the FM radio facility in it; if it is an i Pod, you can switch from your own collection of songs to the unlimited play list of the radio. Many radio stations are now concentrating on this new face of FM and AM entertainment. Internet voice streaming is a prerequisite to facilitate radio on Web. The Live Internet Radio has definitely boosted the popularity of this mode of entertainment a great deal.











