Report: Apple developing radio app for iPhone

Apple is allegedly building a new app for its iPhone and iPod Touch that will bring FM radio to the devices, according to a report on 9 to 5 Mac.

(Credit: Apple)

Citing anonymous sources, the Apple news site says the functionality of the application will be similar to what Apple built into the iPod Nano. That includes the ability to pause live FM transmissions and fast-forward when you resume playing.

According to 9 to 5 Mac, the delay in getting the app to market is Apple's decision to integrate it with the iTunes Store, which is built into the devices. With this integration, people will be able to tap on a song they hear on the radio and buy it through iTunes.

Of course, Apple wouldn't be the first company to offer some type of FM functionality on the iPhone. Applications like Wunder Radio have been around for over a year and enable people to stream Internet radio to their iPhone and iPod Touch.

The big advantage Apple would have is linking its application to the iTunes Store, which creates the potential for more revenue.

[alan_06]

Awesome feature to have! Again, Apple is the first in the market to introduce new feature like this!

[ddhboy]

My sarcasm detection is a bit off, so I can't tell if you were joking or if you seriously believe that.

[tech_crazy]

Eh? Did you even read the article? "Of course, Apple wouldn't be the first company to offer some type of FM functionality on the iPhone. Applications like Wunder Radio have been around for over a year and enable people to stream Internet radio to their iPhone and iPod Touch. "

[solitare_pax]

Well, it is a logical feature to add to the device - sometimes you have to hope to hear a song two-three times before you catch the name of it on the radio.

Too bad there's so few songs on the radio between talking heads and ads...

[NPGMBR]

Not to mention the fact that the lowly Zune has had that functionality since its second generation.

[j2bad]

err... the Samsung Omnia, running WinMo, has had this functionallity built in for some time now.

[myles taylor]

While I hope the OP is being sarcastic as he is wrong about FM radio, the pausing feature I believe is a first on the iPod Nano.

[lazycat202]

first in the market to make this feature? LOL!! sorry guy! you will be the last one who will use his feature.

[scrushmaster]

I prefer to get pod cast's on my infinitely higher quality Palm Pre. Palm Pre homebrew appz are for the 1337 sause haxors. I hate these dumb ********* articles. I mean seriously.

Macs slogan should be, "Pay more for less, just to think your cool".

[ddhboy]

Well only the 3GS, and iPod Touch 2G/3G would be able to use it, and even so I can't think I'd be bothered to limit myself to local FM radio when there are tons of apps on the App Store that will get you radio of all bands from AM to Police Radio across the world.

[cvaldes1831]

It is a useful option particularly for iPod touch users when they are out of range of a WiFi hotspot. With a WiFi connection, you are better off streaming over the Internet as the audio quality is often much better (and I often end up listening to non-local stations).

[XiroMisho]

depends on how good/bad your local radio is =P

[therobot]

Im out of the loop what is FM radio?

[NCMattJ]

Lol. Are you being sarcastic?

[therobot]

yeah I'm being silly. I stopped listening to the radio when Milli Vanilli was busted. I cried that day!

[dbargen]

My question is: will they support iTunes tagging? That'd be the obvious ploy since it would once again direct people back to their product. I wish I could get it to work on my truck's head unit.

[scrushmaster]

I am surprised someone that uses a mac product would know what a head unit is...

[ckh1272]

@scrushmaster--I'm surprised you have a clue about anything that isn't a Pre. The personal insults will get you nowhere.

[NCMattJ]

I thought both the iPhone 3G and 3GS had an FM radio in them on the Broadcom chip that also contains the GPS and WiFi radios?

[cnetpre]

You're right. The iPhone has a broadcom chip, but FM radio described doesn't refer to our local radio stations between 87.5 - 108 MHz, it's FM radio communication for Bluetooth or WiFi along 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

http://www.broadcom.com/products/Bluetooth/Bluetooth-RF-Silicon-and-Software-Solutions/BCM4329

iPhone cannot receive local FM radio stations until they rebuild the iphone with a chip designed for that like the Zune. The iPhone radio app is nothing more than streaming radio music through the Internet....old technology, next...

[cvaldes1831]

@cnetpre:

If you visit the Broadcom product page, you can download a product brief. The PDF document specifically states the chip contains an FM receiver and transmitter (76-108MHz, supports European RDS and North American RBDS radio standards).

[graxxus]

FM to store integration has been available for Zune for a while. Not that it matters.
Good thinking Apple!

[Super2online]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. It's been in Zune since version 1. Old news...next.

[theveggiedude]

But can you pause and rewind the FM radio? That is the feature that is new.

[wjsteele]

I actually have an old iRiver player that let's you do pause and rewind FM, so it's certainly not new. And I'm not aware of any other player besides the Zune that let's you purchase the content directly from your device without syncing... and it is especially nice if you have the Zune Pass.

[dpeters11]

I want over the air AM. Getting the station over the net through an app is useless to me.

[bobmarleypeople]

Once again, "report" not the same as "rumour". This is a "rumour" since they're citing anonymous sources. If they had actual sources that could be relied upon, THEN it's a "report".

ffs

[gqlynch]

The radio was invented over 100 years ago and only now Apple decided to incorporate this feature, it appears that were working on a way for them to make money on it and it looks like they finally did.

[celticbrewer]

Yeah, you can tag a song and buy it through iTunes, no doubt. Money money MONEY! I'm sure they could have added FM for a buck years ago, but hadn't figured out how to profit on it.

[epetrack1]

There is ONE real use for this that I've been waiting for..... The gym I work out at has TVs for which the audio is played thru local FM frequencies (different frequency for each TV). Would be great not to need separate FM radio to hear TV while working out. Obviously, typical "streaming" radio would not work- need a real FM radio.

[gointoscott]

Wow you and I both had the same thought at the same time! I bet a lot of people woudl benefit from this feature.

[cnetpre]

Would be cool to listen to real local radio stations through the iPhone but the chip is not designed for listening to local FM Radio Stations. It's designed to listen and transmit FM signals for Bluetooth and WiFi high frequency signals beyond 2.4 GHz; not lower than 108 kHz. Listening to local radio stations is what the Zune does very well.

The FM Radio for iPhone is simply streaming music which still uses your Internet connection to tap into Radio Stations streaming online.

[gointoscott]

I hope this is true. It would come in handy when going to workout place and listening to the TV's there that broadcast FM 89.1 through radio.

Also the FM transmitter so I can listen to music off my phone in my car would be great!

[TaiYurShu]

Yawn!!! *flips casette tape on walkman to side B*

[cnetpre]

FM Radio on the iPhone? Not. More like Internet Radio for the iPhone - and that's nothing new people. The iPhone doesn't even have an FM Receiver chip in it. A real FM Receiver exists for the Zune.

The iPhone will only be accessing streaming music through the Internet from Radio Stations online through your AT&T network or WiFi. This is no different than visiting the various Internet Radio websites and listening to the streaming music through your web browser. Apple isn't the first to market streaming music through the internet - try Palm Treo.

[X-sync]

Just wait for it. Apple is gonna put the ship in its next gen. iPhone/iPod touch I just know it.

[woooooooha]

Don't care for apple much do you?

[scrushmaster]

Palm Pre is way better then the Iphone for everything.... everything.

[ckh1272]

@scrushmaster--Enlighten us oh wise one (insert sarcasm). How does that Pre do as far as storing up to 32GB?? Oh, that's right. It doesn't. I guess it isn't better at everything.

[papa_delicious]

apple's ipod gets MMS years later, and only NOW FM??? I had that on my creative zen micro back at the turn of the century. srsly folks, when is apple going to join the real world?

what a money-grubbing idiot company that refuses to put basic features in its products.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

ipods dont need mms

[pmoosh]

I though the iPod Nano had all that already ....

[winstein]

Cutting off the middleman... users will not need to search for songs anymore.

[lickmoreshoes]

WOW...After 8 years. still no hd radio lol at apple.

[ChukchansiDan]

Yup.... If you want HD radio, it's the Zune, folks....

[theveggiedude]

Yea, its amazing that despite all this time, Apple can jump in and do it different than anyone else. I mean, who would have ever thought you could pause and rewind a radio station??

[RompStar_420]

wait... does the iPhone 3G have a FM/AM tuner built in ? because if not, then it is streaming it off the internet and it is not real radio signal.

[AppleSuxLeo]

Not HD though=Apple fail.
And no AM for sports , so is useless.

[myles taylor]

No objectivity here=Apple fail.

You know, no matter what Apple does, they will fail in your eyes. You should find a new hobby.

[ckh1272]

@Leo--Radio (period)=FAIL. Doesn't matter who it is. Radio has been dead for a long time. They just haven't accepted it yet.

[myles taylor]

If I understood correctly, the iPhone already has the hardware for this and just needs it unlocked. It's about time.

I can't stand radio, so I will never use this, but it's nice for all the people who enjoy it.

[Seaspray0]

"iPhone already has the hardware for this..." As in an FM tuner that picks up FM radio from the airwaves and not streaming music from the internet? Are you sure? The reason I distinguish this as important is due to reception. I can drive miles and miles down the road and not lose reception on an FM station broadcast. I will lose an internet connection before leaving the driveway. To me, that is a real difference between "FM functionality" as described in the article and a real FM receiver. I'm under the impression from reading the story that this will be another internet streaming music app. Clarification on this would be appreciated.

So let me know... will I be able to listen for miles, myles? Or is this just another internet stream?