Livio Radio review: Pandora streaming, with a high-end look

The iPod may have killed AM/FM radio for the latest generation of music fans, but the classic version of Apple's ubergadget only lets you listen to your own music collection--there's no hipster DJ introducing you to your new favorite band. Music fans still crave new sounds, and personalized Internet radio services such as Pandora and Last.fm have filled the "music discovery" gap by taking note of your music preferences and playing songs they'll think you'll like. Pandora's a great service, but--portable devices notwithstanding--it's not easy to listen to away from your PC, which is where the Livio Radio ($150) comes in.

The Livio Radio is the first Wi-Fi radio we've tested that is designed completely around the Pandora service, offering all the standard functions--like "thumbs up/down"--right on the front panel. The gorgeous design is outstanding for the price; it's easy to use and you won't find anything that looks this good until you spend about twice as much.

Its competitors will better serve audiophiles and feature junkies, but the Livio Radio hits the sweet spot for those looking for a simple, great-looking way to add Pandora to a bedroom, kitchen, or living room.

Read the full review of the Livio Radio.

Livio Radio--photos

[livioradio]

Livio Radio is a great radio system that takes online music streaming to the next level. The fact that it features Pandora and has more of its features than any other existing radio shows how revolutionary it truly is. The Livio automatically syncs to your online Pandora account and upgrades automatically. You're able to create stations on the radio that will also show up on your online account. One of the best features is that the radio is able to give you more detailed information about the music that's playing such as why it choose that song, what category your music taste falls under, and also allows you to bookmark your favorite artist or song for easy future listening. Livio Radio is the only radio to have the actual thumbs up and thumbs down buttons. When you run out of skips there's over 11,000 radio stations to listen to covering a large variety of genres from all around the world. The Livio is extremely easy to use, set up, and attach to any other stereo system for optimal sound. One of my personal favorite features is that there are no commercials and I don't have to deal with a web browser once I've set up my radio. All that I need to listen to non-stop music is wi-fi . Here's a link to Livio Radio's website, http://tiny/cc/livio_radio_jl . If you have any questions about the radio or anything else please feel free to contact me at [e-mail].