Device brings your iPod music to any radio

XtremeMac on Tuesday released a gadget designed to let users listen to music stored on their iPods via any FM radio.

The transmitter, dubbed the AirPlay, also works with the iPod Mini, Xtreme Mac said. The device transfers audio wirelessly from the music player to any FM radio, making it an attractive add-on, the company said, for people who don't have casette or CD players in their cars.

The gadget features a digital display that shows which frequency you'll be transmitting on, and it does not require navigation of iPod menus. The display turns off after tuning to conserve the iPod battery, XtremeMac said. When the iPod begins to play, AirPlay automatically transmits on the last used radio frequency. The device costs $39.95, the company said.

XtremeMac is not the only company tapping into the market for such devices. Griffin Technology's popular iTrip, for example, can also be used with any FM radio.

Among other products available is an adapter from Alpine that costs about $100 and lets the user control iPod and iPod Mini players via several Alpine-brand stereos.

Pioneer has an adapter slated to be released in March. With a price of about $140, the gadget will work only with Pioneer stereos, but the stereos will be able to display up to eight characters of text, showing details such as album, artist or song name. Meanwhile, Clarion is planning an in-dash DVD player that combines a 7-inch touch screen monitor with iPod controls.

Carmakers such as Mercedes-Benz USA and Volvo also have plans to make the iPod connect with car music systems.

Uhh... iTrip...

First ever... yeah right. Griffin's iTrip has been around for over a year already. <sigh>

[CBS Orchestra]

Differentiation

Yes, I've had an iTrip for quite a while. I'm not quite sure how Extreme can claim that the Airplay is the "first" to send a signal to any FM radio -- the iTrip is quite capable of that.
One thing that's annoying about the iTrip is the fairly convoluted frequency-changing procedure. If those + and - buttons on the Airplay are tuning buttons, then I'm thinking that might be a lot more convenient.
I wonder if it uses digital or analog tuning, though.

[mkane]

Story has been fixed

Thanks for pointing that out. The story has been corrected.

Share The Music?

What a neat concept. I like the idea of listening to a radio station that plays only the songs I like, in a random order, and commercial free. That would be sweet! It would be like a personal radio station.

I wonder... could other people tune into the radio and hear my music?

Your iPod Music on Your Radio! http://allwaysmusic.modblog.com/

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