These days, there is a plethora of audio content available to stream over the Internet. Even traditional terrestrial radio often offers content streamed over the Web, diversifying the choices for how consumers can enjoy music and other audio. Although the legality is questionable, there are--and will always be--ways to record these streams. Streamed audio recordings for music are not going to offer the same sound quality as a ripped CD or even a purchased MP3, but it's a good option for talk programs and mixes that might not be available in other formats. This tutorial will show you how to record streamed audio as an MP3; just be sure to read the usage rules for any recording source before beginning.
Editors' note: This tutorial was completed using Windows XP.
Cost: Free
Time commitment: Varies
System Requirements: Windows
(Credit:
John P. Falcone/CNET)
HP has one big request for when you're talking about its new DreamScreen product line: don't call it just a digital photo frame.
Fair enough. The DreamScreen can display your photos effortlessly, but that just scratches the surface of what it can do. Available in 10.2-inch and 13.3-inch versions (both 800x480 resolution), the DreamScreen offers 2GB of onboard memory, plus slots for all standard flash media card types as well as USB storage. If loading your digital media via flash memory is too old-fashioned for you, the DreamScreen can also connect to your home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and--according to HP--the included software lets you drag and drop the files you want to move to it via the network.
Beyond photos, the DreamScreen can also play videos (MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264) and music (MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV) through its built-in speakers (or you can use the headphone jack to connect to an outboard stereo); it can also play music in the background while displaying a slideshow. But if you don't have a single audio file, you can instead opt for one of thousands of Internet radio stations or Pandora's streaming audio service instead.
But wait, there's more! ... Read more
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XM Sirius)
Many (but not all) of the XM Sirius satellite radio audio channels are also available online to subscribers, for a small additional fee. The browser-based service is great for listening in those places where you don't--or can't--have a satellite radio rig set up, such as an interior room of an office building (or any other room without a window). And now, XM Sirius is offering a dedicated device for listening to its online streams: the Sirius TTR1 Internet Radio.
The tabletop radio connects to your home network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet to access the satcaster's online audio service, which actually offers better quality than the over-the-air streams. The TTR1 also doubles as a dual alarm clock and has 10 presets for saving your favorite stations. The display shows the XM Sirius programming information (channel, artist, track, and so on), and it has a built-in light sensor that auto-dims the display to the room's ambient lighting, so it won't light up the room while you're trying to sleep. A standard credit card-size remote is thrown in as well.
Want to listen to something besides XM Sirius? If that's the case, the TTR1 isn't for you. It has a line-in jack for outside audio sources, but that's it--there's no support for the myriad other online audio services, including plain old Internet radio. If that interests you, we'd suggest a Grace Internet Radio (which streams free Pandora and thousands of standard Internet radio stations in addition to XM Sirius). Spend even more, and you can upgrade to the Logitech Squeezebox Boom, which handles all those services, plus Last.fm, Rhapsody, and several more services to boot.
Still, even with the TTR1's Sirius-only feature set, we can envision it being a hit for those who just want a dedicated device for listening to Howard Stern. His channels--along with nearly all of the commercial-free music stations--will be readily available on the TTR1. (Some key sports, talk, and entertainment channels are not available--consult the Sirius FAQ for more information.)
The Sirius TTR1 will cost $150 when it hit stores this fall.
Does the TTR1 interest you? Or would you prefer a more full-featured Internet radio product that also offers other Internet audio options? Share your opinion below.
In mid-July, Verizon began automatically pushing Slacker Radio to BlackBerry Storm phones. Starting Tuesday, Verizon's partnership with Slacker Radio begins extending to BlackBerry Tour devices in its U.S. network as well.
As part of the agreement, Slacker Radio will hook into Verizon's V Cast store (which itself taps the Rhapsody catalog), giving BlackBerry Storm and Tour users the capability to purchase one of 4.5 million songs.
Slacker Radio's streaming music player competes heavily with similar Internet radio services, particularly Pandora.
The Wi-Fi radio category has grown steadily over the last two years, thanks to greater consumer awareness and the popularity of streaming music services like Pandora. Grace Digital Audio was one of the early entrants to this product category, and the Bravado (model number GDI-IRD4400M) represents a different direction for the company.
The Bravado ditches the standard tabletop radio look, instead placing a pair of stereo speakers on top of the unit and giving the faceplate the feel of an old-school stereo component. The rest of the unit will feel familiar to Grace Digital fans, as the radio supports streaming services like Pandora and Sirius, and has access to Reciva's large database of Internet radio stations.
We were originally put off by the Bravado's $250 price tag, since that put it into direct competition with the excellent Logitech Squeezebox Boom, which offers more features and better sound. But Grace recently dropped the asking price to a more palatable $200, making it worth consideration over the other models in the company's line.
On Sale Now: $189.99 - $229.99
View the latest prices for Grace Digital Bravado GDI-IRD4400M
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Livio)
For this week's Crave giveaway, we have the Livio Radio, a Wi-Fi Internet radio optimized for listening to Pandora without a PC. Our reviewer Matthew Moskovciak said this about the product: "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." (Read CNET's full review).
Normally, the Livio Radio costs about $150, but you have a chance to get one gratis.
So, how do you try to win yourself a free Livio Radio? Let me enumerate the basic rules. Please read them carefully; there will be a test.
- Register as a CNET user. Go to the top of this page and hit the "Join CNET" link to start the registration process. If you're already registered, no need to register again.
- Leave a comment below. You can leave whatever comment you want. If it's funny or insightful it won't help you win, but we're trying to have fun here, so anything entertaining is appreciated.
- Leave only one comment. You may enter this specific giveaway only once. If you enter more than one comment, you will be automatically disqualified.
- The winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) Livio Radio. Approximate retail value is $150.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified via e-mail. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
- Entries can be submitted until Monday, June 15, at 12 p.m. EDT.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENT OF ONE OF THE 50 UNITED STATES OR D.C., 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT DATE OF ENTRY INTO SWEEPSTAKES. VOID IN PUERTO RICO, ALL U.S. TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Sweepstakes ends at 12 PM EDT on June 15, 2009. See official rules for details.
Good luck.
Tivoli calls this finish Zebra.
(Credit: Tivoli)Tivoli Audio didn't announce any new products at its annual showcase this year in New York, but it did reveal lots of new looks--13 new finishes, in fact--for its NetWorks Internet radio.
The new finishes are broken down into three groups: Texture Collection (four options); Color Collection (six options); and Cappellini, which features three hand-lacquered finishes created by Italian furniture designer Giulio Cappellini (Tivoli will also make its original Model One tabletop AM/FM mono radio available in Cappellini finishes).
Tivoli continues to make firmware upgrades to its existing NetWorks radio, which came out last year, but no new changes have made to the hardware aside from the finishes.
The new models should be available within 90 days and carry the same prices as existing configurations of the NetWorks Global Audio System. The mono version goes for $599, the mono plus embedded FM radio costs $649, the stereo version (with second speaker in a separate enclosure) hits $699, and the line-topping FM/stereo version comes in at $750. If you go the Cappellini route, you're looking at $999 for the FM/stereo configuration (it only comes in this configuration).
We're not so keen on the price, especially when you can get a decent Internet radio for far less these days, but the newly finished radios do look beautiful up close and Tivoli is positioning NetWorks as an interior-design accessory. In other words, picture these guys in trendy lofts and other chic abodes and you'll get an idea where the company is headed with this colorful move, global recession be damned.
This hand-lacquered Cappellini finish is called Chinablue.
(Credit: Tivoli)
Wi-Fi radios come in many shapes and sizes, but the Oxx Digital Tube is in a class of its own with its jumbo, hollow-bodied design. The Tube's unique look accommodates its built-in subwoofer, and yes, we found that the radio delivers much more bass than is common on a tabletop radio, although the overall sound quality is just about average.
Like virtually all Wi-Fi radios, the Tube offers up thousands of free Internet radio stations, but it isn't exactly easy to sort through them all on the unit's skimpy two-line LCD display. We were also disappointed that the Tube lacked any additional streaming services, like Pandora or Slacker, which are offered on competitors such as the Grace GDI-IR2000 or Acoustic Research ARIR200.
If you have plenty of room and listen to a lot of bass-heavy music, the Tube does offer up a glitch-free experience at an attractive price. However, in most situations, we think buyers will be better off with more compact competitors that offer up additional streaming services.
The Tangent Quattro, along with several other radios, can now access Pandora thanks to an update from Reciva.
When we get a Wi-Fi radio in for review and find that it uses the Reciva database to offer up Internet radio stations, it's usually a good sign. Reciva's database of stations is nearly comprehensive and we always appreciate that you can manage the thousands of available stations using Reciva's Web site.
In addition to traditional Internet radio stations, Reciva announced Monday that it's adding Pandora support for 10 devices, including Wi-Fi radios from C Crane, Grace Digital, Livio, Sonoro audio, and Tangent Audio.
While some of the radios listed already included Pandora support (such as most of Grace's product line), it's a bonus for owners of radios like the Tangent Quattro that didn't previously support the service. We're hoping Pandora becomes a standard feature on all Reciva-based Wi-Fi radios from here on out. Here's the full list of radios that are now Pandora-certified, straight from Reciva's press release:
C Crane
CC WiFi
Grace Digital
GDI-IR1000
GDI-IR3000
GDI-IR2000
GDI-IR3020
ITC-IR1000
Livio
The Livio Radio featuring Pandora LV001
Sonoro audio
Elements W
Tangent Audio
Tangent Quattro
Tangent NET-200
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Vudu)
Pandora's free online music service is coming to the Vudu set-top box.
Vudu has announced the availability of "immediate access" to the Pandora service for users of its media-on-demand box. Vudu's iteration will allow on-screen access to the music service (as shown above), as well as the ability to toggle between multiple Pandora accounts (so several family members in a given household can access their individual personalized stations, for instance). Pandora joins the recent addition of YouTube, Picasa, and Flickr to Vudu's movie box.
Vudu is pledging to open its Rich Internet Application platform to developers later this year, which could set the stage for wider availability of integrated services and features from third parties. Pandora, meanwhile, will be available on most Samsung Blu-ray players and home theater systems shipping in 2009.
Read the CNET review of the Vudu BX100.
