Filed under: Macworld, Accessories, Audio, iPod Family
Apple brings FM radio to the iPod
No, it's not
as sexy as the iMac and MacBook Pro (I'm still not thrilled
about that name), but today Apple announced the availability of the Radio Remote, which adds FM radio to the iPod nano and iPod with
video.When connected to your iPod, a "radio" menu option becomes available. When selected, you're presented with an interface that looks like an analog radio dial. Search for a station within the range of 87.5MHz to 107.9MHz (US and Europe) or 76MHz to 90MHz (Japan). Also, you can save favorite channels for future reference and move from station to station with either your iPod's clickwheel or the wired remote.
My feeling on this is "eh." The interface looks pretty cool, but I would have been happier had it supported satellite radio. The Radio Remote costs $49.00, works with the iPod with video and iPod nano and is shipping now.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
timothy said 3:27PM on 1-10-2006
$50 for an FM radio? Eh, I'll pass, or run to Walgreens and pick up an FM radio for$5 if I feel the need to hear crappy radio.
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DerekJ said 3:29PM on 1-10-2006
As an owner of 3 iPods, and formerly 2 Macs, I feel I've earned the right to say:
fuck you Apple.
fuck you right in your ass.
$50 for a goddamned radio?!
Are you out of your fucking mind?
Has the reality distortion field cut off oxygen to your brain?!
This is worth, worth, worthless!
If you want a radio, buy a radio.
I do think iPod's should have radios built-in, and hope that they soon will, but this bullshit is just insulting.
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Mark Ross said 3:31PM on 1-10-2006
I would have liked AM support.
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Bill said 3:53PM on 1-10-2006
I agree that $50 is steep for a radio, but if you own 3 iPods already, hell, what's $50 to you? BTW, the F-word is pretty neat huh?
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Derrick said 3:54PM on 1-10-2006
Would you prefer to have to buy a new iPod to get radio ??? If you don't want it ... don't buy it.
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Jason said 3:55PM on 1-10-2006
Wow, $50 is a lot of cash to drop on something like this. No thanks on this one Apple.
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Wheels said 4:08PM on 1-10-2006
Um, the Low End of the FM scale is 87.5mhz, 8.75mhz.
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James Depew said 4:16PM on 1-10-2006
At the SanDisk Press Conference at CES, they revealed their plans to make the flash MP3 player market a two player game and increase their current 29% (vs. Apple's 49%) to 40%. With the introduction of the 6GB Sansa e200 6GB at $299 which includes a radio tuner AND is microSD expandable, I think they've got a chance. While its true that accessories are where the money is made, a little bit of 'value add' is nice, especially since virtually every other player includes FM radio by default and $50 seems like its just trying to bleed money, especialy without the remote display that would make this remote useful (throw the iPod in my backback/inside pocket, and keep the remote handy in my front pocket or clipable).... Good idea Apple, especially with the RDS, but lets make that idea make sense both functionally and financially.
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MikeK said 4:22PM on 1-10-2006
hey derek Nice use of the F-Bomb. Trying to remember what your opinion is but all I that keeps coming to mind is what a punk. Thanks for causing Tuaw to loose its PG rating.
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Tijs said 5:14PM on 1-10-2006
I need to replace my car stereo and an ipod + radio adapter would be just fine with me. I would love to just install an ipod dock where my radio used to be but haven't seen a product like this around yet. Anyone?
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DerekJ said 5:20PM on 1-10-2006
I apologize.
I understand, no excuse.
I just got kinda boiled over, thanks for the reality check.
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ThePete said 2:11AM on 1-11-2006
Why not just spend $20 on a standalone AM/FM radio? Oh wait, I already did.
Plus, I already bought an AirClick for my 5g, so why would I want to downgrade to a cabled remote just so I can listen to FM radio, which is something I can already do with my aforementioned $20 standalone?
Boo to us for thinking too much.
If they're looking for accessories, how about somehing for the 5g that lets us record audio? Or better yet something that will let us record *video*?
Sorry, I was just blue-skying with that last one... :D
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Carlos said 5:34AM on 1-11-2006
Before: iPod doesn't need FM radio
Apple fan: "I don't need FM radio"
Now: FM radio (only for the latest models) for just $50 !!!
Apple fan: "I'll buy it... it's so cool"
Oh! by the way:
Before: Powerpc is better than intel processors
Apple fan: "Intel sucks!!"
Now: iMacs from twice to five times faster than old powerpc macs...
Apple fan: "I'll buy it... but wait! there are just as expensive as power macs.. What about intel pc prices? oh! it doesn't matter they are so cool"
In my defence I have to say that Im an apple fan damn it!!!
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