CCrane's new ACOUSTIC ENERGY WI-FI INTERNET RADIO

[SayNoToIBOC]

This is an impressive radio and impressive technology - all that is needed, is a wireless broadband Internet connection.  Now, if I had to choose, between a table-top HD/IBOC radio and the WI-FI Internet radio, there is NO comparision.  One's computer doesn't even need to be turn on.  Heard this radio advertised on, "Coast to Coast AM", last night.  This is exciting technology - hear radio stations, from all over the world !  Now, I know what Mark Ramsey was talking about, when he said, "HD/IBOC is already outfoxed, even before it gets out of the gate".

http://www.ccrane.com/radios/internet-radios/acoustic-energy-wi-fi-internet-radio.aspx

[SayNoToIBOC]

Here is a note, from their Recepter HD radio page:

"Note: The HD radio signal is only available within approximately 100 miles of HD broadcasts, but it will still pick up standard (analog) AM/FM signals as normal when the HD signal is out of range. You can be assured Crane is working on developing an antenna to increase this range". 

Maybe, there is also a problem with the transmission coverage    Compared to their Wi-Fi radio, what a frick'n joke !

AND, 55% of Americans have broadband Internet conections, at home, and/or at work:

http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/121/report_display.asp

[DavidEduardo]

This is an impressive radio and impressive technology - all that is needed, is a wireless broadband Internet connection.  Now, if I had to choose, between a table-top HD/IBOC radio and the WI-FI Internet radio, there is NO comparision.  One's computer doesn't even need to be turn on.  Heard this radio advertised on, "Coast to Coast AM", last night.  This is exciting technology - hear radio stations, from all over the world !  Now, I know what Mark Ramsey was talking about, when he said, "HD/IBOC is already outfoxed, even before it gets out of the gate".

You are thinking like a DXer. Most people do not want to listen to stations outside their market area, and do not really want to hear internet streams that have, for the most part, no local content, and are just someone's iPod on hold. FYI, internet streaming gest almost zero mentions in Arbitron diaries... you would think that with so manya millions of computers, it would show up. It doesn´t.

[DavidEduardo]

Here is a note, from their Recepter HD radio page:

"Note: The HD radio signal is only available within approximately 100 miles of HD broadcasts, but it will still pick up standard (analog) AM/FM signals as normal when the HD signal is out of range. You can be assured Crane is working on developing an antenna to increase this range". 

Maybe, there is also a problem with the transmission coverage    Compared to their Wi-Fi radio, what a frick'n joke !

AND, 55% of Americans have broadband Internet conections, at home, and/or at work:

99.9% of radio listening is well within 100 miles of a station. In fact, very few US stations cover a radius of 100 miles! What a crock.

Most of us bought computers to do work, not to use as a $1000 and up radio.

[SayNoToIBOC]

If the 100 mile radius wasn't true, then why is CCrane making modifications to the antenna !

"Most of us bought computers to do work, not to use as a $1000 and up radio"

This statment is TRULY laughable - this time you have out done yourself !

Looks like computers can be used for both, now - hey, studies have shown that the majority of the Internet is used for pornography purposes !  You are running out of steam !!!  What's the matter - have nothing negative to say about Wi-Fi technology !

[SayNoToIBOC]

"You are thinking like a DXer. Most people do not want to listen to stations outside their market area, and do not really want to hear internet streams that have, for the most part, no local content, and are just someone's iPod on hold. FYI, internet streaming gest almost zero mentions in Arbitron diaries... you would think that with so manya millions of computers, it would show up. It doesn´t."

Your arguments are truly not holding water any more - why then are, and have been, so many shortwave listeners ?  And, of course, you have NO facts to back up your statements.  Mark Ramsey would certainly disagree with you. Your counter arguments are relly getting ridiculous !

[SayNoToIBOC]

Do you really think, that if listeners had an option of being able to hear news from around the world, such as the Middle East, in English through an easy to use menu system, they are going to be satisfied with an HD radio, stuck in just a local market ?  Who are you kidding !

[Chuck]

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that there will be more of these Internet radios on the market.  Right now, some wireless PDA's can download and play audio files from web streams.  It won't be too long before an iPod like device is on the market that plays wi-fi or wi-max radio stations.  Even small communities are adding these wireless services as a public utility, often with free access.  In my rural neighborhood, even the local airport has free wireless Internet service. 

It's probably easier to set up such utilities in small towns and rural areas, but I'll bet that it is coming to a big city near you.  As long as there is money in it, someone will do it.

That's not to say that similar portable devices won't be available for HD Radio, but as these technologies proliferate, the competition for listeners will increase.
 

[tested]

You are thinking like a DXer. Most people do not want to listen to stations outside their market area, and do not really want to hear internet streams that have, for the most part, no local content, and are just someone's iPod on hold. FYI, internet streaming gest almost zero mentions in Arbitron diaries... you would think that with so manya millions of computers, it would show up. It doesn´t.

Arbitron reports online listening in a different report.  They have an online radio listening report.  April is the latest set of numbers released on their website:
http://www.arbitron.com/onlineradio/apr_ratings_2006.htm

This shows that during the day there are 1.2 million online radio listeners in an AQH.  That seems like a pretty good number to me. 

[autopaint-1]

Are those numbers national? International? Considering that in the NY market alon there are approx 15 million people, you're talking tiny numbers spread over a wide area and what percentage of those numbers come from terrrestrial rebroadcasts? 1 million people for a single internet stream would be impresive. 1 million for all the different streams provided by say a Clear Channel isn't that hot.