DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) radio isn't without it's flaws in the UK, but they're much farther ahead in the Digital Radio arena than we are here in the US. One of the big things about the DAB initiative is getting costs down, more broadcast stations up, and of course - getting cool gadgets like portable DAB Radio's on the market.
Enter the MPIO PD100 Portable DAB Radio. TrustedReviews has an absolutely in-depth review on this unit and has some very valuable information on DAB Radio as a whole. So rather than babble on about it, why don't you just hop on over there and give it a look-see.
No Createaway.com isn't a motivational podcast in itself, but rather a directory of motivational podcasts that you can access to get... well... motivated.
You can choose from several different categories including Motivational & Inspirational, Wealth & Wisdom, Leadership & Communication, Mentors Coaches Consultants, yadda yadda yadda.
A neat lil' feature is the ability to listen to the audio via streaming Webcast, downloaded Podcast form or the ever so popular Cellcast.
Phillips announced that they've upgraded their SAF3550 HD Radio chip processor to allow up to eight separate streams on a single FM frequency. It also now allows for broadcasters to send voice and data signals that completely changes the possibilities of HD Radio's services. These data signals allow for a single station to provide an RDS-like format with info on a song or artist, but even further thinking is the ability to use it for things like traffic reporting.
Theoretically, the traffic reporting system could be used in conjunction with GPS navigation systems and provide real-time re-routing around accidents or delays - your local radio station could provide you with this data without having to wait for the traffic report. This level of ultra-localization would give HD Radio a true benefit over Satellite, where traffic reporting is limited to major metro areas.
When I first did my review of the pre-beta version of Odeo's Studio, I was blown away by the possibilities. Doing everything online, without the hassle of uploading or setting up RSS feeds was liberating. But then a commenter pointed me to podOMatic. I've never heard of it, and a little time went by before I tried it out (procrastinator? me?!), but once I laid my hands on this thing I was completely blown away.
And yes, it's free.
With the ready-made music beds, and sounds effects for n00bz who don't have this stuff at their fingertips, this is one killer app. If you do have audio you want to use, you can - so 'leet podcasters are covered too. Take all that audio and mix it directly on podOmatic using the mixOmatic - all 100% flash based and I have yet to encounter any bugs.
Did I mention podMail where you can essentially email a podcast to your iPod/MP3 Player? Oh and podAmigo that let's you search, capture and store podcasts on both Windows and Mac, with both iTunes and Windows Media Player. And I'm not even going to touch upon the Daycasts because you should just stop reading now and go check it out for yourself.
Look for a Droxy Podcast powered by podOmatic in the very near future.
To commemorate the 68th year of marijuana prohibition in the United States, NORML has launched their new NORMLcast podcast. This weekly podcast is yet another method of delivery for NORML to educate both supporters and the general public about marijuana law reform. Federal marijuana prohibition started way back in October 3rd, 1937 when reefer madness was sweeping the nation in epidemic proportions, yet here we are 68 years later still fightin' the fight.
The NORMLcast was launched in conjunction with NORML's updated state-by-state marijuana penalties report - a great guide if you're one of the 26 million Americans enjoying their bud on a regular basis.
Looks like there's a new aggregator in town - Fluctu8 - cute name, but not too easy to type. The goal of Fluctu8 is to keep users up to date with a wide range of audio data sources. Fluctu8 supports RSS v2.0, Atom v1.0 and Atom v0.3 - not to mention MP3, OGG, and FLAC audio file formats.
Fluctu8 seems to have a lot of potential, though the onslaught of Google AdSense ads everywhere raises a somewhat suspect eyebrow (though - you gotta pay for it somehow). I do like their openness and the educational content in the Help/Information area. Definitely worth taking a look if you're into it.
A sequel to the Cult of Mac book, author Leander Kahney (editor at Wired News) has released the Cult of iPod. The book takes an in-depth look at the iPod and it's effect on our culture and behavior.
Chronicalling the history and the development of the iPod, the Cult of iPod looks at our listening behavior, how we treat the devices (like gold!), and covers other fun things like iPod-jacking and iPod DJs. Sounds interesting.
It's no secret that Howard Stern has a $500 million dollar contract with Sirius, and it's even less of a secret that many on Wall Street are wondering just exactly how they'll pay for such a hefty bill.
Well, we got a bit of glimpse behind the creativity of Sirius' Ad Sales department when Sam Benrubi (VP of Ad Sales) mentioned that they just closed a 2.5-minute long spot with a spirits manufacturer. Some find this ridiculous, but I'd have to disagree because of the potential for actually entertaining commercials.
Mind you, Sirius will never put ads on their music channels, nor will they extend the commercial breaks to the ridiculousness they are on terrestrial. All a 2.5 minute spot does is give the advertiser to truly capture the ear of the listener.
CHUM, who has been battling it out with the CRTC over the Canadian satellite radio licenses awarded a few months back, is again asking for changes to their license. Now they want to be able to add commercials, more channels, more foreign content, and more rebroadcast programming
from terrestrial radio.
The item that screams out at me immediately is the ability to add commercials now. Seeing as this is still subscription radio - only instead of being satellite based, it's still a network of terrestrial based towers. Still, CHUM is asking for only 6-minutes per hour of commercials - not bad - and if it gets them to stop complaining, it's worth it.
The Weblogs, Inc. network features over 100 independent, unfiltered bloggers producing over 1,000 blog posts a week across over 75 industry-leading blogs. Each week we ask our bloggers to choose their top posts, which we bring to you in one easy-to-read weekly post. You’ll find links to the hottest posts from the past week after the jump including TiVo's new cancellation fee, sushi etiquette, and iTunes for Windows Mobile.
SimonSays... Podcast! That's right, publishing giant Simon and Shuster have launched their first podcast today. Each episode is expected to be about a half hour long. The debut episode features interviews with author Jennifer Weiner talking about both her latest novel, Goodnight Nobody,
and In Her Shoes as well as with Carole Radziwill, author of What Remains, and Anthony
Dias Blue on his Pocket Guide to Wine 2006.
Not only do you get original interviews with bestselling authors, but also special
features about the publishing industry, and excerpts from Simon & Schuster
audiobooks.
Pure Digital, a manufacturer of amazing DAB digital radios, has unveiled the EVOKE-3. It brings together a plethoral of enhanced features, including ReVu (pause and rewind live DAB digital radio), SD-card support, MP3 playback, tri-band reception, USB upgradeability (for firmware updates over the net), SnoozeHandle (user defined snooze functionality) and Electronic Programme Guide (menu-based browsing and scheduled listening). Did I mention it has a 6-line display? Yeah, that's hot. The EVOKE-3 wraps all this good stuff up into an incredible, elegant package that is on par with their other gorgeous devices.
The EVOKE-3 will go on sale in November and will run you lucky UK folks a mere £199.99.
iBiquity, the company behind HD Radio, is selling a group license to CPB (Corporation for Public Broadcasting) that will upgrade more than 800 AM and FM stations to HD Radio. CPB and iBiquity originally reached an agreement to convert only 400 stations, but an additional 400 have been brought to the table and will greatly accelerate the conversion to the digital radio technology.
Enabling public broadcasters the ability to multicast is quite exciting in my opinion. Public radio has far more potential of fully utilizing the extra channels than the corporate giants can.
Terms of the deal were not announced, but it's estimated the conversions will cost upwards of $200 million.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has been in contact with both XM and SIRIUS expressing their concern over the new portable music players that are expected to be released in the coming weeks. Both the Sirius S50 and the Samsung neXus have the ability to record satellite radio content for "on the go" listening (neither unit can listen to satellite live unless plugged into a docking station). The RIAA is concerned that this ability of saving content is essentially "unlicensed downloads" only through another medium.
Even with XM + Napster, which prompts people to buy songs they have just listened to, the RIAA still considers this a potential risk. Obviously these people just don't know when to quit. The RIAA has such an amazing level of greed, it bewilders me. Biting the hand that feeds you anyone?
Mobile ESPN is a long-planned mobile phone service that is expected to launch in conjunction with the Super Bowl XL. Yesterday ESPN announced that they have tapped Sanyo to launch the service on their handsets. ESPN's cellular service will be delivering sports scores, audio and video clips, and of course headlines to subscribers. The Sanyo units are expected to feature high-res displays, the now required 1.3-megapixel digicam, video capability, voice recorder (for you mobcasters out there), and they'll throw in an MP3 player into the mix as well (why not).
The Super Bowl, which both ESPN and ABC have right to, will be on February 5th 2006 and Mobile ESPN's launch date is expected to be the same day.
DAB (Digital Audio Broadcast) radio isn't without it's flaws in the UK, but they're much farther ahead in the Digital Radio arena than we are here in the US. One of the big things about the DAB initiative is getting costs down, more broadcast stations up, and of course - getting cool gadgets like portable DAB Radio's on the market.
Phillips announced that they've upgraded their SAF3550 HD Radio chip processor to allow up to eight separate streams on a single FM frequency. It also now allows for broadcasters to send voice and data signals that completely changes the possibilities of HD Radio's services. These data signals allow for a single station to provide an RDS-like format with info on a song or artist, but even further thinking is the ability to use it for things like traffic reporting.
It's no secret that Howard Stern has a $500 million dollar contract with Sirius, and it's even less of a secret that many on Wall Street are wondering just exactly how they'll pay for such a hefty bill. 
CHUM, who has been battling it out with the CRTC over the Canadian satellite radio licenses awarded a few months back, is 
Mobile ESPN is a long-planned mobile phone service that is expected to launch in conjunction with the Super Bowl XL. Yesterday ESPN announced that they have tapped Sanyo to launch the service on their handsets. ESPN's cellular service will be delivering sports scores, audio and video clips, and of course headlines to subscribers. The Sanyo units are expected to feature high-res displays, the now required 1.3-megapixel digicam, video capability, voice recorder (for you mobcasters out there), and they'll throw in an MP3 player into the mix as well (why not).
