iPod, Why no FM radio or transmitter?
Why did apple not include a FM radio? they made it smaller but it is the same thing only with more hard drive and a bit thinner. And why can't I record a lecture? Come on, if anyone else feels the same as I do please let apple know.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html
Comments
Originally posted by millsdude
Why did apple not include a FM radio? they made it smaller but it is the same thing only with more hard drive and a bit thinner. And why can't I record a lecture? Come on, if anyone else feels the same as I do please let apple know.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html
The good folks at Griffin have made a nifty looking FM radio attachment...
http://griffintechnology.com/products/ifm/index.html
...which leads me to ask why should Apple include an FM radio? most iPod users drop $300-$500 for the ability to carry 5-20GB of their own music, not listen to the radio (you can buy a good portable FM radio for ~ $30, which should not be a problem if you dropped $ for an iPod)
...recording would be great, but i suspect Apple just wanted to keep things simple(recording would open up another can of worms - lots of other great products made especially for live recording/variable speed playback)
Originally posted by iDebaser
The good folks at Griffin have made a nifty looking FM radio attachment...
http://griffintechnology.com/products/ifm/index.html
...which leads me to ask why should Apple include an FM radio? most iPod users drop $300-$500 for the ability to carry 5-20GB of their own music, not listen to the radio (you can buy a good portable FM radio for ~ $30, which should not be a problem if you dropped $ for an iPod)
...recording would be great, but i suspect Apple just wanted to keep things simple(recording would open up another can of worms - lots of other great products made especially for live recording/variable speed playback)
The griffin product looks like a great add on but why should I have to buy it, when Apple should have built into the iPod, so when I'm at the gym like tonight and I want to watch the game on TV I could listen to it on my iPod. Doesn't anyone understand. I feel like I'm taking Crazy Pills.
Originally posted by millsdude
The griffin product looks like a great add on but why should I have to buy it, when Apple should have built into the iPod, so when I'm at the gym like tonight and I want to watch the game on TV I could listen to it on my iPod. Doesn't anyone understand. I feel like I'm taking Crazy Pills.
Apple's all about "new hotness" vs. "old and busted"...i mean they've stopped serial and scsi for awhile...*shrug*
I know what you mean about the gym, but you're in the minority w/ this one...too bad you'll have to wait until summer
Originally posted by iDebaser
Apple's all about "new hotness" vs. "old and busted"...i mean they've stopped serial and scsi for awhile...*shrug*
I know what you mean about the gym, but you're in the minority w/ this one...too bad you'll have to wait until summer
I'd be interested to see any data actually suggesting he is in the minority on this one because the 2 most common requests I've seen have been ability to record lectures/meetings and a radio receiver.
the radio well u get it so u can listen to YOUR music, not listen to the radio
i can see where this would be useful but it still seems like an extra,maybe in future rev's but i dontmind if its not there when i purchase one
I'm still waiting for an iPod that will let me record voice notes and includes a radio reciever (not transmitter) for at least FM, but FM plus DAB would be much nicer. I'd even buy a thrid party attachment that added all of those features, even if it increased the bulk, even at twice the size the iPod would still be quite small.
Originally posted by Telomar
I'd be interested to see any data actually suggesting he is in the minority on this one because the 2 most common requests I've seen have been ability to record lectures/meetings and a radio receiver.
I read that they did a customer survey on the iBook and discovered that if the customers could change anything, 30% would like a bigger screen. Obviously, this was before the 14" iBook was released.
The point though is that only 30% requested it, the rest could not think of anything you could improve about the iBook.
I imagine it's the same with the ipod radio, and so why build it into the iPod when you can get really cool, light, cheap, radios from a thousand different places: nike, adidas, sony, etc. etc.
spectrum allocation monopolies.
FCC in USA, CRTC in Canada are both extremely finicky about licensing bandwidth out of an oversubscribed RF spectrum...
plenty of hoops to jump through to get approval of plain old radio recievers (which all have limited transmitter power - that's why the airlines insist on no radio during flight... you "broadcast" static on the surrounding bands to enhance the signal of your selected reception)
even longer paperwork process required to get a broadcast transmission licence (including proof of non-interference with neighbouring signals on the dial)
UK rules are quite a bit more draconian (licence fee per radio or tv in the house) and date from the times when the BBC actually had direction finder vans roaming the street, sniffing for 'illegal' sets (2nd TV or radio you didn't pay a licence to use) or hunting for those evil free-speech pirate radio folks
many radio device manufacturers subsegmented their export markets with similar products that had been approved in one jurisdiction but not another (mainly due to regulatory hurdles)
an admitted FM transmitter (not just the microtransmission common in all radio recievers) is a whole other league of bureaucratic bunk to overcome, so it's no big surprise that the standard international model wouldn't attempt to please everybody
ymmv
Originally posted by stupider...likeafox
I read that they did a customer survey on the iBook and discovered that if the customers could change anything, 30% would like a bigger screen. Obviously, this was before the 14" iBook was released.
The point though is that only 30% requested it, the rest could not think of anything you could improve about the iBook.
I imagine it's the same with the ipod radio, and so why build it into the iPod when you can get really cool, light, cheap, radios from a thousand different places: nike, adidas, sony, etc. etc.
The new Griffin FM add on is in the remote just like Sony has for their minidisc players. I really don't see why Apple should spend any resources learning to make radios when 3rd parties can do that (like the FM transmitter).
The line in on the other hand is a feature i'd like built in, but i can see how Apple was reluctant to add that feature(or maybe it's there, but not used yet). They'd get slack from people who wanted to buy a $500 professional hard drive recorder and from those who just want a simple line in for their $500 mp3 player. Plus, they'd have to implement that into iTunes. It certainly would not be best in class for either.
Apple would probably argue that if you want to record a lecture or meeting or band rehearsal, just plug a mic into your laptop and use a 3rd party program specific to what you're recording.
(year of the laptop!, ha,ha)
So you can record radio! Directly in to MP4 AAC (I wish, it will probably end up being MP3.) Also, recording via line in or internal mic is what the iPod is destined for. I think I won't buy the new iPod. I am waiting for recording. It's that simple. Bluetooth headphones and other whizbangs will be great too.
often times, the television monitor playback (for those who want to watch something while they climb 8 million stairs or bike the tour de france... er, freedom) is tuned to a particular frequency so you can hear the broadcast without bothering those around you. the tv's are on this broadcast becaus gyms are usually loud enough with fans, machines, weights slamming, etc, that the volume would have to be prohibitively high for everyone nearby to hear it well.
plus, for crying out loud, if steve is willing to shill a freakin' ski jacket for compatibility with the ipod, you'd think this would be a relatively easy thing to include.
of course, i say this having never been an official member of a gym, but my wife has on occassion. plus, i hate radio otherwise.
http://electronics.cnet.com/electron...l?tag=pdtl-img
http://electronics.cnet.com/electron...l?tag=pdtl-img
http://electronics.cnet.com/electron...l?tag=pdtl-img
Why didn't Apple get with the program.
Originally posted by millsdude
The griffin product looks like a great add on but why should I have to buy it, when Apple should have built into the iPod, so when I'm at the gym like tonight and I want to watch the game on TV I could listen to it on my iPod. Doesn't anyone understand. I feel like I'm taking Crazy Pills.
I understand you, however, if it does not fit into apple's demographic or may be difficult to add into the iPod it will not be added. I don't agree with the "Im spending $500 why should I have to buy a radio add on?" The point being you know what your getting when you buy it. If you don't like that you are going to have to buy a cheap fm radio or an add on then don't buy an iPod. You seem quick to offer examples of other MP3 players that offer an FM tuner so go buy on of those. Easy enough eh? Oh, you want to buy the iPod because of its other features? Oh, seamless integration, long battery life, and fast transfers... then stop whineing
A@ron
as always my .02 USD
Originally posted by BuonRotto
Because radio sucks.
http://homepage.mac.com/cowboyandy/iTunes_iMac5_T1.mov
I am all for a radio transm.
HA HA. gotta love those idiots that call in with stupid issues.
umm. why didn't they add it? Well they will be soon--b/c there are too many that offer it.
Originally posted by Aquatic
Haha Dr. Laura...Anyyyyyyway. FM doesn't take up any space, the question isn't why add it, it's why not add it?
Sure it takes up space. The antennas in fm radios are usually metal rods with wires wrapped around them, I cannot remember if the bar is magnetic which is were it may become a problem. These rods are about .5 in in diameter and two inches long so it does certainly take up space. What I find impressive is that they made it smaller, lighter, with less of a battery (by about half the wattage) yet only lost 2 hrs of battery life.
A@ron