Computer Software

TiVo and other digital video recorders or DVRs have been around since 1999. But Digital Radio Recorders, or DRRs?

When compared to what was involved in putting the first TiVo devices together, developing a digital radio recorder would seem to be a fairly simple process. Perhaps what was missing is any economic impetus to interest electronics manufacturers because there was certainly no rush to get a digital radio recorder into the hands of the listening public.

Griffin Technology and radio SHARK

But in 2004, Griffin Technology introduced their Radio SHARK, a digital radio recorder which not only turned any Mac of PC into an AM/FM receiver; it enabled the listener to record the radio broadcasts in real time.

Like TiVo, the Radio SHARK digital radio recorder had a time-shift recording feature which would let the user pause during a live broadcast to return to an earlier segment and catch up if they had been interrupted, and it also let people schedule recording for a later time.

But the Radio SHARK digital recorder did not merely record; it had a station preset function which could lock in the user’s favorite stations with a mouse click; and it allowed easy scanning and tuning of new stations.

The radio SHARK digital radio recorder connected to the PC through its USB port, from which it was powered, and looked like the shark’s dorsal fin for which it was named. The fin was the digital radio recorder’s antenna and could simply be moved around to provide the best reception. And any broadcast saved on the radio Shark digital radio recorder could be transferred to an iPod or audio interchange file compatible MP for later listening.

Radio SHARK 2

The radio SHARK digital radio recorder developed a following, so Griffin Technology continued to develop the concept, and discontinued it in late 2006 in favor of the radio SHARK 2 digital radio recorder. The radio SHARK 2’s improvements include a USB extension cable, allowing the receiver to be placed up to eight feet from the PC; an more powerful radio receiver chip; an on-screen tuner which closely mirrors a traditional radio dial; and the addition of Internet radio to the AM/FM menu. Internet radio opens up your digital radio recorder possibilities to international broadcasting.

The radio Shark2 digital radio recorder also has software which provides users with all the instructions they need to master time-shift recording, station selection and tuning, and optional antenna extension for those who live in poor reception areas. And, at 49.95, sown from the $69.95 of the original radio SHARK digital radio receiver, it is very attractively priced!

Suppose that you are in a mall with your whole family: your wife and two children. Every one of you has his/her own shopping list. You have some new books to buy, your wife is to explore the crockery items, the son is interested in the latest video games and the daughter is looking for a flashy iPod. So, there is strong likelihood that you will be scattered as soon as you enter the mall.

Under such circumstances how can you ensure that you all stay connected to each other! Certainly the mobile phone will be the first choice. But with pay-per minute charges, can this device provide you a cost-effective means of communication! Obviously not; so you need a cheaper choice. And two way radios can provide you with this. The device that was traditionally used by police has now got its access to the civilians.

Two way radios are transceiver and unlike a broadcast receiver which only receives content one way, this one can both transmit and receive the content. To activate the transmitter, a push-to-talk button remains present in the device. This hand-held portable two-way radio is also often called walkie-talkies or handie-talkies. These radios are available in mobile and stationary base configurations. In some cases, they come with push-to-talk button that make them easy for kids to use.

Motorola has a good range of two way radios that are fun and easy to use. Their push-to-talk button provides instant connection to a group. They have ten programmable call alert tones; hence callers are easily recognised. Also known as ‘dispatch radio’, two-way radios have traditionally been used by police, especially by fire, taxi and other mobile fleets. With added functionalities, these monitors are getting popular day by day. The internet provides an easily accessible market to buy these radios.

Americans are nothing if not selectively fickle. It took almost no persuasion for them to abandon their analog landline technology-based telephones, camera, and record players in favor of digitally based alternatives.

But when it comes to their listening pleasure, Americans have been fighting the digital revolution with as much gusto as they fought the American one. They are however, beginning to come around. Having spotty reception, or none, on long commutes or when in the back country on a recreational outing, or simply because they live in a particularly reception-unfriendly area has finally made many Americans start to take notice of their digital radio options.

The first digital radio alternative is satellite radio. Both Sirius and XM Satellite radio have eliminated the commercials from their digital radio transmissions and are beaming their broadcasts into the automobile receivers of millions of US drivers, no matter where they are located. The glitch is that the service is subscription only, and many older cars do not have the satellite digital radio receivers. And in some large urban areas, the reception is lacking, although Sirius and XM are working on fixes for their problems.

But between them Sirius and XM have still managed to collar only fifteen million of the estimated two hundred and thirty million AM/FM listeners in the US. The two companies have applied to the FCC for permission to discuss a merger, which will cut costs for both. But even a single entity may never move satellite digital radio beyond the niche stage.

The real up-and-comers in the US digital radio field appears to be local radio stations, both because they do not charge their listeners, and because the price of digital radio receivers is beginning to drop rapidly. At the beginning of 2006, a digital radio receiver cost a minimum of $500; now the most expensive are half that. With rebates it is frequently possible to find a digital radio receiver for under $100.

Hybrid digital radio is the result of combining digital power with the regular broadcasting of an AM or FM station. It costs a traditional broadcasting station upwards of $100,000 to make the transition to Hybrid Digital technology, and even then they have to pay royalties to iBiquity, which developed the process. But more than 1300 radio stations have either bought, or plan to buy, the necessary equipment.

Free stuff is always good to get and this especially holds true when what ever it is your getting for free is quality product or services. No one ever gives anything away for free any more so it seems or do they?

Dish Network and DirecTV are the all time leaders in free give aways in TV programming now and you will be amazed at all the great stuff that they give you when you join either of their family of viewers. Competition is stiff in the TV programming industry and not only do the satellite TV programmers have each other to compete against, but they also have cable companies to compete against.

Some people are even still using good old fashioned standard TV programming, with the antennae on the TV or the roof of their home and satellite service providers are also all waiting for them, when they finally get sick of the mindless crap that they have had to watch on their TVs.

Free goods and services are the weapons of choice in this ongoing battle for your business and one of the things that they are both offering is free Sirius satellite radio with some of their programming packages. Its not just a few channels of Sirius satellite radio either and you will be surprised at how many you get.

If you havent yet listened to satellite radio, it is a revolutionary new way of radio broadcasting. Rather than inundating you with commercials, you pay for the radio service and it comes commercial free, but with Dish Network and DirecTV you dont have to pay for the radio service.

What you get with Sirius satellite radio, is dozens of radio stations broadcast in a digitized format, that carry a wide variety of music styles and uncensored radio commentary. Uncensored doesnt mean that it is loaded with profanities, it just means that it doesnt have to be politically correct, so you get to hear what is really on peoples minds.

Everything that is broadcast on standard radio has to go past sensors that eliminate anything that might offend their sponsors in even the slightest way and everyone is afraid of government sensors now. Satellite radio has no sponsors and is broadcast from out in space, so its out of the jurisdiction of any government.

So the arguments and opinions are provocative and real when you hear them and no one has to say anything to appease anyone. Radical shock jock Howard Stern can only be heard on satellite radio now and he is reported to have ditched the profanities in exchange for zanier than ever humor and commentary and everyone who has heard his new satellite radio show is giving it super high ratings.

Dish Network also gives you free satellite radio for your car or truck when you join their viewing family now. There is lots of other free stuff that they both give you like free satellite TV systems and a digital camera from DirecTV. Everything that Dish Network and DirecTV give to their new customers is top quality product, so its worth checking out if youre in the market for TV programming.

If you enjoy great music and hate what you have to put up with on a standard radio, then you will love what DirecTV has to offer you with its TV programming packages. For those who wish to have it, they offer free Sirius satellite radio programming with some of their programming packages.

Sirius satellite radio is the latest technology that is available for radio listeners. Its commercial free and has a wide variety of channels for you to choose from. Whatever style of music you like to listen to, there is a channel devoted exclusively to it that plays non stop, twenty-four hours a day. There is also a wide variety of talk and entertainment channels for you on Sirius satellite radio.

Howard Stern can only be heard now on Satellite radio, so if you want to hear his outrageous prank phone calls he does, you have to have Sirius satellite radio. Its not like an ordinary radio that you have to fiddle with numerical radio channels, in order to find something that you like. The channels and the topics or style of music are displayed right on your screen, similar to the way that TV channels are displayed.

There is an easy to read and understand menu, that allows you to select what you want to hear and you go to it just like you would a TV channel, by using your TV remote channel changer. You can listen to it right out of you TV speakers, or run it through you stereo systems speakers.

With DirecTV, your TV now can be used as a radio also if you want to. Just like standard TV programming, standard radio programming has gone down hill for some time now. Everything you hear on standard radio is reviewed by FCC sensors now and they tend to cut the heart out of anything that is even remotely provocative.

Standard radio comedy just isnt funny any more, because all the broadcasters are afraid that they will be hit with a huge fine if they say just one wrong naughty word. Sirius satellite radio broadcasts free from the rigid constraints of FCC sensors, because they are broadcasting from outside of the United States. So what they say or play is what you hear.

Just think of all the entertainment you can get from you TV, when you have great programming from DirecTV and also a multitude of programming choices from Sirius satellite radio. DirecTV is the unchallenged leader in customer satisfaction and they reason for this, is they take care of their viewing family members.

While others charge for satellite radio programming, the folks at DirecTV give it to you for free. DirecTV has a twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week, toll fee customer service number you can call any time of the day or night, if you have any questions about their service or TV and radio programming. So dont go out and throw away you hard earned cash by paying for satellite radio, when you can get it for free from DirecTV.

Leave it to the folks at Dish Network to keep offering extras for new and existing members of their viewing family when they already carry the most services and free options than any other service provider anywhere. Other satellite TV service providers offer free Sirius satellite radio with some of their programming packages but only Dish Network offers it for your car also.

Your vehicle is where you are most likely going to want to make use of this new type of radio programming and this is why Dish Network offers it for your vehicle. Now you can listen to all the great choices that Sirius satellite radio has to offer on your way to and from work as well as while you are relaxing at home. If you arent familiar with what Sirius satellite radio is, its a multitude of channel choices that cater to specific styles of music that standard radio just doesnt provide.

Standard radio programming has gained a well earned reputation for being middle of the road, politically correct and safe in its choices of formats and music programming and this means that anything that is even remotely provocative is eliminated by FCC sensors or the broadcasters themselves. One of the many benefits of satellite radio is that it not only can reach broader range of listeners but it is also out of the jurisdiction of any sensors from any government agencies.

Maverick radio DJ Howard Sterns long running battle with the FCC came to an end the minute he logged on to his first day of broadcasting on Sirius satellite radio and he now has his own channel where he can say and do what ever he feels that his listeners would like to hear. Initial reports on Howard Sterns radio show indicate that he has taken a new less verbally profane path with regards to the language that is used on his show but that his on air antics are more hilarious then ever.

Howard Stern pioneered the method of prank phone call that uses movie out takes from actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, that he plays to unsuspecting victims who he randomly calls with results that are side splitting. For music listeners Sirius satellite radio is unparalleled in the amount of channels and music styles that are available. Just about any and all styles of music can be heard on satellite radio and satellite radio also features many non commercial styles of music that would be otherwise unobtainable anywhere else

If the next time you turn on the radio in your car on your way to or from work and all you can think is how much it sucks. Think of taking advantage of the great offer on free satellite radio from Dish Network and you can put an end to the radio mediocrity that you have had to endure. That Dish Network now gives free satellite radio for your car with its programming packages should come as no surprise, because Dish Network is always going to whatever it takes to stay ahead of the competition.

Planning to go on a trekking mission, or a picnic, or skiing? Or just want to stay in touch with friends and that special someone in the college campus? Now you have a cheaper alternative than the costly mobile phones and telephones. And this alternative is known as Two Way Radio. Two Way Radios are fun, cost effective and have a lot of features to offer to the users.

They are ideal for people who are going out in a group, especially a large group where constant communication between team members is a necessity. With a coverage range of usually 2000m and above, it is a great way to stay in touch and that too at low expenses. Imagine, you go out on a hiking trip and you get left behind due to some reason. With two way radio, you can get in touch with any member of the group instantly and exchange each others’ whereabouts.

Two way radio are quite popular in colleges and educational institutes in UK. It is a trendy thing to carry around and you can also get it clipped to your belt or skirt to add more punch to your style. You can also give it a personal touch by having a cool call tone. With cool features like backlit display and vibra call mode, you can stay in touch with friends in campus, during classes. There are several channels that you can switch between plus you have channel lock facilities. Two way radio are also great for office purposes where you can stay in touch with colleagues in the premises.

Two way radio is quite in vogue and it enjoys a special place among the youngsters of UK. So don’t get left behind, join the crowd and get set to be declared the next cool thing in campus.

XM Radio is one of the leaders in the new digital age, bringing music, news, sports, talk, entertainment, news and weather to millions of North American consumers. One of the few drawbacks to their satellite radio services has been the complication of XM satellite radio installation in the car and the expensive equipment, but that’s no longer a problem. One of the most popular new satellite radio tuners is both affordable and easy to connect to any vehicle.

One of the newest products from the most popular satellite radio service is the XM Direct, which allows consumers to use their XM satellite radio subscription in practically any vehicle. As long as a car or truck has either an aftermarket stereo system or a satellite-radio equipped OEM, it can connect with the XM Direct. The connection to a car stereo gives consumers access to numerous music channels, live concerts, sporting events, exclusive programs, and other broadcasts.

The XM Direct is actually a two-part satellite radio system comprised of a universal tuner box and a smart digital adapter. The satellite radio adaptors will work with specific aftermarket stereos or vehicle models, so they are not universal. The XM Direct satellite radio tuner may be connected to a Pioneer stereo with an adaptor meant specifically for Pioneer products, for example. If the consumer has a newer vehicle like a BMW that is satellite radio-ready, they will need a BMW-compatible adaptor for their XM Direct.

The adaptor may sound complicated, but once this satellite radio system is out of the box it’s quite easy to install. The XM Direct satellite radio tuner box installs quickly and invisibly in any vehicle. It can be out of sight behind a dashboard or other convenient location, because of its small size. The XM Direct integral mounting brackets enable it to be secured using fasteners. The satellite radio tuner box also includes a satellite radio antenna input, plus all other necessary connections to connect any of the smart digital adapters.

The universal satellite radio tuner comes with an XM satellite radio antenna and a 23-foot micro-coax cable. This cable is long enough for SUVs, vans and trucks. The satellite radio antenna is small enough to be mounted effortlessly on a vehicle with its magnetic mounting base. The XM Direct satellite radio tuner and smart digital adapter sell together for just under $100, which is much lower than a more complicated satellite radio system. XM Direct for auto brands is available through automobile dealerships for $299 plus satellite radio installation, which many drivers may find worthwhile with heavy commutes and travel.

Satellite radio services have been in the news for quite a while, and the two main providers in the United States have gained millions of subscribers. There are still billions of people who haven’t experienced the difference between a satellite radio system and a traditional radio, though. It may cost a few extra dollars, but satellite radio services offer much more than AM/FM radio.

The most obvious difference between satellite radio services and traditional radio is the hundreds of channels that are available. The two main satellite radio providers in the United States, Sirius and XM, each offer well over 100 channels to choose from. The channels are also practically commercial-free, save for a few station identifications. With so many channels available, the satellite radio services can cater to every niche market all at once. Listeners can peruse music stations from every decade and every genre; whether it’s alternative country or mainstream top 40 or anything else they are in the mood for. There are also news, talk, traffic, weather, sports and other types of entertainment channels.

All those choices do come at a price, but the cost of a satellite radio subscription to Sirius or XM makes it possible for them to offer commercial-free broadcasting. There are also opportunities for consumers to win free satellite radio through great satellite radio sweepstakes on the Internet. Whether consumers win satellite radio or purchase a satellite radio system with a small monthly fee, they will have a whole new world of radio to listen to. Consumers can either choose a monthly or yearly subscription fee to enjoy one of the satellite radio services. Sirius and XM are planning to merge by late 2007 or early 2008 as long as they can get clearance with the FCC. If this occurs, many of the services will probably be universal as well.

Automobile dealerships and manufacturers have also begun offering different types of incentives for consumers to get auto satellite radio. Many car dealers are giving three months or even up to six months of free satellite radio services to get car buyers in on the technology. Having an auto satellite radio allows drivers to get a clear station anywhere they go without switching around, which is safer. Drivers can listen to the same station or hundreds of other stations ranging from news, music and news in better quality than AM or FM bands. To receive the digital audio streams they just need a satellite radio antenna and receiver.

It may soon even be possible for satellite radio stations to broadcast pictures and videos directly to a car or home stereo with digital broadcasting. Receiving a satellite signal is completely digital; and digital signals sounds clean static-free. The satellite radio signal is encoded and sent to the satellite, then sent back to a receiver which decoded and plays the sound. The only reason listeners may lose the signal is because the satellites are traditional on the horizons, and drivers move along the Earth’s round surface. The signal never goes out on a satellite radio system for more than a couple moments, though. And the technology will just continue to improve as time goes by.

Making the switch from traditional radio to a satellite radio system requires more than just a few choices. The first and most important choice is which of the two satellite radio services to choose, and in the United States it’s between XM Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. These two services have plans to merge by early next year, but for the meantime consumers must choose only one. The satellite radio system, accessories and subscription will all need to be from the same satellite radio provider.

When it comes down to it, the biggest difference between XM and Sirius is the programming choices. Both satellite radio services offer lots of channels, but there are a few different on-air personalities and sports programs that are exclusive to one of the providers. Consumers can easily go online to check the programming on either of the services’ Web sites. There are also great opportunities to win free XM or free Sirius on the Internet, which may obviously sway people’s preferences in one direction.

Basically, XM has 150 channels and Sirius has 120 channels. With a Sirius satellite radio system, consumers have access to 65 commercial-free music channels and 55 talk, news, sports and entertainment channels. XM, on the other hand, offers 67 music channels, many of which are commercial free. They also offer 30 other channels that stream similar choices to Sirius’ talk, news sports and entertainment channels. The number of other available channels on XM is subject to change. Both of the satellite radio services also offer weather and traffic to 20 major U.S. cities.

The big difference is the on-air personalities and sports programming that are offered at either XM or Sirius. Sirius has Howard Stern, for example, and XM has the first 24/7 channel to exclusively offer Major League Baseball. Consumers can easily compare the lineup at their Web sites.

The subscription cost for these satellite radio services is not too different. XM Radio is $12.95 per month, but consumers can get lower rates for longer commitments. Sirius Satellite Radio is $12.95 per month, and they also offer lower rates for longer pans. Consumers also have the options to cancel their XM or Sirius subscriptions at any time when they choose to go month-to-month for the full price. The difference here is that XM offers a pro-rated refund on longer plans and Sirius has a $75 dollar cancellation fee on prepaid subscriptions.

Both satellite radio services offer equipment options including a satellite radio system for permanent installation and a portable satellite radio for listening in the car, home or anywhere else. Each service offers comparable products in similar prices ranges, but they go by different names. Consumers must buy equipment that is compatible with their satellite radio subscription for the meantime, unless things change with the pending merger.

Both XM and Sirius have very functional Web sites where consumers can find out information, see programming schedules, read news, see subscription plans and activate their subscriptions. XM offers looped samples of their streams to Web visitors, so they can hear the listening possibilities. Sirius subscribers can listen to all the streams across the Web once they are issued a log-in password.

Whether it’s XM or Sirius, the satellite radio experience is a world apart from traditional radio. Maybe that’s because the broadcasts are streamed down to each satellite radio system from a location that actually is out of this world.