Gear Diary » Radios (Including Internet Radio) http://www.geardiary.com Everyone can understand technology; sometimes it just takes a little translating. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Slacker Radio… It May be Their Name but That’s as Far as it Goeshttp://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/slacker-radio-it-may-be-their-name-but-thats-as-far-as-it-goes/ http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/slacker-radio-it-may-be-their-name-but-thats-as-far-as-it-goes/#comments Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:14:33 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=177843 I'm a big fan of Slacker radio and love the fact that they are continually adding features and stations. Last night I got one of my favorite emails from them. It began with "This is the first of our announcements this week." That is music to my ears although this announcement has nothing to do with music. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2012/01/09/slacker-radio-it-may-be-their-name-but-thats-as-far-as-it-goes/feed/ 0 A Cardboard Radio and MP3 Speaker Review? Yes!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/a-cardboard-radio-and-mp3-speaker-review-yes/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/a-cardboard-radio-and-mp3-speaker-review-yes/#comments Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:00:04 +0000 Douglas Moran http://www.geardiary.com/?p=170180 Let's face it:  it's not every day that you get a cardboard box in the mail, open it, remove all the wrapping paper and bubble wrap to reveal . . . another cardboard box.  But that's what happened to your intrepid reporter, friends.  Yup; it's the review of the Convenient Gadgets Cardboard Radio!  What did I think of it?  Well, read on, read on! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/12/02/a-cardboard-radio-and-mp3-speaker-review-yes/feed/ 1 Gear Deal: Sony 46″ Internet LED HDTV (powered by Google TV)http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/30/gear-deal-sony-46-internet-led-hdtv-powered-by-google-tv/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/30/gear-deal-sony-46-internet-led-hdtv-powered-by-google-tv/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:55:28 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=158741 Today's Gear Deal is nothing short of impressive. This 46" Sony Internet TV is powered by Google TV, comes with a wireless keyboard, has built-in 802.11n wireless and includes Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. It is even compatible with most smartphones. Normally $1,399.99 it is on sale for $400 less AND, thanks to a coupon code our Gear Sponsor found, you can save an additional $200. That brings the price down to an amazingly low $799.99 with no tax in most states. $799.99 for an internet connected 46" HDTV from Sony… now THAT'S a deal! Gear Deal: Sony 46" Internet LED HDTV (powered by Google TV) via LogicBUY Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/30/gear-deal-sony-46-internet-led-hdtv-powered-by-google-tv/feed/ 0 Grace Digital Audio Debuts the Victoria Nostalgic Internet Radio; Retro Styling with a Modern Flairhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/16/grace-digital-audio-debuts-the-victoria-nostalgic-internet-radio-retro-styling-with-a-modern-flair/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/16/grace-digital-audio-debuts-the-victoria-nostalgic-internet-radio-retro-styling-with-a-modern-flair/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:15:47 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=157335

I've long been a fan of retro-looking devices that accomplished modern purposes, and it doesn't get much more retro than the new Grace Audio Victoria Nostalgic Internet Radio. Looking every bit like a countertop radio from the 40s or 50s (well, except for the LCD on the front!), the Victoria Nostalgic is retro form that's been fitted with modern function.
The Victoria’s walnut exterior with birch inlay highlights 1940s charm while the Class D digital 16 watt RMS amplifier (50 watt peak) fills any living room, bedroom, office, or kitchen with a rich, warm, and detailed sound. The Victoria Internet Radio features a 4-line adjustable backlit display, five alarm settings, 110 station presets / folder
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/08/16/grace-digital-audio-debuts-the-victoria-nostalgic-internet-radio-retro-styling-with-a-modern-flair/feed/ 0 Sonos PLAY:3 Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/30/sonos-play3-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/30/sonos-play3-review/#comments Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:00:17 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=155115

We have had a fair bit of coverage of the Sonos Wireless Hi-Fi System over the past few weeks. As I noted in my initial review of the system, I only had the review units in my home for 23 hours before I went and ordered my own. I was impressed by the ease of use, the overall sound quality, and the vast amount of music that was available to me through the Sonos eco-system. It was by no means an inexpensive purchase but I have not had a single moment of buyer's remorse. At this point I am a Sonos evangelist and have gotten at least two other homes

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/30/sonos-play3-review/feed/ 0 Gear Diary’s Back to School Gift Guide and an ARCHOS 70 Android Internet Tablet for You to Win!http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/25/gear-diarys-back-to-school-gift-guide-and-an-archos-70-android-internet-tablet-for-you-to-win/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/25/gear-diarys-back-to-school-gift-guide-and-an-archos-70-android-internet-tablet-for-you-to-win/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:40:17 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154629 Update: The giveaway is now closed, and the winner is darktweak! We appreciate everyone who entered, and we'd like to remind you to keep an eye out for many more great Gear Diary giveaways! =)

It's time to start thinking about the supplies you are going to send your kids back to school with, and we are here to help! We've gathered together a collection of goodies that any student would like, and while there are plenty of practical items, we didn't forget the gear that helps makes time off from studying even better. Whether you are on a limited budget or the sky is the limit, there is something here for everyone ... including an Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/25/gear-diarys-back-to-school-gift-guide-and-an-archos-70-android-internet-tablet-for-you-to-win/feed/ 23 Sonos Announces the Play:3 the Newest Addition to the Sonos Familyhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/sonos-announces-the-play3-the-newest-addition-to-the-sonos-family/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/sonos-announces-the-play3-the-newest-addition-to-the-sonos-family/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2011 07:01:18 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=154079 If you read the site regularly you know that I am a Sonos convert and am telling everyone I can about the wireless home audio system. I love it. In fact, I had the review system in my home for just a day before I went and bought my own system. This past weekend I had a chance to show it to Judie and Carly and they were likewise impressed. It is truly one of the best tech expenses I have made in recent history. On Monday I had a chance to meet with Sonos and get an early look at their latest release the Sonos PLAY:3. The PLAY:3 is being announced and released Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/07/20/sonos-announces-the-play3-the-newest-addition-to-the-sonos-family/feed/ 0 Slacker Launches Slacker Premium Radio with On-Demand Access to Music Libraryhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/17/slacker-launches-slacker-premium-radio-with-on-demand-access-to-music-library/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/17/slacker-launches-slacker-premium-radio-with-on-demand-access-to-music-library/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 07:00:41 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=145225 I'm a huge fan of Slacker Radio but I have to admit, it has been a little long in the tooth lately. I mean, they still haven't got an iPad app which means you need to use the Slacker iPhone app at 2X resolution on your iPad. Ugly!! Moreover, services like RDIO have made selective music streaming seamlessly ease while Slacker has kept to their same old model. Well, Slacker is hitting a milestone today with the release of a new iPad app AND Slacker Premium, a service for selectively streaming the music you want when you want it! Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/05/17/slacker-launches-slacker-premium-radio-with-on-demand-access-to-music-library/feed/ 0 New Gear Daily Deal: 42″ LG LED LCD Internet-Connected HDTVhttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/23/new-gear-daily-deal-42-lg-led-lcd-internet-connected-hdtv/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/23/new-gear-daily-deal-42-lg-led-lcd-internet-connected-hdtv/#comments Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:05:09 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=140892 Safari LG's 42LE5400 LED LCD Internet Connected HDTV

Let's face it, 3D TV is a cute gimmick that might come of age at some point but, for now, it is still a gimmick. Internet-connected TVs however, now that's an entirely different story. LG has a 42" Full HD 1080p TV that is Broadband-enabled and super thin. As they explain,
There’s no better LCD display technology than LED and the LE5400 delivers that along with a whole lot more. You can tap directly into instant movies and entertainment with NetCast and cut free of your cable box and messy wires with Wireless 1080p. Technologies: The bright, crisp picture quality of LED backlighting and access to
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/04/23/new-gear-daily-deal-42-lg-led-lcd-internet-connected-hdtv/feed/ 0 Slacker Radio Plus Giveaway Winnershttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/29/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners-2/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/29/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners-2/#comments Sat, 29 Jan 2011 21:15:12 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=129546 We had a buncho' subscriptions to Slacker Radio Plus. For just $4.99 month (or $3.99 if you sign up for a year) Slacker Radio Plus removes the Audio and Banner Ads that are part of Slacker free, gets you full song lyrics when available, allows you to cache mobile stations and, if you like, you can get news from ABC radio. There is one other feature of Slacker Radio Plus that puts it over the top and, in my opinion, blows away Pandora. With Slacker Radio Plus you get Unlimited Song Skips. UNLIMITED. As in, “skip all the songs you want in order to find the right one for the moment”. Try that on Pandora Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/29/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners-2/feed/ 4 Weekend Gear Deal- $100 off Sony Dash Personal Internet Devicehttp://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/22/weekend-gear-deal-100-off-sony-dash-personal-internet-device/ http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/22/weekend-gear-deal-100-off-sony-dash-personal-internet-device/#comments Sat, 22 Jan 2011 12:55:45 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=128641 I've always been kind of interested in the Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer. The $200 Dash uses Chumby's technology to deliver a host of web content. Through a variety of different apps (there are up to 1500 different free apps available) the device serves up a seemingly endless variety of Internet radio, social media, video and more. Between the apps and its 7" touch screen the Dash always struck me as being "the bedside alarm clock evolved". Yes, I've always been interested in the Sony Dash, but I've never been "$200-interested". Today's Weekend Gear Deal has the Sony Dash on sale for half off. That means the normally priced $199.99 "Personal Internet Viewer" is available for Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/01/22/weekend-gear-deal-100-off-sony-dash-personal-internet-device/feed/ 1 Review: Aluratek Bump AMS01F MP3/FM Radio Boomboxhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/30/review-aluratek-bump-ams01f-mp3fm-radio-boombox/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/30/review-aluratek-bump-ams01f-mp3fm-radio-boombox/#comments Thu, 30 Dec 2010 23:00:12 +0000 Joel McLaughlin http://www.geardiary.com/?p=123729

Aluratek has brought out a cool little boom box that might just come in handy on your next camping trip.  Aluratek sent me one so I could play with it and see what makes it tick.

Initially when I opened the box, I was expecting their AWS01F which includes a wireless speaker as well.  However when I opened it, the instruction book indicated it was the AMS01F.  The only difference between the two packages is the wireless speaker.  Otherwise the rest of it is the same.

The first thing you have to do is charge the radio Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/12/30/review-aluratek-bump-ams01f-mp3fm-radio-boombox/feed/ 2 Home Gear Review: Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock with Built-in WiFi (v2)http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/21/home-gear-review-aluratek-internet-radio-alarm-clock-with-built-in-wifi-v2/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/21/home-gear-review-aluratek-internet-radio-alarm-clock-with-built-in-wifi-v2/#comments Sun, 21 Nov 2010 22:00:34 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=118292 I've had a chance to check out more than a few Internet radios in the past year or so and I am impressed with the growing feature-set and fidelity we are beginning to see. I have been checking out Aluratek's current offering and can safely say that while it doesn't stand out from an increasingly competitive market it does have some compelling features and a price point that make it a worthy contender. Here's a closer look... alur6.jpg From Aluratek:
Aluratek’s new Internet Radio Alarm Clock with Built in WiFi allows you to easily access more than 11,000 radio stations
Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/21/home-gear-review-aluratek-internet-radio-alarm-clock-with-built-in-wifi-v2/feed/ 4 Roku Rolls Our Hulu Plus… Offers Dealhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/19/roku-rolls-our-hulu-plus-offers-deal/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/19/roku-rolls-our-hulu-plus-offers-deal/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 12:45:06 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=118031 Roku was in Manhattan at Pepcom last night showing off their new players and talking Hulu. And... wouldn't you know it... true to their word Roku sent out an email this morning announcing that Hulu Plus is now available on Roku. Better still, they are offering a free month of Hulu Plus with the purchase of any new Roku player. That means you can buy a Roku player for $59.99, save $7.99 on Hulu Plus the first month and watch all the TV you want. Sounds like a great deal to me! There are also running a contest that could win you a Roku player AND a full year of Hulu Plus. You can check Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/19/roku-rolls-our-hulu-plus-offers-deal/feed/ 1 Internet Radio Review- Allegro Wi-Fi Radio Portable Wireless Radio & Streamerhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/08/internet-radio-review-allegro-wi-fi-radio-portable-wireless-radio-streamer/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/08/internet-radio-review-allegro-wi-fi-radio-portable-wireless-radio-streamer/#comments Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:00:59 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=116728 I HATE Elana's transistor radio. It has the most annoying crackle when AM radio is on and even FM radio sounds terrible. I've tried to throw it out and replace it with a WiFi radio or an iPod touch numerous times. iPhoto.png But like a bad penny it keeps coming back. Yup, none of the solutions I offered to Elana as replacements for her radio were good enough for her. She kept going back to that THING. Until now! Grace Audio was kind enough to send me a review unit of their Allegro Wi-Fi Radio Portable Wireless Radio & Streamer. I like Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/11/08/internet-radio-review-allegro-wi-fi-radio-portable-wireless-radio-streamer/feed/ 9 Slacker Radio Plus Giveaway Winners….http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/05/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/05/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners/#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:00:34 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=108600 I love Slacker Radio and listen to it all the time. The music selection is great, and I love the way they keep adding new aspects to the service such as playing in the background and caching stations along with the recent pairing of Slacker Radio and ABC News. Most recently Slacker’s DJ’s revamped their “Party Hits” station just in time for Labor Day BBQs across the Nation. Sure Slacker Radio has a free service, but at $4.99 a month (or $3.99 if you sign up annually) Slacker Radio Plus is a great deal and, in my opinion, worth every penny. Want an even better deal? We had 5 one-year subscriptions to Slacker Radio Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/09/05/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners/feed/ 6 Slacker Radio Plus Giveawayhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/31/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/31/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:00:41 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=107741 I love Slacker Radio and listen to it all the time. The music selection is great, and I love the way they keep adding new aspects to the service such as playing in the background and caching stations along with the recent pairing of Slacker Radio and ABC News. Most recently Slacker's DJ's revamped their "Party Hits" station just in time for Labor Day BBQs across the Nation. Sure Slacker Radio has a free service, but at $4.99 a month (or $3.99 if you sign up annually) Slacker Radio Plus is a great deal and, in my opinion, worth every penny. Want an even better deal? We have 5 one-year Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/08/31/slacker-radio-plus-giveaway/feed/ 26 Slacker Radio and ABC News Hook Up To Provide Personal Radio Servicehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/20/slacker-radio-and-abc-news-hook-up-to-provide-personal-radio-service/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/20/slacker-radio-and-abc-news-hook-up-to-provide-personal-radio-service/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:30:53 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=101980 I love Slacker Radio. I love the way it reintroduced me to the music I loved as a kid. I love the fact that it now caches radio stations for Slacker Plus subscribers. And I love the fact that it now runs in the background on iDevices running iOS 4.0. And just last night searching for one song by the Australian group Divinyls led to an hour or so of revisiting other music I loved years ago and had since forgotten. Well, now Slacker has something new for all you news hounds. Slacker just announced that they have added ABC News to their lineup. The addition provides access to a dedicated news Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/20/slacker-radio-and-abc-news-hook-up-to-provide-personal-radio-service/feed/ 9 Review: iLuv iMM178 Vibe Plus- Dual Alarm Clock w/Bed Speaker Shaker for iPhonehttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/11/iluv-imm178-vibe-plus-dual-alarm-clock-wbed-speaker-shaker-for-iphone-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/11/iluv-imm178-vibe-plus-dual-alarm-clock-wbed-speaker-shaker-for-iphone-review/#comments Sun, 11 Jul 2010 21:00:17 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=100621 iPhone/iPod speaker docks are multiplying around my home and at the office. And for good reason. Since I'm not an audiophile the music that is pumped out of a relatively inexpensive speaker dock is usually just fine for me. But while a simple speaker dock is fine for my office (I use a bluetooth system that I love... more on that another time) in my bedroom I want something that also includes an alarm clock. The other day I took a look at one that offers good sound. It costs $150, sounds good but isn't compatible with iPhone due to a lack of GSM shielding. Today let's look at the iMM178 Vibe Plus Dual Alarm Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/07/11/iluv-imm178-vibe-plus-dual-alarm-clock-wbed-speaker-shaker-for-iphone-review/feed/ 6 Gear Deal- Samsung 55″ 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTVhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/06/24/gear-deal-samsung-55-1080p-240hz-3d-led-hdtv/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/06/24/gear-deal-samsung-55-1080p-240hz-3d-led-hdtv/#comments Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:05:54 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=98838 When Judie, Kevin, Larry and I were at CES in January one of the "big things" was the oncoming rush of 3D televisions. Well the first ones have been rolling out and Samsung has gotten with the program. Their new 55" 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTV is today's Gear Deal. Samsung UN55C7000 provides 55" of 1080p High Definition TV. It features 4 HDMI inputs and has built-in Internet TV for watching YouTube, Flickr, Amazon Video on Demand, FaceBook. It features an ultra-slim design with ConnectShare movie so you can connect a USB flash drive or digital camera and view movies or photos right on it. It even has Skype-built-in. And if all this weren't enough Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/06/24/gear-deal-samsung-55-1080p-240hz-3d-led-hdtv/feed/ 2 Slacker Radio 2.0 For OS iPhone Adds Station Caching and More….http://www.geardiary.com/2010/06/03/slacker-radio-2-0-for-os-iphone-adds-station-caching-and-more/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/06/03/slacker-radio-2-0-for-os-iphone-adds-station-caching-and-more/#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:30:28 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=95905

After trying a variety of different Internet radio offerings, I settled on Slacker Radio and paid for a Slacker Plus subscription. I even spent an evening creating a custom Slacker Radio station that let me revisit the '80 music of my teen years. I'm a huge fan of Slacker, and with the release of the Slacker Radio 2.0 app for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch it just got even better.

The big feature of Slacker Radio 2 is the ability to cache radio stations. This feature is only available for Slacker Plus subscribers ($3.99 per month) and can be checked out without risk Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/06/03/slacker-radio-2-0-for-os-iphone-adds-station-caching-and-more/feed/ 1 The Logitech Squeezebox Radio Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/05/12/the-logitech-squeezebox-radio-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/05/12/the-logitech-squeezebox-radio-review/#comments Wed, 12 May 2010 23:00:44 +0000 Judie Stanford http://www.geardiary.com/?p=66676

Judie: Last year Julie Strietelmeier and I took a look at the Logitech Squeezebox Boom, both here and on The Gadgeteer, and our general consensus was that we both enjoyed using it. As a matter of fact, I liked using mine so much that I eventually sprung for a streaming Sirius subscription as well as a Pandora Premium membership. I wrote about the Logitech Squeezebox Radio when it was first announced, mentioning its compact size, a 2.4" color display, Facebook connectivity, and a seven-day alarm clock. Although I put in a request for a review unit Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/05/12/the-logitech-squeezebox-radio-review/feed/ 5 Rhapsody Just Got Me Back As a Customer… Rhapsody For iPhone Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/29/rhapsody-just-got-me-back-as-a-customer-rhapsody-for-iphone-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/29/rhapsody-just-got-me-back-as-a-customer-rhapsody-for-iphone-review/#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:00:58 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=90577 LittleSnapper-6.jpg

I used to have a subscription to Rhapsody. At the time I was using a Creative Zen music player. (It was in the days when my motto was "Anything But Apple's Products". It seems like a lifetime ago.) The deal the company offered wasn't bad. For $10 or $15 a month I could listen to all the music I wanted. Sure I was renting the music and all of it would (and did) disappear if and when I decided to cancel my subscription. Still, when I thought about wanting to try a wide range of music and transfer it from my computer (a Tablet PC) to my mp3 player it was the best option out there. The problem was... the Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/29/rhapsody-just-got-me-back-as-a-customer-rhapsody-for-iphone-review/feed/ 1 Review: Etón FR360 Emergency Preparedness Digital Radiohttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/28/review-eton-fr360-emergency-preparedness-digital-radio/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/28/review-eton-fr360-emergency-preparedness-digital-radio/#comments Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:09:48 +0000 Joel McLaughlin http://www.geardiary.com/?p=90468

It is starting to be that time of year.  What do I mean?  Thunderstorm and Tornado Season that's what I mean.  That is followed by the Hurricane season.  The best thing to do to stay safe during this season is to take time to prepare now before the worst happens.  One device that will help you keep informed during a storm is a radio.  If you have a portable radio, one problem you always have is batteries not being charged when you need it or you only have the radio on your stereo.  If that's you, then you should pickup the Etón Solarlink FR360 Emergency Preparedness Radio. The FR360 has the most power options of any radio I Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/28/review-eton-fr360-emergency-preparedness-digital-radio/feed/ 6 Announcing the Slacker Radio Plus Giveaway Winners…http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/26/announcing-the-slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/26/announcing-the-slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners/#comments Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:42:50 +0000 Jason Reese http://www.geardiary.com/?p=90025

[image courtesy of zdnet]

We asked how music impacts your life, and you answered!  We had three We're happy to announce the winners of our Slacker Radio Plus Giveaway.

Without further adieu, the winners are....

One-Year Subscription:

  • jdnorthwest
  • clulisa
Three-Month Subscription:
  • Heatwave316
  • wyssaj01
  • lloydrv

Winners: Please email me directly (jason at geardiary.com) to get your Slacker subscription certificates.

Congratulations!  :)

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/26/announcing-the-slacker-radio-plus-giveaway-winners/feed/ 2 Slacker Radio Plus Givewayhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/19/slacker-radio-plus-giveway/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/19/slacker-radio-plus-giveway/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 23:00:58 +0000 Jason Reese http://www.geardiary.com/?p=88920

[ image courtesy of TheDroidGeek.com ]

If you're a Gear Diary reader and you still haven't tried out Slacker Radio for your iPhone / iPod touch, BlackBerry, Palm webOS or Android smartphone, you're missing out.   We still get responses from people who've read Dan's "Rediscovering The Music of My Youth" feature from February, and have jumped on the Slacker Radio bandwagon.

If you are enjoying the app -- or if you'd just like to see what all the fuss is about -- we've got some great news for you.  We have Three 3-month and Two 1-year Slacker Radio Plus subscriptions to give away.

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/19/slacker-radio-plus-giveway/feed/ 18 Grace Digital Audio Introduces The Allegro Portable Wireless Radio & Streamerhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/15/grace-digital-audio-introduces-the-allegro-portable-wireless-radio-streamer/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/15/grace-digital-audio-introduces-the-allegro-portable-wireless-radio-streamer/#comments Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:00:40 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=88072 I love internet radio. I love the simplicity and the variety. And I love the wide range of options that are now available for accessing streams. The newest is Grace Digital Audio's Allegro Portable Wireless Radio & Streamer. And it looks great if you are in the market for an  internet radio. The Allegro
provides a superior sound quality with easy access to thousands of radio stations, on-demand programs, and podcasts around the world.
It features an 8 watt digital amplifier and a triple power option that lets you use an AC adapter, 6 regular AA batteries or rechargeable batteries. More importantly, it provides access to over 17,000 radio stations, 20,000 plus on-demand programs, and Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/04/15/grace-digital-audio-introduces-the-allegro-portable-wireless-radio-streamer/feed/ 4 Two Reasons I Hate the Slacker / Pandora / etc Internet Radio Appshttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/23/two-reasons-i-hate-the-slacker-pandora-etc-internet-radio-apps/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/23/two-reasons-i-hate-the-slacker-pandora-etc-internet-radio-apps/#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:00:06 +0000 Michael Anderson http://www.geardiary.com/?p=80695

As if by amazing serendipity, I had just started writing this when I read Carly Z's "Adventures in Internet Radio" talking about traveling with Pandora and Slacker. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of reasons to love these apps! Loads of music, tons of choices, affinity selection with 'learning' system that allows you to help the apps do their job better. In fact, since before Christmas not a week has gone by that we haven't used either Slacker or Pandora on either my Droid or iPod Touch to play music for the whole family, and when my younger son bought himself an iPod Touch those apps were amongst the first he added. But over the last week two categories of problems with those services have really frustrated my family. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/23/two-reasons-i-hate-the-slacker-pandora-etc-internet-radio-apps/feed/ 8 Adventures in Internet Radio!http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/22/adventures-in-internet-radio/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/22/adventures-in-internet-radio/#comments Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:00:01 +0000 Carly Z http://www.geardiary.com/?p=80484 Driving to Maine from New Jersey is a looooong drive. Even breaking it up with a stop in Boston for a few days, we quickly ran through an audiobook and couldn't find a decent radio station on the drive. Luckily, I had my Droid handy, and we gave Pandora and Slacker a spin. Slacker...I want to like it, I really do. But on the free version, it doesn't seem to hold onto a music stream well. It gets four or five songs in, and then seems to be stuck, requiring the app to be exited and restarted. It's a huge pain, especially while driving. If it were the best option available, I'd probably pay for the premium version and cache the stations I like, but it's not the only game in town. I couldn't get it working well for me in New Jersey, so I didn't bother to test it when I was up in New England. Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/22/adventures-in-internet-radio/feed/ 8 Spark Radio – iPhone Application Reviewhttp://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/07/spark-radio-iphone-application-review/ http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/07/spark-radio-iphone-application-review/#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:00:57 +0000 Dan Cohen http://www.geardiary.com/?p=78586 $6 for an Internet radio application? That's crazy, right? That's exactly what I thought when I went to check out the Spark Radio app. I thought the pricing on it was absolutely ridiculous. After all, you can get a host of different Internet radio applications for free. You can use Pandora or Slacker Radio without paying a penny. And the list goes on and on. So why is it that you should spend $6 up front to get this application?

It's actually quite reasonable question. And there is a reasonable answer...

I was given a review copy of the application (so I didn't pay the $6 to get it) and I was rather skeptical at first. It is a well done app but still... $6?? But the more I use the application the more I realize that they've done a fabulous job with this particular application and it actually could be worth the money.

Let's take a look...

Continue reading on Gear Diary ...]]> http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/07/spark-radio-iphone-application-review/feed/ 9