Zune Thoughts - Daily News, Views, Rants and Raves

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All posts tagged "FM"


Thursday, September 11, 2008

Broadcasters Stepping Up for Buy From FM Feature

Posted by Adam Krebs in "Zune Talk" @ 09:30 AM

http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEnt...8&pt=todaysnews

"More than 450 radio stations belonging to Clear Channel, CBS Radio, Beasley, Bonneville, Citadel, Cox Radio, Emmis, Entercom, and Greater Media are now tagging their songs with RDS technology for Microsoft's Zune portable media player, and more stations will be coming on board soon. The 'Buy From FM' song tag is an encrypted digital code that identifies a specific song. The code is embedded in an analog FM broadcast, and when a listener 'tags' a song, it can be purchased and downloaded to a Zune immediately (if the user is in a WiFi hotspot) or queued for later purchase. The technology isn't Zune-specific, and other consumer electronics manufacturers may decide to offer the feature as well. 'Radio's decision to push the digital envelope doesn't mean that our analog broadcasts need to be left behind,' said Clear Channel Radio President/CEO John Hogan. 'Clear Channel Radio will have 450 stations live with RDS song tagging at launch. And we applaud Microsoft's leadership and shared commitment to making cutting-edge entertainment experiences available to the masses.' "

It's always nice to see broadcasters actually using their own standards, and even nicer when it benefits me, the consumer. Such is the case with this new push to increased RDS tagging on radio stations, especially now that the data is useful for more than just song identification on the go. As features on every Zune since day one, the wifi and radio have up to this point been only minimally useful by themselves, but with the 3.0 update it looks like Microsoft is finally integrating the two in a scenario that will help me discover music easier, and ultimately want to listen to the radio more.

But, as Pocket PC Thoughts' Paul Martin pointed out, many stations still do not have RDS for their signal, and a DJ wishing to play older or more esoteric material will probably not have the correct tags on the song. If you think managing your music library is difficult, I can only imagine what kind of effort it would take to tag 2-3,000 songs correctly. RDS tagging isn't Zune-specific, and this initiative will be useful in other applications such as in-car stereos and home theater setups, and will provide a leg-up against the iTunes/HD-Radio collaboration. I can't wait to get my hands on the 3.0 firmware come September 16!


Monday, November 19, 2007

Got Zune Looks at The New Car Kit

Posted by Adam Krebs in "Zune Accessories" @ 09:30 PM

http://gotzune.com/2007/11/zune-v2-car-kit-mini-review

"This is a continuation of the info I shared the other day, this time I brought my camera into the car to show my setup. Very Nice. I purchased one of these today and I am very impressed. Kind of expensive at $80, but worth it if you can afford it. The above photo shows my Zune 80 in an after market adjustable cradle. This is a great cradle from Akron. I have had it for years through many phones and such."



I've used a lot of FM transmitters in my day, and let me tell you: the new Zune version is by far the easiest, best sounding, and, most importantly, static-free that I've used since, well, ever. The new design is a step up from the gen1 in that now the transmission module is not directly connected to the device (imagine the power brick and cables that come with most laptops and you're halfway there). The advantage of this setup is that you can now position the block in the optimal location without having to move your Zune as well. For me, it's right on top of my dash board, which is also where my Zune sits, thanks to the included nonslip pad.

Maybe I've just had bad experiences with FM transmitters, but in my experience, they've all been pretty much crap. There generally tends to be something amiss with the signal, rendering the device almost completely useless, if not pointless. But not the Zune pack: It maintains a strong, consistent signal, with easily tunable frequencies that span the entire FM spectrum (unlike cheaper products that only have a few options at extreme high and low freqs). It has 2 preset buttons to allow easy access between the two best stations, or, as Got Zune's Chris Leckness points out, for longer commutes.
Read more...


Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Zune FM Transmitter Range Hack

Posted by Damion Chaplin in "Zune Accessories" @ 07:30 PM

http://www.zunemods.net/cms_view_article.php?aid=13

"This mod will guide you through the steps necessary to open your Zune FM transmitter and connect a longer antenna to inscrease the range. Estimated Mod Time: 25-35 minutes. Mod Difficulty: Difficult"

Like opening your gadgets? Have a penchant for solder fumes? Desperately need your Zune's FM Transmitter to broadcast further? Take a look at this hack, it will give your transmitter a greater range. You know, so you can listen to your Zune from within your trunk. ;-) Seriously though, does anyone find the transmission range lacking? Enough to void your warranty and possibly invoke the wrath of the FCC?


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