"Although I haven't tried it yet, here is an interesting article on the new iTunes Radio in iOS 7," Jim Hamm states. "As the article explains, it's more for Apple than us. Why? iTunes is a money maker for Apple, and they see no reason to significantly change a winner." http://gizmodo.com/itunes-radio-isnt-for-you-its-for-apple-1342593360
Let There Be Music
"If you like to listen to internet radio while on your computer, here's another way to locate and play a radio station in iTunes," begins Jim Hamm.
He goes on to be specific: "First, open this URL, enter a ZIP code, or radio station call letters, or type of music. Do a search. Pick a station. For example, I entered our ZIP code in Scottsdale and picked an AM station in Phoenix, AZ that plays 'oldies', clicked the small lightning icon in front of the station. It automatically downloaded the URL stream in the downloads folder to the right of the Address Bar in Safari. I clicked this download and it opened iTunes and added the radio station to 'internet songs' in iTunes. Now when I want to listen to this station on my computer I just open iTunes, click this station and listen away."
Does it always work this way? Jim answers, "I've found, however, that not all radio stations are broadcasting in a format that is, I assume, compatible with iTunes since they won't load. I'm going to experiment more to see if I can find what causes this anomaly.
"Another alternative, and perhaps simpler, in your iTunes Library select Music, then Radio, and pick a radio station from the list. I'm listening now, for example, to a station in Boston broadcasting Celtic music."
He closes with, "iTunes is available for Windows as well as OS X. Here's more info on this."
Turn Your Computer into Your Personal Radio Station
"You can turn your computer into your personal radio station," begins Harry Morel. What a novel idea! He goes on, "An FM transmitter plugs into your computer’s audio-output port that makes listening to internet radio practical. You can listen on any FM radio. You do not have to listen to your computer’s speakers.
"The C. Crane Company sells a small FM transmitter for $70. It has an 80 foot broadcast radius. Put the FM transmitter in the center of your house by using an audio extension cord. Don’t plug short extension cords together.
"I saw a digital FM transmitter for ~$200 that will broadcast to your neighborhood, therefore, no extension cord needed.
"You can listen to the radio while walking from room to room. C. Crane Company sells a hands-free digital headset radio called Peltor Work Tunes. It also blocks out background noise. They also sell pillow speakers that rest under your pillow."
Door Prize Awaits You on Saturday
On Saturday, 4-17, a PMUG member will win a nifty prize, thanks to Jim Hamm. The door prize will be a free license for the Radium Radio Player. Scroll down this page to the original article, "We Have a Winner; He Likes the Prize" and read about it.
Jim liked his new Radium Radio Player and wrote to the company with a few questions and good comments. He bragged about PMUG and asked if they'd give the free license for Radium as a door prize. That same day he got an affirmative answer, and so...... be sure to be at Saturday's PMUG meeting. Remember, it's at 2:30 p.m. for this month!
We Have a Winner; He Likes the Prize
Our own Jim Hamm is a winner! Let him tell us in his own words, "Take a look at the last entry under the competition winners: it's 'moi'!...A couple of days ago I sent in an entry for the MacTricksAndTips contest and won a free Radium Radio Player. The price of the player, after a free trial, is $16. I was able to download a free player for both my Macs. When Radium is opened, a small icon appears on the Menu Bar in Safari--not the Dock. The radio works quite well and comes preloaded with thousands of radio stations from around the world. I listened yesterday to Celtic music from Ireland and the feed was quite satisfactory. I'll try more stations today.
"One small problem encountered: my Menu Bar in Safari is too full of icons on my MacBook Air to permit the icon for Radium to appear. I'll have to see if there are any I want to remove. When Radium is opened the icon appears on the Menu Bar on Finder. Not a big deal because I don't switch stations all that often. Radium seems to be a simple, but effective, radio player. Not a lot of fancy controls, etc., and only takes about 30MB in memory when it is running.
"If you're looking for an internet-streaming radio station, you might give Radium a 30-day free trial. Here's the post for the original competition."
Have a Listen
Want to listen to and/or record Internet radio on your Mac? De Prez Allen Laudenslager sends this tip: "Try Radioshift which allows you to both listen to an Internet radio for any of thousands of preset radio stations that broadcast their regular programing across the Internet in real time or you can record a broadcast for later listening.
"The FREE version only records 20 minutes but the paid version ($32) lets you record unlimited lengths. This version 1.5.3 was released February 3, 2010 for Mac OS X 10.5.0 - 10.6.2. If anyone tries this, please report back on how you use it."