Filed under: Audio, iPhone, App Store
First Look: Public Radio Tuner
Whenever I'm not listening to my iPod in the car, I'm usually have my radio tuned to National Public Radio, where I get my fix of classical and jazz music. American Public Media has created an iPhone app that caters to those of us who want to listen to a particular NPR station, but don't happen to be near a computer.Public Radio Tuner (click opens iTunes) is a free application that compiles the Internet streams from more than 150 public radio stations into a single list. You scroll through the list to your preferred station, then there is a screen with a play button and volume control. Over Wi-Fi, the station I picked came in clear with no interruptions. I can turn off the iPhone's screen and it'll keep playing. However, when I tried to launch Public Radio Tuner using a fairly strong EDGE connection, the application insisted that it wasn't connected to the Internet. I had to utilize another program that activated an Internet connection, then relaunch Public Radio Tuner, before it would work over EDGE. After that, it works as advertised, though American Public Media warns that some stations require a 3G or Wi-Fi connection to work properly.
It's a simple application, and does what it does well. It still needs some improvement. I would love to see a search tool implemented so you can bypass scrolling through the long list of radio stations; search by station name or by location would be great. The ability to bookmark your favorite stations would be an additional bonus, as well as tweaking the application to recognize a connection over EDGE without having to launch another application.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jonbruck said 8:13PM on 12-06-2008
For internet radio, I have to recommend Tuner internet radio. In addition to NPR, I'm able to look up just about any internet radio station.
I also want to mention how great NPR's smartphone website is, with one button access to the hourly news brief and your local stations update.
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ShiggyMozart said 9:57PM on 12-06-2008
Seconded (Tuner rules).
brando said 9:19PM on 12-06-2008
what app do you use to connect to the internet?
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Ed said 9:34PM on 12-06-2008
I think she simply meant launching any app that connects to the internet (safari, mail, etc.), thus activating the iPhone's network connection.
Megan Lavey said 12:35AM on 12-07-2008
Ed is correct. I had to do an action such as launch Safari or BeeJive or check my e-mail in order for the application to recognize the Internet over EDGE.
Samir said 11:31PM on 12-06-2008
For internet radio I recommend Wunderradio. I've tried tuner internet radio and its not as user friendly as Wunderradio. Wunderradio even has weather information and local police and fire department scan stations. It's also all location based.
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Fred said 12:28AM on 12-07-2008
How bizarre that you guys picked KUAT for the screenshot. Tucson is my hometown. Neat!
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Megan Lavey said 12:32AM on 12-07-2008
I have a slight attachment to the Tucson area. ;) KUAT is really a great station and it was the first one I thought to try when testing out the app.
robogobo said 11:08AM on 12-07-2008
WOXY!
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Tom Lopy said 8:05PM on 12-12-2008
Is this an App or Widget. I definitely would be interested for the iphone.
I picked up one for audio books at newfiction.com . It works real well.
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Emily Sussman said 11:50PM on 12-25-2008
Merry Christmas from APM! I loooooooove this app.
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