Floppyhead – Digital Media and Streaming

Radio stations have been streaming their broadcasts over the internet for years. Such internet radio has always been awkward to use with each radio station requireing you to login in at their own sight. Changing channels meant going to another website and logging into another account.

RadioTime.com is a directory of terrestrial radio stations throughout the world. The site has gathered most radio stations internet streams in one location, searchable by locale. It requires a free login and then provides a list of local radio stations based on your zipcode. Radio reception can be terrible at your workplace (like mine) and RadioTime.com let’s you quickly change channels like an FM/AM tuner. From the website:

RadioTime™ has a unique RadioGuide™ that provides listeners with a quick and easy way to find radio content from 36,000 global outlets. We monitor more than 50,000 programs, 100 networks and 800 sports teams to offer the most comprehensive RadioGuide™. To make it easy to navigate, RadioGuide™ organizes programs by hundreds of different categories like progressive, golf, or techno beat. See for yourself with a quick browse by genre or browse by location.

I have always thought radio streamed over the internet could give XM and Sirius a run for their money and RadioTime brings that idea one step closer to fruition. During the work day I am always tied to my computer and RadioTime gave me an easy way to flip through my local channels. Radiotime also has a Windows Media Center plugin that looks very slick, letting you browse radio stations from the comfort of your couch. This interface would be a great way to listen to your favorite sport’s team broadcast or post game radio show.

RadioTime makes money by selling their recording software called Red Button for $49. Basically Red Button is Tivo for you radio. If you have a favorite show you can, schedule to record it as an mp3 file and listen to it later. I am a huge Maryland Basketball fan and I love listening to the Gary Williams show on WMAL. I almost never get to listen to it for various reasons. Using Red Button, I can record it and listen to it when my schedule allows it.

Via Ian Dixon’s podcast.