The methods by which we receive audio content just keep on expanding. In fact, there are so many ways to get free music and Podcasts it’s hard to keep up. And, if you think about it, it’s a wonder that any service that charges for content will be able to keep its head above water.
One of the free categories bubbling up is internet radio which gives you incredible flexibility and some interesting tools. Let’s say, you’re going on a trip to Poland, like my editor Biggs. You can tune in and listen to the local radio, find out about the weather, traffic and even political issues. You can receive all the information that any local resident can get, and that makes the world a smaller place. Yes I know, this is already available to anyone with a computer, but that isn’t too convenient or very portable. I think that’s a significant reason why it’s been overlooked by many.
It Does what?
The Phoenix, a WiFi, AC/DC portable internet radio runs on four AA rechargeable batteries (included) or with the switching power supply (240-110W AC input). Embedded 802.11 b/g WiFi, the Phoenix streams music from non-subscription Web-Radio sites. Content can be streamed in WMA, AAC, Real, WAV and AIFF formats. You can also play your MP3 content using a USB stick or via WiFi and just use the Phoenix as a player.
This wireless digital content stereo player comes preloaded with 300 URLs, but that’s just a start. Users can go to Com One’s Web site to get URLs of about 7,000 more radio stations for the Phoenix. Additionally, you can use the Com One site to add stations not in Com One’s database by keying in a station’s URL.
One of the reasons this works is the embedded software that makes for an easy connection to Com One’s internet-based service distribution platform. You can get firmware upgrades over the air either by hitting the update button, or they will come seamlessly at two week intervals all via WiFi.
What’s it got?
The Phoenix has an alarm clock, eight preset radio station buttons and a charger. The unit has two stereo speakers (4 cm each), a 2 x 2 watt amplifier and weighs less than two pounds. They improved the digital sound quality with Bass Boost and spatialization enhancer technology. You also have the ability to plug into any stereo system via the 1/8” (3.5mm) stereo headphone jack. If you want, you can have Bluetooth connectivity with an adapter offered through Com One. There are cool features, like the ability to bookmark your favorite songs or stations for quick access.
The Phoenix is based on the Intel PXA270 processor, clocked at 300MHz. It boots Linux for 8MB of flash, and has 32 MB of RAM. Com One choose Linux because of its “open environment” and its many available open-source libraries. This enabled Com One to build the Phoenix without outside assistance. It has a USB host port supporting USB devices and USB Bluetooth transceivers. White back-lit graphics display with 6 lines (128 x 64) pixel monochromatic LCD screen. Battery life is about 4 hours; short I know, but WiFi sucks…err requires a lot of power.
Plug it in already
I install the rechargeable batteries and plug it in. I know I have a good WiFi hotspot in my apartment, so I try to activate the radio. I put it on search and try to lock on to a WiFi signal. First attempt failed, it locked into the search mode. So I do a hard reboot (took out the batteries) and on the next attempt I get the list of WiFi spots and it connects to my router. Then, I select the automatic connection mode. (DHCP), and when it’s searching there is a blinking blue light, when it locks-on the blue light is steady. There is a WiFi signal bar on the LCD much like a cellphone and my signal varies between two and three bars. Now, I’m connected, and by pushing the music icon I get a list of radio stations. First station is an open source Reggae station which is broadcasting at 32kb/s. It sounds ok, not great, but then I put on another station at 128kb/s and the sound quality is much better. The whole process took about two minutes. The next day when I push the number one preset button the radio is playing music in less than 10 seconds.
I go to the website to update the radio. I sign up, log on and go to the station page; once there I see various different categories (country, city, genre, etc). I choose new stations and within moments those stations show up on my radio. The site isn’t as user-friendly as I’d like, but it is still in Beta. I’m listening now and it sounds pretty good, but the speakers are small so for a bigger sound I hook it up to my stereo. Now we’re talking, the sound is clean and robust.
Even though the Phoenix is still in Beta, I think the portable aspect is the right ingredient for success. Also, seamless firmware upgrades will keep this product improving. Of course, we will see hardware upgrades as new units come out. I suspect in the future there will be more ways to get content on the player. The sound on the Phoenix is what you’d expect from two small speakers; not bad, but certainly not audiophile quality. I congratulate Com One, and I like their thinking. This might just work out.
Eight years after the Kerbango 100E and this is what we get? How much are they hoping to sell this for? With the sad display and 70s-portable-radio design ethic it had better be way below $100 … $49.95 perhaps?
I’ve thrown away all my music gadgets, and now just use PCs hooked up to the stereo and TV. On sites like http://www.tubejuke.com I find all the music I could want for!
This a worthy effort in my estimation. This genre of radio is a work in progress mostly, but the Phoenix hits most of the right notes. An attractive enclosure, easy set-up, a web interface with automated firmware updates and capacity for personal additions to the stations database, surprisingly good audio for its size, portability. Acknowledging that it’s all still in beta, would like to see added space on the web site for users to share experiences and gain answers from developers and each other, as well as (of course) continuously stepped-up capabilities overall. It’s a good start, but how good it remains and improves depends on continued support from Com One and open discussion with its users.
I am also pleased with the Phoenix Com One. It does what it is meant to do pretty darned well. But a website that has been in beta for so long, and a non-responsive “contact” makes me worry that some day my little gadget might be orphaned. I tried to add a URL and was advised to wait while someone or other does something. I’ll post again when it appears in their catalog!
I, too, have not been successful in getting responses to my e-mail questions. However, a phone call to the number on the web site did produce a live person on the other end who stated emphatically that the Phoenix is still very much being supported and that a new web site should be ready during the “first quarter” of 2008. As for adding stations, the interface facility provided on the web site does work, but it’s obvious that some types of streaming are not supported or compatible with the unit. For example, I have been unable to add RTE Radio 1 (Ireland) because the unit’s software (or is that “firmware”) does not yet support the method RTE uses to stream even though it falls under the Realmedia rubric. Given the number of formats in use on the internet, it will be well nigh impossible to support all of them unless a standard (or fewer standards) become the norm.
Hello,
Could you please give me tips on how to add new radios ?
I always get “the stream cannot be checked…” – including extensions… mp3… mtu
Thanks !!!
Philippe
Philippe, are you trying to add new stations to the website? That really doesn’t seem to be possible now. Hopefully there will be a new website soon!
If you are trying to add radios from the existing website to your own Phoenix set, there is no problem in using the website, but you can also do it with the Phoenix unit directly. If you access the website you just drag the station you want on your set from the lefthand column to the right side.
My understanding from the company is that a new web site and interface (along with possibly another firmware update) is scheduled to be implemented by around the 15th of March. It will be similar to the update to the Orange Liveradio website in France. However, until then it will not be possible to add new “radios” (stations) that are not already on offer on the current beta web site.
On the website, I go to “Options”, “Manage my catalog”, “Add new contents” and then I type in my flow.
Any flow I type ends up with the same message : “the stream cannot be checked or is not compatible…”
Did anybody succeed ?
Migration under process!
http://wifiradio.wordpress.com/
Looks like the migration worked out very well. Moving stations (radios) to your own device is much faster now, AND I was able to add a station streaming URL that I couldn’t before! (I also learned that the station has to be streaming at the time you try to add it….).
Thank you Phoenix/Orange/Com One/Baracoda, and I hope you’re keeping all those brands straight.