iPhone to get an FM radio? Let the rumors fly!
By Matthew Shaer | 06.03.09
Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference opens next week in San Francisco, and it’s already sold out – a hint at how important the event has become for the computer industry at large. At last year’s WWDC, for instance, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone 3G. At the ‘09 conference, with the app store frenzy at its peak, what does Apple have in store? (Excuse the pun.)
Over at Ars Technica, Chris Foresman wonders if the company may “be considering ways to ’share’ apps with friends in an effort to increase app discovery and spur wider distribution.”
In a post at the NewsFactor Network, Frederick Lane writes: “A successful app-sharing capability would address one of the long-standing gripes among iPhone app developers and customers: The lack of an easy way to test applications before purchase (hence the large number of apps with ‘lite’ versions). A sharing capability would presumably come with the ability to try out the app before purchase is required.”
Meanwhile, writing on AppleInsider.com, Katie Marsal floats the possibility of a “FM radio in next-gen [iPhone] models.” This speculation, she continues, comes “from references in early iPhone 3.0 software betas to a new Broadcom chip that would enable lower-power 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity and the ability to send and receive FM radio transmissions.”
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2. lajuene | 06.05.09
I just want FM to use at the gym for the TV’s there. I want music, TV on FM and my phone all in 1. I went to get an iphone today but decided to wait because it didn’t have FM.
3. TookyG | 06.08.09
Yeah, an FM radio is something I really want in a smartphone. Mainly because of the TV’s at the gym. I was hoping an upcoming android phone would have one but from what I’ve seen, none of them do. I am not a big fan of apple but if the new iPhone has an FM radio…I’m probably sold.
4. Steve Ramm | 06.11.09
How hard is it to add an fm tuner???????????
We all want one, just do it, forget about the 90’s…..
5. steve Ramm | 06.11.09
In Australia if we went online to listen to fm radio it would cost
$1oo’s per month. Just add a free fm tuner (old tec) get with it. we’re in a recession…..
6. Anzimal | 06.23.09
The FM tuners that I’ve downladed and tried don’t support the mms streaming technology. So all of the good radio stations are inaccessible. I want local radio to listen to local DJs, chances to win contests, find out what stuff is going on in MY city, fun stuff like that. FM radio tuners out there for the iPhone get mostly talk radio and really sucky stations :0(. Besides if my friend has local FM on her Sony Ericsson why can’t I.
7. Tommy | 06.24.09
You may be interested in this FM Tuner product for the iPhone:
http://www.coolcomputing.com/article.php?sid=2478
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1. Steve | 06.05.09
- Katie Marsal floats the possibility of a “FM radio in next-gen [iPhone] models.”
Are you kidding me? This is possibly one of the silliest ideas, unless it costs nothing to both battery and the overall cost. Where there are several apps already available for a few bucks that bring you not only local radio stations that have online streams (probably 90% of stations do these days) which INCLUDES AM stations, not to mention 1000’s of other stations throughout the US and the world, it seems almost like a waste of time to add FM radio. I’m unsure why people are claiming the Zune’s inclusion of an HD Radio tuner as such a great step forward…. Think about it, close to 9000 (and growing) online streams vs. 10-20 local FM stations? Of course I’m biased (I am the developer of a paid iPhone/iPod Touch application “ooTunes Radio”). It just seems kinda like a step back to the 90s to add an FM tuner to a device of the future though.