Maybe it was like wishing the latest digitized Maytag would attach a hand-cranked wringer.
Much to the radio industry's disappointment, the new iPhone 3G S, arriving in the U.S. on June 19 will not include an FM radio.
It was a little desperate, probably, but rumors out of Asia have had some in the industry all sweaty thinking how such a move might bring terrestrial radio into the lives of the hordes of Millennials who don't listen to it now and never did.
It's really no surprise that Steve Jobs and the sleek-seeking Apple engineers didn't cram 20th century FM circuitry into their techno-slim 21st century hand-job with all the other slick features. The new phone will do every damn thing but it won't bring you TBTL, Dave Ross, and Ichabod Crane... except on its Safari browser.
There is the thorny problem that FM is in different places on the band in different countries –- it's hard to universalize (if that's a word).
But probably the biggest hurdle is that it's Apple's business of selling, distributing and managing content. Opening that door, when you think about it, was probably but a crack(berry) dream.
There's a great little app for your iPhone called "WunderRadio". Picks up FM & AM all over the world. Cheap to download and turns your phone into a radio. It seems to do the trick!
Posted by: BeeBee | June 09, 2009 at 11:45 PM
They want to promote use of the iTunes store. Podcasting is a rediculous concept but they promote it anyway becuase it requires... the iTunes store.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | June 10, 2009 at 02:56 AM
Heard a review Sunday - on KIRO I think - about the Pre which, according to the reviewer, will give IPHONE a run for its money.
He loves the styling and new OS which is web based - WebOS. But, he also thinks that the one advantage the Iphone has is the iTumes store
Posted by: joanie | June 10, 2009 at 07:21 AM
the pre is a good first try joanie, and probably worth looking at for some people's needs, however it doesnt give the iphone mudh to worry about.
Posted by: dave (not dave ross) | June 10, 2009 at 09:23 AM
the pre doesnt give apple MUCH to worry about, either.
Posted by: dave (not dave ross) | June 10, 2009 at 09:35 AM
The Apple i-phone is revolutionary, there is nothing out there that compares, period!
(And, nothing on the drawing board that I've read about that even comes close to threatening it, for that matter)
Posted by: HoChiMinh | June 10, 2009 at 10:12 AM
I agree, I have an iPhone. I wish it had an FM tuner but it already does a rediculous amount of stuff. Internet access, email, cell phone, iPod with built in speakers, nice camera and lots of free programs available to jailbroken phones, a couple of which I use for doing business.
Although I have to say the new 3GS doesn't offer much that the the older 3G doesn't already have. They went from 1000 features to 1005. If the 3G is really going to be priced $100 cheaper than the 3GS I'd say get the older 3G - no brainer.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | June 10, 2009 at 11:27 AM
yes, AA the current iphone 3G that is now only 99.00 is a great value. i still have the first gen iphone so i am ready to upgrade to the 3Gs. the new version does have a faster internet speed, faster operating system, 3.2 camera with autofocus, and video with internal editing and at least double the memory. But if you have a 3G now and would have to pay full price for a 3Gs its not a good value.
Posted by: Dave (not dave ross) | June 10, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Yeah that full price thing is pissing a lot of customers off but it's practical from AT&T's POV. They broke the true cost of the $199 3G iPhone up over the life of the two year contract. They need to be compensated for that.
To say the 3G is $99 is a marketing gimmick, it's really $299 or whatever with $99 up front and the other $200 spread out over two years.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | June 10, 2009 at 05:17 PM
I think they missed the boat on naming it. They should have gone with "prix" rather than "pre." "Pre" just doesn't look finished.
I have basic phone service for $10 a month and 25 cents a minute. My phone is for emergencies.
Do any of these darn phones every come in clearly? I use it mostly when I travel and I'm always having trouble picking up signals. It is annoying.
Posted by: joanie | June 10, 2009 at 10:52 PM
you get what you pay for
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | June 11, 2009 at 11:28 AM
Good post. I am going to save the URL and will definitely visit again.
Keep it up!!
Posted by: Aristel AV 48 | October 14, 2012 at 10:51 PM
iphone has become a necessity in our lives
Posted by: Monster Beats | November 27, 2012 at 06:34 AM
Some smart phones do have FM tuners that don't work well. AM is out of the question because it is even more sensitive to the radio interference that is generated by the phone itself. Dropping radio tuners from the iPhone was a trade-off and Apple made the right choice. If the feature doesn't work get rid of it. There are better ways to get radio content and not all of them require the iTunes store.
Posted by: brocko bama | November 27, 2012 at 07:56 AM