11.5. Internet Radio Internet radio stations are just like regular radio stations , except that you "tune in" to them over the Internet instead of the airwaves. Some stations, like National Public Radio affiliates , broadcast exactly the same shows this way. But since there's no need for a specific radio frequency or broadcasting license from the FCC, there are tons of Internet radio stations that exist only onlineand some of them are pretty inventive . You can find everything from mystical Scottish melodies to American pop to programming from Japan, the Caribbean, Germany, and other spots around the globe. Computers with high-speed Internet connections have a smoother streaming experience, but the vast and eclectic mix of musical offerings is well worth checking outeven if you have a dial-up modem. You can listen to Internet radio in several ways: -
Through the radio feature of a jukebox program like iTunes or Music-Match . These programs come with dozens of pre-set radio stations in all different musical genres. To listen in, just click a stream in the program's window. Once you've listened to all the stations listed in iTunes, hit the Internet. You can find more radio stations that stream around the Web at sites like www. shoutcast .com and play them through iTunes when you click the link to listen. -
Through your Web browser with audio plug-ins like RealPlayer . Many broadcast radio stations now offer Web streams of their programming that you can listen to, which is great if you're 5 or 5,000 miles out of the station's signal range. If you don't know if your favorite station has a live stream, try looking it up by city or call sign at the Radio Locator site (www.radio-locator.com), which has links to 10,000 radio-station Web pages and 2,500 audio streams. The Radio Tower page (www.radiotower.com) and Live-Radio.Net (www.live-radio.net) can also help you track down radio streams from around the world. Some online radio stations require certain listening software on your end. RealPlayer (Figure 11-5) and Windows Media Player are two of the most common programs for audio streams; you can download free Mac or Windows copies of the players at www.real.com and www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia. -
Through software radio players like Yahoo or Mac OS X Widgets . You can read about widgetscolorful, free, mini-programsin Section 9.3.2. You can find widgets that stream the BBC World News or other specific stations in the Gallery at http://widgets.yahoo.com or at www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard. -
Through an online service like AOL that has its own online radio stations . America Online and MSN each have streaming radio stations with tons of tunes right at your fingertips when you're logged into the service. Just look for the Radio icon or link on the screen and stream your heart out. The best things about Internet radio? Free, infinite variety, infinite geographical reach, and 100 percent static-free. Figure 11-5. Free audio programs like RealPlayer let you stream online radio stations from around the world to spice up your workday and give your ears something new to absorb . 
WORKAROUND WORKSHOP
Saving Streams | | Most broadcasters of streaming music assume that nobody's going to record it. They'll listen to it as it comes across the Internet, but then it's gone forever. That's how, for example, Rhapsody can afford to give everyone on earth 25 free songs every monthit assumes they'll be listened to once but not captured. In fact, you can save music streams to your hard drive, although the practice dances dangerously close to copyright infringement. All you need is a program designed to capture everything coming through your computer's speakers . For Windows, such programs include RipCast (www.xoteck.com/ripcast) and Audiolib MP3 Recorder (www.audiolib.com/recorder); for the Mac, RadioLover (www.bitcartel.com/radiolover), Audio Hijack (www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack), and Streamripper X (http://streamripperx. sourceforge .net). If you really love radio, check out Griffin Technology's radio SHARK, a fin-shaped USB attachment that plugs into your computer. It lets you listen and record traditional (over-the-air) AM/FM radio broadcasts even when you're not at the computer. You can easily transfer the recorded files to your iPod so you can time shift your favorite shows right into your pocket. The radio SHARK sells for $70 at www.griffintechnology.com. |
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