radio

Four free must-have iPad apps for road warriors

Nobody who uses an iPad will ever confuse it for a full-feature notebook PC (especially once they've tried to enter data via the device's built-in keyboard). But anyone who computes on the road knows there's more to business travel than keyboarding.

These four free iPad apps transform the tablet into a clock radio, weather reporter, file manager, and multi-talented notepad.

Free file manager simplifies transfers to PCs via Wi-Fi, USB If you store Word, Excel, and other Office documents online, you may not need to keep copies of the files on your iPad. But many iPad users … Read more

Polk revives the I-Sonic tabletop radio with the ES3

LAS VEGAS--When CNET reviewed Polk's I-Sonic ES2 almost four years (!) ago, we knocked it for lacking then-cutting-edge features like a CD/DVD player, satellite radio, USB port, and network audio functionality.

Fast-forward to 2012 and the story is the same, but the details have changed, with Polk's recently announced I-Sonic ES3 lacking many of the cutting-edge features we've seen on competing iPhone speakers, such as AirPlay and Bluetooth. Even the USB-looking port on the back, but close inspection reveals it's for service-use only.

Still, the I-Sonic's real claim-to-fame was always performance, not features, which is … Read more

Slacker Radio announces live ESPN streams and more at CES

LAS VEGAS--Slacker Radio, a popular alternative to Pandora, announced a few valuable new partnerships here at CES, one of which should have sports fans foaming at the mouth.

Thanks to Slacker's new partnership with ESPN Audio, users can now listen to live streams of ESPN shows and sporting events on the Web through Slacker.com. And according to the company's representatives, the new live content will be coming to Slacker's mobile apps soon as well--though no date was given. While all Slacker listeners will get access to the interactive ESPN Radio station, the live programming will only … Read more

Aha Radio partners with Honda and Subaru, streams tunes to the BRZ

LAS VEGAS--Remember when Aha Radio's claim to fame was robotic text-to-speech reading of Facebook status updates? You've come a long way, baby.

At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, Aha by Harman announced a handful of new content and hardware partners, the ranks of which include Subaru, Honda, and Kenwood.

The two automotive partners, Subaru and Honda, will be building Aha Radio connectivity into their vehicle's infotainment systems for the 2013 model year--which means we should start seeing the fruits of this union as early as this fall. After pairing a smartphone running the Aha Radio app, drivers … Read more

Q2 cubist Internet radio finally hits the States

LAS VEGAS--The United Kingdom has been in on the Q2 Wi-Fi Internet radio for years. CES 2012 marks the stateside debut for the funky music cube from Armour Home Electronics.

We first covered the device way back in 2009. Better late than never, right? The biggest selling point besides the compact size is the motion control for volume and switching stations.

The Q2 has no dials, knobs, switches, or buttons, or any other fiddly interfaces that you typically find on radios. Tilt it forward or back to raise or lower the volume. Tip it over to change the station.

There are four station presets that can be arranged via computer. It has a rechargeable battery and headphone jack. The Q2 is available in colors ranging from emo-style black to girly pink.

Since the royal wedding was such a hit in the U.S., it's no surprise the Q2's maker is now trying its luck in the former colony. The $130 Q2 should hit the spot for people who are both Anglophiles and hands-on gadget freaks.… Read more

Pioneer AppRadio 2 adds Android support, larger screen

LAS VEGAS--Pioneer's smartphone-centric AppRadio impressed us when it launched last year, but we had our complaints. We wanted more apps, better hardware, and Android support.

At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show, that's exactly what we got with the announcement of Pioneer's AppRadio 2.

The most interesting new trick in this second-generation hardware's bag is Pioneer's announcement of support for Android devices, specifically those that are equipped with either a Mobile High Definition Link (MHL) or Micro-HDMI connection. This is an interesting twist, as I assumed that Pioneer would be taking the wireless Bluetooth Serial Port … Read more

How to get your Android ready for Christmas

Look no further for suggestions on how to add the holiday magic to your Android device.

Games

A great way to pass the time while waiting for relatives to arrive or for those cookies to come out of the oven. Many games on the Android Market feature a Christmas or holiday theme for the season.

Angry Birds Seasons, by Rovio Mobile Ltd. No Android game list is complete without the mention of Angry Birds. Now your favorite slingshot bird action has a holiday feel.

Beyond Ynth Xmas Edition, by FDG Entertainment. Five free Christmas-themed levels to … Read more

HiddenRadio Bluetooth speaker needs no knobs

Something about the HiddenRadio has hit a nerve on Kickstarter. The project blew past its $125,000 goal and has already topped $400,000 in pledges.

HiddenRadio is a small canister-shaped Bluetooth speaker with no knobs or buttons. You just rotate the casing upward to reveal more of the speaker and increase the volume.

When fully open, the HiddenRadio can crank out 80 decibels of sound. That should be enough to get the neighbors to bang a broom handle on the ceiling.… Read more

Get the news from a respectable source

BBC News is a well-designed app for browsing through stories and video from one of the world's most respected news sources. The app also prominently showcases BBC Radio, with a button for listening to live radio while you're browsing.

BBC News is one of the better news apps available, with an attractive and efficiently organized interface that's easy to navigate--and that reacts intelligently when changing between vertical and horizontal layouts. You can browse through headlines and thumbnail pictures around categories such as Top Stories, Technology, and Features & Analysis (you can easily scroll between and within categories … Read more