Radio
”Lightning Review: Aluratek Wi-Fi Internet Radio Alarm Clock
Olinda Radio Lets You Hear What Your Friends Are Listening to
Ever wondered what stations your friends are listening to just at the same moment as you spin the dial on your own radio? Well, that's where Olinda comes in: a working prototype commissioned by the BBC, it's got a plug-in module that lights up when your friends are online. A simple push of the corresponding button, and via Wi-Fi and the BBC's "playing now" service you get to listen along with your pal. There're other innovations too, including a double-tuning dial that lets you switch to stations alphabetically or just choose among your favorites. And because the design is modular it allows for expansion with other widget-like plug-in units. More »Radio to MP3 Recorder Looks Old-Style, Has Docking MP3 Player
While yesterday's radio-to-MP3 recorder reminded us of a modern Chumby, this one's style cues are more last decade. It's basically a digital-tuner radio, with FM, AM and short wave reception, but with a built-in, un-dockable portable MP3 player that can record to its own 256MB memory. More »Sirius Starmate 5 Coming With XM Support?
Sirius' update to its Starmate line, the Starmate 5, is currently in front of the FCC for testing, and it looks like it might have a little trick up its sleeve. The gadget includes the standard abilities to pause, rewind, and replay up to 44 minutes of live radio, a memo feature to store up to 30 favorite artists or songs and a wide-angle 5 line display, but it also might just have the ability to play XM radio stations as well. More »BlackBerry Users Get XM Radio, Excuse to Take Phones Into Bathrooms For $7.99 a Month
I used to sleep through class by tuning my cellphone's FM radio to a classical station, sitting in the back, and putting a jacket over my face, so this XM Radio on BlackBerry is pretty spectacular news. All you need is a BlackBerry 8800, 8700, Pearl or Curve and $7.99 a month. You'll get 20 "exclusive" XM channels (list after the jump), and you can download the app here or text "XM" to 47201. Time for a nap. Since this uses the phone's regular data connection, you hopefully won't be forced to wear giant ridiculous looking headphones in order to get reception. More »Solar Powered Music, Fake Detection and Flashlight in One
I love this weird combo, multi-tool gadget: it's a mashup between the Solar Phone Charger and the great 5-in-1 Pen. It's got a solar cell to top up your gadgets with juice (USB connector, or cellphone adaptors), a UV note-checker, LED flashlight and, best of all, an FM radio. Why not an MP3 player? Where's the tool for getting stones out of a horse's hoof? Nope, just an FM radio. At least we have this reassurance "Security guarantee: There is not any danger to use." Yours for $45.99. [GizFever via RedFerret]
antenna
FM Radio Antenna Lets You FM Radio It Up Without the Headphones
What a pain in the ass it is to have to plug in headphones to your cellphone in order to catch Kasey Kasem and his sappy dedications on FM radio. No more! This FM Aerial (antenna), which you can easily find on eBay, lets you bypass using a set of headphones as an antenna and lets you use an antenna as an antenna. Clever, yes, but it also makes it necessary to unplug it whenever you want to take a call, unless you're making a one way call—the antenna has no microphone built in. [eBay via Symbian Freak via Into Mobile]
design
Iona Radio Cube Means You Physically Flip Through Stations
This Wi-Fi radio concept design from Cambridge Consultants is a rubber-edged plastic cube. Four of the sides are assigned your four favorite stations via a web interface (maybe some of you have more, but frankly, I think four about covers it for me). The minute some annoying commercial or crap song starts playing, you just roll the Iona over to the next channel. Gizmag says adjusting volume requires twisting the cube itself to the right (up) or left (down), though I'm not entirely sure what that means. The fifth side houses a mono speaker, and the sixth has a non-roly-poly on-off switch. [Gizmag via Ubergizmo]
reviews
Slacker Player Gets Glowing Review
Ever since we heard about the Slacker Portable we were a little excited, but the object of our portable streaming radio affection has just come up for its first review seating. According to the fine fellows at Wired, it is slacking its way into their hearts as we write this very article.More »
Voz Sports Multy LYNK Communications Helmet for Extreme Sports
CES 2008: Comprehensive Robot Roundup
We had a wail of a time at CES 2008, but we were not the only ones. The various robots on display were also going nuts at the convention. We have rounded them all up in this excellent video, showing you the neat robotics that we thought were worthy of a video shout out. Hit the clip to see them in action, and then read on for a full breakdown of all the droids featured. More »
iPhone Gets Sticker Display, AM/FM Capability? (No)
While we doubt that this Lax-Max AM/FM radio is one of the many new products sure to be unveiled at Macworld next week, we couldn't help to admire the design. A printed sticker display makes for an extremely energy efficient device and we're fairly certain that the (classic) AM/FM radio will provide as much entertainment as that internet/MP3/talking fad anyway. All in all, a good solution for the kid who always wants to touch/drool/poo your precious piece of Cupertino.
Grundig Eton Satellit 750 Shortwave Radio (Yes, Shortwave)
The Catch: It's shortwave. And $300.
Grundig Eton FR1000 Voicelink Survival Radio Is Gorgeous
The Catch: No word on water resistance, and the recessed knobs seem hard to turn with gloves on.
Blik RadioStation: DAB, Wi-Fi, and FM Radio All-in-One
Slacker Portable Personalized Radio Player Video and Gallery
Now that Slacker is out in the open, here's a close look what the thing actually will offer you. The video above was shot by our own Benny G, and after the jump there's a full gallery of the interface and features. More »







We had a wail of a time at CES 2008, but we were not the only ones. The various robots on display were also going nuts at the convention. We have rounded them all up in this excellent video, showing you the neat robotics that we thought were worthy of a video shout out. Hit the clip to see them in action, and then read on for a full breakdown of all the droids featured.