Blackberry App Review: TuneIn Radio

Originally posted: 18 Jan 2011
Discrepancy due to failure to export/import blog

Finally something useful for the music junkies like me who prefer to stick to a Blackberry rather than change to an iPhone because it's "more trendy/popular" and "good to show off with". Haha... I think I'm going to get blasted by the iPhone purists. Anyways, preferences aside, this application that I'm loving is called "TuneIn Radio" or just "TuneIn", developed by RadioTime©, the makers of TuneIn for Android and iPhones, Songbird and Radioshift for MACs. It's a very simple but useful application to allow you to tune in to internet radio stations using either WIFI or mobile packet data [GPRS or HSPA]. By the way, my dear Roseate June was the one who "discovered" it the day before and introduced it to me. I only downloaded it last evening but I'm already stuck to it, in fact I am listening to awesome tunes while working on this review.

Right, of course its nothing new... but its for the Blackberry. I mean, c'mon, enough of credit for iPhone apps, Blackberry users should deserve some support too. Now Blackberry users can also listen to podcasts, live streaming radio, radio talk personalities, in the office, at home or even on the go! I am also well aware that there are already other application which serve the same purpose, but his kick-ass application busts the competition with a review of 4.5 stars out of 5! What I believe contributed, would be the reliability, ease of use, simple user interface, yet diversified content. Best part is, It's absolutely FREE!

Its lets you listen to over 40.000 radio stations, including you local AM/FM stations, live sporting events or DJ's, programs and podcasts. Be released from the confinement of music by performing your own custom search, discovering radio stations from all over the world, or select from categories like music, sports, news, talk-shows, podcasts, by location or by language. A vast range of musical genres await you; from Classical, Country, Rock, Metal, Electronic, House, Trance, Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Latin, Oldies, Blues, Pop, Top 40's, to even children's! From there, you can choose your international stations. My favorites would be Digitally Imported [or commonly know as D.I. FM], Proton Radio, Dance FM, Smooth Lounge Radio, The Alternative Side, Y-Rock. Trust me, you'll be spoilt for choice. Check out some of the screenshots below that I have gotten from RadioTime©.

What I like most about TuneIn would be the hard-to-get music. You see, over in this little sunny island of Singapore, the music industry is rather conservative, [shallow in my truthful opinion] and local radio sucks big time. It's neither expansive nor liberal like in other countries like United States, UK, Europe, etc. What I seek most of the time includes Alternative Rock, Grunge, Chill-out, Ambient, Lounge, Uplifting Trance or Vocal Trance, down to Drum & Bass. If you have an unquenchable thirst for radically tasteful music like me, this would be our everday cup of tea.

It's also good to know that this application doesn't drain you battery like a bloodsucker. I've been listening to TuneIn for several hours since and my battery just dropped by one bar. Just be careful if you are groovin' on the move with a limited mobile data plan. Like all other internet applications, this baby could suck up to 100MB if you stream on high quality of 128Kbps for an hour, which may cause some additional charges depending on your telco provider. Try to stick to WIFI, or if you can compromise on a lower quality and stability, you can choose streams with lower bit-rates like 96 Kbps or below. Doing that, you could lower the risk of getting slapped with an bill of exhorbitant figures. If you don't read me, feel free to comment or ask any questions about the Kbps thingy or the app itself. I'll answer to my best knowledge.

Convined? Seen enough? Time to take action! Click here for the hyperlink of the website of RadioTime© or navigate to radiotime.com/bb on your blackberry to download it.

Even if you are not a music junkie like me, it is still a great application to have. I mean, who hates music? If you own a Blackberry, it is a must-have application; the TuneIn Radio by RadioTime©

Extracted images courtesy of RadioTime©