Any chance of a Kerbango-like internet radio making an appearance?

[Karmadillo]

Would beat listening to the PC. Here's an Amazon link to the Kerbango pre-demise:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004XONG/qid=1072575105/sr=1-9/ref=sr_1_9/103-0971689-2781419?v=glance&s=electronics

The Kerbango 100E is the first stand-alone Internet radio device. Since you won't be using your computer to listen to online radio, you won't have to deal with software conflicts or competition for computing resources. Just connect to the Web and tune into thousands of audio streams from around the globe--from the latest news in Australia to a cricket match in New Delhi to BBC's Radio 1 in London.

There are no service fees associated with listening to online radio stations. The Kerbango is based on the Real Networks G2 Player, and it plays RealAudio G2, 5.0, 4.0, and 3.0 streams as well as streaming MP3. However, you will need a broadband connection such as DSL, cable modem, or ISDN (dial-up connections are not supported). Additionally, the Kerbango uses an Ethernet connection, requiring a PC network or cable modem.

(If you don't have a broadband connection, ask your current Internet service provider about upgrading. If you already have a broadband connection, it is recommended that you connect the Kerbango by using a cable/DSL router. Note that some ISPs may require the purchase of an additional IP address or other services.)

Once you've connected to the Internet, the Kerbango makes it easy to discover new radio stations. Just use the tuning knob as you would on a regular radio to select a category of audio stream. If you choose the music category, you'll find such listings as hard rock, classical, country, jazz, and then be able to choose from individual stations within each listing. And since your broadband connection is always on, the Kerbango can be left connected to the Internet all the time without affecting your ability to make or receive telephone calls.

The Kerbango tuner stays up to date with the latest stations, newest music, and current events by communicating with the Kerbango Tuning Service every time you're connected. KTS is a sophisticated database that stores information about all the stations that Kerbango finds on the Internet. Once a station is added to the KTS list of available stations, an automated program called a StreamBot continually checks for transmission quality and reliability. This information is displayed on the Kerbango, indicating a station's expected signal quality before you tune it in.

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[Rick Myers]

1. When it appeared in Wired Magazine I yelled...

I WANT ONE!!!

It was a cool device, and I STILL think it's the WAY to open up internet 'radio.'

You're correct, it would beat using the PC to play Mp3s and listen to long-form shows... Ye' old Internet appliance...

[Karmadillo]

2. PenguinRadio?

Maybe one day...

http://penguinradio.com/penguin/

The PenguinRadio is the future of radio.

The PenguinRadio is a stand-alone Internet appliance designed to free music from your PC. It is simplicity and ease of use, partnered with a worldwide reach of Internet radio and diversity of MP3, all operating in one system powered by LINUX.

No longer will the limitations of "local" radio confine the public to hearing only a few select stations, more often than not playing the same music as every other local radio station. The PenguinRadio brings the global reach of the Internet into the world of radio, and turns your home stereo system into an International Radio Receiver.

The PenguinRadio lets you go "back home" without leaving your house. That local radio station that you grew up with, music they just don't play anywhere else, and that hometown sports team that never gets covered where you live now. The PenguinRadio lets you listen to these sounds (and thousands of others) by connecting Internet radio directly through to your home stereo receiver.

One day, every radio will work this way...

Frequently Asked Questions:

When will it be available?

We'd love to have released this to you about a year ago, but our goal has always been to build the best quality device that is functionally a computer, but works like a radio. We don't want crashes, we can't have a big screen for debugging, and we need a quick boot time so people who are used to radio (and not accustom to computers) won't give up trying when they use this device. Adding this level of functionality to a small device is tricky.

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[Karmadillo]

3. Kick just in case anyone has inside info

n/t