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Rdio looks to be challenging a space Pandora has dominated for quite some time. The company has announced the launch of free radio streaming on both iOS and Android. The service was already in play since mid-summer, but that was only for premium users. Dubbed You FM, this service takes advantage of their “taste profiling” technology, which is really just a fancy way of saying “we see what music you like and feed you more like it.”
Rdio didn’t note whether or not the free app would have things like ads and other restrictions, though paid users do obviously get the ability to seamlessly view and play full albums that a particular song is from if they want to hear more (whereas free users will simply be whisked to a new radio station playing music like that song).
It’s an interesting move for Rdio. Even more interesting, though, is the fact that Google doesn’t offer something like this for Google Play Music. We know Google typically likes to keep things affordable (the $1,500 Pixel Chromebook or Google Glass notwithstanding), and it wouldn’t be hard to imagine them doing something like this.
I’m only one man dreaming, though, and I’ll have to take Rdio and Pandora’s mouthwatering propositions for the foreseeable future. The goods are currently available in the latest update sitting in the Google Play Store, so get over there and take a look if you’re interested.
*crickets*
Good question about why Google hasn’t done this. I’ve suspected that Google directs searches toward the likely royalty-free music users have uploaded to them.
But doesn’t I Heart Radio already offer free FM streaming?
And TuneIn Radio is nothing but streaming FM radio
(iHeart only does clear channel stations)
And streaming FM radio stations is exactly what I want. Non-stop
music would drive me nuts. I like having an announcer come on between
each piece, announce the next piece, maybe make a little joke or
complain about the weather or something. If i wanted non-stop music I’d
just play my CD collection that I ripped to mp3 and put on my SD card.
Tune-In Radio is perfect for me. I can listen to radio streaming from
all over the world, practice listening to French, Italian, Spanish,
German and see if I can still understand what they’re saying. If the
only language you know is American English and the only music you know
is American pop, I am sorry for you.
Wow.. yes… thank you for that… attack….
I am sorry that your limited grasp of the english language took my 2 sentence informational post as something other than it was and that your need for attention left you feeling the need to make a post in this tone.
I’m pretty happy with tune-in radio.
Gave it a download. I’ll see how it compares to my go to Pandora. I always like having options.