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Apple Developing FM Radio Application for iPhone and iPod Touch?
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I know, right? Good point. I'm still of the opinion that this is an Internet radio that can stream radio in the background. Stop the madness. Should be an easy check.
~ CB
http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/iPod-touch-3rd-Generation/1158/2
Dear Go... Steve Jobs please unlock the fm transmitter.
Normally the FM radio chips use the headphone cable as the antenna. That's what happens in mobile phones and the iPod nano 5G.
An FM radio would be a very nice feature. I'm surprised that it has taken sooooo long to add it to the iPod.
There are some stations and shows I'd like to be able to tune in with my entertainment center, the iPod. When traveling, being able to enjoy the local color, news and weather would be useful.
Also, in case of a civil emergency, FM radio may be the only link to news or instructions from the outside world.
There are some stations and shows I'd like to be able to tune in with my entertainment center, the iPod. When traveling, being able to enjoy the local color, news and weather would be useful.
Also, in case of a civil emergency, FM radio may be the only link to news or instructions from the outside world.
Your headphone cord is the antenna. Just like in Nano or any other similar solution.
What's the hold up?.....Apple is trying to find a way to charge for FM ...by the song. I know that's an exaggeration . But still WTF Apple!
I thought this would be the case, but MY question would be... would their be clear design elements evident in a tear-down, that would indicate that the headphone jack is being used as an antennae? Does simply having the chip in device immediately make the headphone able to supply it with reception, or does it need to be designed to accomplish this? I'd imagine the latter. But, I'm not sure such a design would be easy to identify without engineering knowledge.
~ CB
And filters separate the audio from the RF. I understand that.
So, any evidence that the chip is hooked to the headphone jack?
There are a lot of features built into chips these days that never get used. The Java accelerator in the first model's ARM chip is a good example.
Thanks!
That's what I was wondering. Looking at the teardown link above, it looks to me as if the headphone socket interfaces with the PCB via a ribbon cable with five terminals, but from the photos it's not possible to tell where it leads thereafter. I'm guessing that the Broadcom IC would probably have a dedicated terminal for the FM antenna, and if that's the case there would need to be some sort of electrical coupling between that terminal and one of the terminals on the headphone socket.
Considering how many years Apple incubated the Intel version of OS X, it's clear that they like to keep their options open so it's entirely possible that they created an FM antenna linkage just in case they ever felt compelled to bring the FM radio to life. I certainly hope it turns out to be true.
Brilliant! If the hardware capability is there, let's add it! I had a go on one of the new nanos in the Apple Store in Westfield and I thought the pause feature was great.
Internet radio applications are spotty at best and drain battery - plus you can't use any other app at the same time. And it's hard to get BBC stations. This app would get me back into radio!
Internet radio applications are spotty at best and drain battery - plus you can't use any other app at the same time. And it's hard to get BBC stations. This app would get me back into radio!
Thanks Apple, but not interested. Maybe it will draw attention from others, but not me.
r u kiddin me?!
FM Radio is the only thing which is really missing from iPhone to have a complete product. All the other gimmicks are nothing compared with FM Radio.
I'm so looking forward for this application!
(err... not to mention that SOOOO many other phones and mp3 players have this function since SOOO long. C'mon Apple, what are you waiting for?!)
Cheers!
r u kiddin me?!
FM Radio is the only thing which is really missing from iPhone to have a complete product. All the other gimmicks are nothing compared with FM Radio.
I'm so looking forward for this application!
(err... not to mention that SOOOO many other phones and mp3 players have this function since SOOO long. C'mon Apple, what are you waiting for?!)
Cheers!
With Music piracy so rampant im supprised the radio even exists still.
That and the iPhone isn't capable of anywhere near 802.11g speeds, let alone n.
The iPhone/iPod touch actually has a Wireless A/B/G/N broadcom chip but N disabled for some reason.
Makes Sense
Adding an FM radio to the iPod Touch (and hopefully iPhone!) would be great. This makes sense because they just "refreshed" the iPod Nano so it has more noticeable features than the iPod Touch. Don't be surprised if the iPod touch gets a pedometer, video camera, as well as the FM radio.
Adding an FM radio to the iPod Touch (and hopefully iPhone!) would be great. This makes sense because they just "refreshed" the iPod Nano so it has more noticeable features than the iPod Touch. Don't be surprised if the iPod touch gets a pedometer, video camera, as well as the FM radio.
There have been phones available with FM radio tuners for years, I remember a mate's Nokia had it around 6 years ago.
The main problem with FM is that there is nothing worth listening to on the FM stations - all the sport and intellectual stuff (BBC Radio 4 excepted) is on AM - at least in the UK. Two classical FM stations though, catering to both people who enjoy classical music.
Maybe to you, but a lot of us still live in countries where bandwidth is expensive, and HD/DAB radio pretty much doesn't exist. Bring it on.