National Association of Broadcasters Again Urges Apple to Add FM Radio to iPhones

[manu chao]

I don't understand how anyone could object to a FM radio addition. Don't like it? don't use it.

Nobody objects to having an FM radio. What people object to is to casting Apple as a villain if they don't include one. I'm sure everybody could list at least half a dozen of features that nobody would object to having built-in. But there is a difference to not objecting to the presence of something and to objecting against the absence of something.
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you might want to check your facts before posting. this option has been there for a while now.

Low power mode might cut consumption by 30%. An ultra low power mode cuts consumption by 90% or so. See the difference?

 

[convergent]

No I understand they do I’m asking in this particular situation I don’t think the FCC needs to force Apple

They shouldn't have to... agree... but I don't believe Apple is going to do it unless they are forced. Apple likes to portray themselves as "good for the planet" and all that crap, but only if it fits their politics. They don't care about something like this.

 

[manu chao]

Why do you people hate having an extra feature? What would be the matter activating the chip and requiring users to plug in headphones or a charging cable as an antenna if they want or need to use FM.

Careful, people don't hate having extra features. They hate castigating Apple for not having the feature. If you don't see the difference between that, I'd say think again.

 

[ilovemykid3302012]

No. Lives don’t depend on fm radio at all. I don’t want fm radio and in dire situations like hurricanes, people in my area used Facebook or evacuated to safety where adequate news was reported. Cities utilized Facebook and Twitter to pump out important information. If there is no powers fm or Facebook will be a viable option once power goes out and people pretty much know when hurricanes are going to be over as we get news days ahead of time. No one is going to be glued to fm radio for updates. Sorry we just don’t live in that world anymore. Maybe Pro fm politicians should do the right thing and leave old tech behind and let apple do its thing.

Sarcasm? I hope..

 

[Jsameds]

Where's the pressure on Samsung to put a radio in the Galaxy and Galaxy Note range?

Where was the letter from the senators asking about the security of facial recognition on Samsung and Microsoft products when they had it a couple of years back?

Oh right there was none, because these people are utterly clueless about tech.

 

[manu chao]

This is mostly off the point, but I'm amazed at how many people use their cellphones as flashlights. But hey, no extra chips required!!!

No, it is exactly on point. If people used FM radios in their phones regularly, the feature would be in all phones. And if people didn't use flashlights regularly, it wouldn't be in all smartphones. Nobody adds emergency features that require extra hardware (be it only differently tuned antennas and antenna connections). Hardware gets only added if there is a wide use case. Or can you give me an example of a hardware addition that was only added for emergency purposes?
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There is a huge difference between a flashlight and an emergency communications channel.

Yep, the difference is that the hardware for the flashlight got added because it has a very wide use. And the hardware for an emergency communications channel doesn't get added if it is only used for emergency purposes.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

If a $69 BLU smartphone from Amazon has FM radio, Apple can certainly do it.

No one is asking for crystal quality FM audio, but having a radio is better than not.

Just because it's possible doesn't mean Apple wants to put the extra cost and engineering into adding it. Are you down for paying more for your next iPhone for this feature, because there is a very real cost to make it happen and it most certainly will be passed on to the buyer.

 

[AdonisSMU]

The argument being made BY AJIT PAI is that it is a public safety issue. IF IT IS a public safety issue (and I don't agree that it is), then he can force companies to include it, JUST LIKE THE FIRE MARSHALL forces people to have a smoke alarm in every room. People will NOT CHOOSE to install these kinds of safety items unless they are forced to. To most people it's an extra cost and they think "how likely is this really to happen to me?" Well, everyone thinks it won't happen to them until their house burns down, and then we ALL have to pay for it through insurance.

In the US we have many rules and regulations that do amazing things. Things are so good here it's easy to completely miss how bad it can get. You want to sleep in a hotel and not have it burn down? You want to eat meat that didn't sit out in a hot shed for 3 weeks? You want to take drugs that actually work to fix your disease? You like drinking water without getting deathly ill? I have been to almost every continent on the planet in both poor and rich countries. Without basic safety protections, things get really, REALLY bad very quickly. I'm not talking about the government telling you how to live every step of your life. People blindly bleating "big government big government" are really the ones with no brain who are just repeating crap they heard on the radio.

But, once again, this is about AJIT PAI being an idiot and making such a stupid statement since he's THE GUY who could resolve the issue if he thinks it's so important.

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You can't just say "logical fallacy" and make something an actual logical fallacy. And the rest of your post makes even less sense.

There have been numerous disasters and literally no one said where's FM radio so I can get safety information. Because that would require locals to stay in the area where it's not safe. That's because there are other things the mitigate this need already built into the phone. He's just lying and trying to increase his own power and influence through big government big bully tactics. He should be careful because Apple may decide to use its money and influence

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

This entire article could have been summarized in one headline:

FCC Director Ajit Pai is an idiot. That is all.

 

[convergent]

Where's the pressure on Samsung to put a radio in the Galaxy and Galaxy Note range?

Where was the letter from the senators asking about the security of facial recognition on Samsung and Microsoft products when they had it a couple of years back?

Oh right there was none, because these people are utterly clueless about tech.

Samsung, and most other smartphones, have FM radios. Apple had it too until they removed the headphone jack, but my understanding is they blocked access to it. I can listen to FM radio on my Note 8 if I plug in the headphones which serve as an antenna. That is the norm.

No, it is exactly on point. If people used FM radios in their phones regularly, the feature would be in all phones. And if people didn't use flashlights regularly, it wouldn't be in all smartphones. Nobody adds emergency features that require extra hardware (be it only differently tuned antennas and antenna connections). Hardware gets only added if there is a wide use case. Or can you give me an example of a hardware addition that was only added for emergency purposes?
[doublepost=1508414628][/doublepost]
Yep, the difference is that the hardware for the flashlight got added because it has a very wide use. And the hardware for an emergency communications channel doesn't get added if it is only used for emergency purposes.

The hardware for the FM radio was there and they removed it. And emergency features are never going to be "wide spread" until there is some disaster. Should there not be 911 service since most people don't need it?

 

[SoundJudgment]

I've no idea what the radio service is like in the USA but for me in the UK I would pay extra to NOT have that facility on my next iPhone!

That bad...huh.

 

[cube]

you might want to check your facts before posting. this option has been there for a while now.

That does not look ULTRA.

 

[bobob]

You think no FM is scary?!?

 

[manu chao]

The hardware for the FM radio was there and they removed it.

And strangely enough nobody seemed bothered by the lack of an FM feature for all those years. It must a really pressing need that nobody noticed for a full ten years (counting from the original iPhone in 2007).

And emergency features are never going to be "wide spread" until there is some disaster.

And the last month or so has seen the first 'disaster' since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007?

Should there not be 911 service since most people don't need it?

911 features are government-mandated.

If it is so unconscionable to not have FM functionality, how come nobody noticed and made a fuss for a full ten years?

 

[Ted13]

I believe you are incorrect. The functional infrastructure needed for a cell tower to be usable is not just the tower... its all of the internet, and the towers have very short reach. A radio station/tower can operate on emergency power with no other connection. So all they need is a generator and they are functional and cover a wide distance. In emergencies, at least in the US, radio is the primary means of communication. Most people have a radio laying around somewhere, but if you are not at home then the only thing you may have with you is your phone.

In fact, both after 9/11 & the 2003 east coast blackout (power outage) cell tower and the internet continued to work. After about 24 hours towers still depending on batteries lost connections (the 2003 blackout). But a lot of FM radio stations in NYC were using using the WTC antennas, so they were out after 9/11 until their transmitters were relocated to the Empire State Building, and in the cases of a number of stations whose studios were near the WTC, they were off the air until they could temporarily relocated their studios. At & after 9/11 the Internet and cell towers never went down (other than ones in the immediate WTC vicinity). That the Internet staying up was vital, because any attempt to make a land line phone call out of town give you a busy signal for days.

 

[theluggage]

Secondly, I believe FM will die in the not too distant future - the only time I ever listen to the radio these days is when I’m in my car

Here in the UK, FM switch-off is probably going to happen "sometime" but its not a hugely popular and the direct replacement - DAB - has been slow to catch on (poor coverage, worse-than-FM audio quality, problems for independent local broadcasting). Currently the UK government has other things on its mind and isn't going to pick a fight with over-50s who like to listen to Radio 4 in the shower, but auctioning the FM spectrum off for data use is going to make Big Money so it will happen sooner or later.

Anyway, as far as emergency communication goes, FM on phones seems to have quite a narrow window of efficacy - the cell network has to be down, the FM mast still up (so, fairly localised disasters only), people have to be carrying wired headphones, and if the power is out for more than a few hours, cellphone batteries are going to start pegging out. Meanwhile, regular FM receivers are still very common (pretty much every vehicle has one for starters) and can often receive LW signals too (far greater range).

Sounds like there's a need for a robust, low-tech emergency communications network that doesn't rely on line-of-sight transmitter masts or battery-guzzling smartphones as receivers.

NB - could a lightning cable (i.e. high-speed data rather than audio frequency) double as an antenna, electrically speaking?

 

[SoundJudgment]

Adding FM radio to a cell phone for emergencies is a stupid idea.

If it is only being enabled *because* of any actual local-emergencies...then yes, it is a dumb idea. Now, that Morning-Zoo show... grrrooooawwwlll...
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I'm sorry i like free music

Of course... and 20 minutes of commercials in-between each song selection played.

 

[osang]

My Samsung dumb phone is more reliable than iphone in emergency situations. It does have radio and the battery lasts long.

 

[Jsameds]

My Samsung dumb phone is more reliable than iphone in emergency situations. It does have radio and the battery lasts long.

iPhone is more reliable than your Samsung dumb phone the other 99.999999999% of the time when there's not an emergency going on.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

I don't understand how anyone could object to a FM radio addition. Don't like it? don't use it and continue to subscribe to your "radio" safe in the knowledge you are a tech savvy "disrupter"

BTW how often does your play-lists include PSAs?

My play list doesn't include PSAs or advertisements and that makes me happy.

What I don't understand is why people think they should be able to force others to build in support for their outdated method of content dispersal.

 

[convergent]

And strangely enough nobody seemed bothered by the lack of an FM feature for all those years. It must a really pressing need that nobody noticed for a full ten years (counting from the original iPhone in 2007).

And the last month or so has seen the first 'disaster' since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007?

911 features are government-mandated.

If it is so unconscionable to not have FM functionality, how come nobody noticed and made a fuss for a full ten years?

Maybe for most of the last 10 years we've had inept government leadership that didn't care about public safety. And things change over time. As we become more dependent on mobile phones for everything, there needs to be some way to use that device in a disaster. If its not FM, then maybe there is a new technology, but its all we have today, it its fairly simple to enable.

Your comment about 911 is precisely the point. The government does need to mandate some things for the good of public safety. This may be one of those things. The clueless masses will be busy worrying about selfies and Facebook until all of a sudden a catastrophe happens and then they will be crying the the government isn't helping them. A little preparation is a good thing, and if that means taking the device that most of the population cares more about than anything else, and making it possible to provide emergency information through it, then that would be a good thing.

 

[TrentS]

I have a simple solution for Cook and Apple, if they are worried that FM radio will cut into their iTunes and Apple Music revenue streams. Install the needed hardware into the next iPhone models. Just don't allow the new features to actually work unless the iPhone user is in the proximity of a major catastrophe. Enable ( unlock ) the FM feature for as long as the proper authorities says it's necessary, then disenable the feature when everything goes back to normal. Problem solved, and everybody's happy!

 

[teamgibbs]

Free music, news and entertainment?! Ha, never!!

- Apple


This is quite interesting, if it was there to begin with then it must cost them nearly nothing to put it back in.

I am sure someone smart could figure out a new use for FM too. I would love an app that can monitor FM and then jump me around the spectrum to specific songs for example.

 

[norbinhouston]

I think they should also force Apple to include a TV tuner.

 

[manu chao]

I have a simple solution for Cook and Apple, if they are worried that FM radio will cut into their iTunes and Apple Music revenue streams. Install the needed hardware into the next iPhone models. Just don't allow the new features to actually work unless the iPhone user is in the proximity of a major catastrophe. Enable ( unlock ) the FM feature for as long as the proper authorities says it's necessary, then disenable the feature when everything goes back to normal. Problem solved, and everybody's happy!

That would be a nice idea if the lack of Apple Music streaming revenue had anything to do with Apple's decision to not offer FM functionality between 2007 and 2015 (when they bought Beats). But since it obviously had nothing to do with Apple Music during that time period (since Apple Music didn't exist yet), the reasons that prevented FM functionality for those eight years are still present and aren't at all changed by your suggestion.