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

[coolbreeze]

Yeah, just like my iPod Nano... oh... maybe not.

You need headphones plugged in for 100% of phone FM receivers to work. Some phones will allow the FM function to work without a wire, but the reception is hella bad.

The Nano isn't special. Also, lol at Apple saying the iPhone doesn't have the proper antenna(s) for FM radio. No phone does, Tim. It's the wire that's connected to it, be it 3.5mm, lightning or USB-C. Yah, that wire. That's the antenna you are looking for.

 

[ipacers]

They do understand it is not possible on current shipping products. What they want is Apple to install FM antennas on the next model of iPhone (and I guess iPad) going forward and then link them to the existing FM firmware in the Bluetooth/WiFi chipset Apple uses.

Did you even read the article? They understand it quite well and are taking issue with Apple actively choosing not to include FM chips. They even cite the iPod nano's FM chip and 15 minute pause/buffer feature.

Why people are angry about this, I'll never know. It would be a welcome addition.

I did read the article *and* the linked to blog post where they made claims like this:

However, Apple has specifically chosen not to offer this functionality in their iPhone. Indeed, Apple has disabled FM chips despite the capability being available on the communications module within the iPhone. This means other app developers cannot offer FM apps either.

And

Apple deliberately disables FM
Apple has chosen to only use the WiFi and Bluetooth aspects of the communications module. They have admitted as much for all phones through the iPhone 6 series, at which point they claim FM capability was removed from the 7 series and 8 series. Yet, tear-down reports indicate the iPhone 8 contains the same 4357 chip family, which manufacturer Broadcom clearly states includes an integrated FM radio core. You can check out these independent tear-down reports:

 

[jayducharme]

I want a CB radio in my iPhone!

And heck -- while you're at it, give me a shortwave too!

 

[nitramluap]

Ugh... flogging a dead horse - so typical of dying industries to pull out the *BUT SAFETY!!* card.

I haven't used FM radio *anywhere* for over 3 years. For those who desperately need it, what would you prefer - a wind-up FM receiver that can last for weeks without a charge... or a smart phone which will be flat in a day (assuming you've also lost power)?

Just because a chip from another manufacturer has a list of features, doesn't mean that the company that integrates it into their hardware ever wants to use them all. People are so stupid sometimes.

 

[Porco]

You need headphones plugged in for 100% of phone FM receivers to work.

Yes... that was my point... the point that they had an iPod Nano that had an FM radio app is irrelevant when they are actively discouraging users from using wired headphones (or wires of any kind).

 

[Jakexb]

You can force Apple to add an FM radio to their smartphone the same day you force radio manufacturers to include a smartphone in their FM radios.

 

[spiddyman007]

Following Apple's clarification that iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips or antennas designed to support FM signals, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has expressed some doubt about Apple's statement and has called on the company to add FM functionality to its future iPhones.

In a blog post, the NAB points to a series of iPhone 8 teardowns that indicate the iPhone 8 uses a Broadcom chip with an integrated FM radio core as evidence that Apple's devices already have some of the hardware required for FM radio support.

According to Apple, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 do not currently have FM radio chips or antennas to support FM signals, and it is not clear how simple it would be for the company to add these features to future devices. From a statement made to MacRumors:The disagreement between Apple, the NAB, and the FCC is related somewhat to their various points of view. Apple's claim that recent iPhones do not have the necessary hardware to support FM radio is indeed true, which means Apple can't simply flip a software switch to activate it.

The NAB seems to be making the case that it would be relatively trivial for Apple to make hardware revisions to enable it in future devices considering the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in the iPhone can support it and Apple has proven it can incorporate FM antenna connections in the iPod nano.In its blog post, the NAB appeals to Apple CEO Tim Cook, highlighting the number of hurricanes experienced in Mobile, Alabama, Cook's hometown, since 1969, and calling on the company to introduce FM support as a way for customers to get news alerts during disasters.

FM radio functionality in the iPhone first started gaining media attention last month, following a series of powerful hurricanes that struck several states. At that time, FCC chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement urging Apple to activate FM radio capabilities in its iPhones, which Apple later said was not possible.

"It's time for Apple to step up to the plate and put the safety of the American people first," Pai wrote. "Do the right thing, Mr. Cook. Flip the switch. Lives depend on it."

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

https://www.opensky.com/vistashops/...XoPEWUioSgnfxX_AW-s6IaD9dUP1Xtk4aAherEALw_wcB

yw

 

[steve333]

Cook doesn't give a damn about anything other than profit margins

 

[coolbreeze]

The problem will be with the antennas. With the Nano (and likely the 6S and prior iPhones), the FM antenna was the headphone cord. Now that Apple has done away with the 3.5mm headphone jack, they would have to use one of the other internal antennas, which in terms of FM antenna size, is tiny (the longer the better).

What if I told you that plugging in a pair of headphones via lightning has the same effect as a 3.5mm wire...

I get it, buh muh charging, but it's possible. You make it sound like it won't work under any circumstance.

 

[andycarver]

Can’t they just make a cheap app and have similar function over 3G/LTE. Fm does not extend everywhere and it’s extremely limited in its functionality

Where the hell do you live? You get cell but not FM?

 

[spiddyman007]

Following Apple's clarification that iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 models do not have FM radio chips or antennas designed to support FM signals, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has expressed some doubt about Apple's statement and has called on the company to add FM functionality to its future iPhones.

In a blog post, the NAB points to a series of iPhone 8 teardowns that indicate the iPhone 8 uses a Broadcom chip with an integrated FM radio core as evidence that Apple's devices already have some of the hardware required for FM radio support.

According to Apple, the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 8 do not currently have FM radio chips or antennas to support FM signals, and it is not clear how simple it would be for the company to add these features to future devices. From a statement made to MacRumors:The disagreement between Apple, the NAB, and the FCC is related somewhat to their various points of view. Apple's claim that recent iPhones do not have the necessary hardware to support FM radio is indeed true, which means Apple can't simply flip a software switch to activate it.

The NAB seems to be making the case that it would be relatively trivial for Apple to make hardware revisions to enable it in future devices considering the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip in the iPhone can support it and Apple has proven it can incorporate FM antenna connections in the iPod nano.In its blog post, the NAB appeals to Apple CEO Tim Cook, highlighting the number of hurricanes experienced in Mobile, Alabama, Cook's hometown, since 1969, and calling on the company to introduce FM support as a way for customers to get news alerts during disasters.

FM radio functionality in the iPhone first started gaining media attention last month, following a series of powerful hurricanes that struck several states. At that time, FCC chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement urging Apple to activate FM radio capabilities in its iPhones, which Apple later said was not possible.

"It's time for Apple to step up to the plate and put the safety of the American people first," Pai wrote. "Do the right thing, Mr. Cook. Flip the switch. Lives depend on it."

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

but for real, they should just make apple have an FM headphone cable (with integrated FM Chip) 2 birds, one stone.

 

[Macintoshrumors]

What about the phones not even having the necessary hardware and antennas do these people not understand?

Exactly. Who the hell uses fm radio anyway? Let me rephrase that, what percentage of iPhone customers out of all iPhone customers use am/fm radio. my guess is less than 1%. I haven’t listened to it in ages. It’s not going to work in emergency situations. For instance I was In hurricane Harvey. Evacuated and cam back to no electricity for a few days. Electronics were dead and non lte signal ate up battery life. If one of their reasonings is for emercancy communicion, they are spinnin* their wheels on ancient tech. The majorly of people in my town got their info from facebook.

 

[foobarbaz]

"Flip the switch" is a gross misrepresentation.

Even if current iPhones had the basic chip, a huge effort in hard and software would still be needed.

Hey, did you know that today's iPhone has all the necessary hardware to run iOS 14? Come on Tim. No need to wait for 2020! Just release it already.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I'm not gonna burn too many calories thinking about this topic... so here are some quick questions:

Let's say there is a natural disaster and you need information... what FM channel do you tune to? Do all your local stations switch to emergency programming? I don't even know what FM stations are in my area. (it's honestly been 10 years since I thought about FM radio... thanks podcasts and streaming music)

Natural disasters like hurricanes knock down power lines and towers making cell service unusable. Wouldn't the FM radio antennas face a similar fate? I guess the radio station could have a generator to keep broadcasting... but that doesn't help the listener if they don't have power themselves.

If FM radio is so important.... wouldn't a small portable radio and lots of batteries be better? Or one of those hand-crank emergency radios? Your iPhone won't last very long without power or service.

Heck... if I lived in a disaster-prone area... I'd invest in a walkie-talkie-style radio. One that could broadcast on emergency bands to ask for help.

If you're trapped somewhere... listening to someone in a cushy FM radio station won't help you!

 

[oneMadRssn]

I bet Apple will do it in the next iPhone. Like the article says, the engineering is pretty trivial and pretty much already done, the functionality is included in the qualcomm baseband chip, and to a company like Apple it will add fractions of a penny to the cost of a phone. The pressure is on, and Apple usually aims to please.

 

[base242]

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!
Garbage, especially regional stations.
Isn't radio dead like newspapers anyway?

 

[iapplelove]

This would be for emergency purposes only right? In case everything else goes black, FM will still come through. I dunno maybe they should just flip the switch, I mean if the means is already built into the phone.

 

[deeddawg]

Sorry NAB, ask all you want but *physics* isn't on your side.

FM radio wavelenths are in the 3 meter range.

Most prior implementations on ipod nanos required wired headphones as they served as an antenna of around 1/4 wave length which generally works fairly well.

As your antenna length drops below 1/4 wave, the efficiency (i.e. reception) drops like a rock.

Maybe encourage more of your stations to stream their broadcasts.

 

[Edsel]

I haven't listened to FM radio in decades. Broadcast radio and "television" are dead mediums.

 

[JPack]

I haven't used FM radio *anywhere* for over 3 years. For those who desperately need it, what would you prefer - a wind-up FM receiver that can last for weeks without a charge... or a smart phone which will be flat in a day (assuming you've also lost power)?

I'm not sure what kind of crappy smartphone you bought.

Audio playback:
Up to 80 hours​

https://www.apple.com/iphone-6s/specs/

 

[coolbreeze]

but for real, they should just make apple have an FM headphone cable (with integrated FM Chip) 2 birds, one stone.

People have been losing their minds over the lightning cable...proprietary and stuff like that. You think people would be thrilled with a $99 pair of FM buds with a lightning connection? Nooope, lol.

 

[Macintoshrumors]

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.

 

[macrumorsreader_rao]

Yeah, just like my iPod Nano... oh... maybe not.

I have a Nokia 3310 with a similar issue. It seems as if the radio function only works with a really long headphone cable attached. My Nokia would be hopeless in an emergency as it is not waterproof, where as the newer iPhones are waterproof and wireless.

 

[oneMadRssn]

I'm not gonna burn too many calories thinking about this topic... so here are some quick questions:

Let's say there is a natural disaster and you need information... what FM channel do you tune to? Do all your local stations switch to emergency programming? I don't even know what FM channels are in my area. (it's honestly been 10 years since I thought about FM radio... thanks podcasts and streaming music)

Natural disasters like hurricanes knock down power lines and towers making cell service unusable. Wouldn't the FM radio antennas face a similar fate? I guess the radio station could have a generator to keep broadcasting... but that doesn't help the listener if they don't have power themselves.

If FM radio is so important.... wouldn't a small portable radio and lots of batteries be better? Or one of those hand-crank emergency radios?

Heck... if I lived in a disaster-prone area... I'd invest in a walkie-talkie-style radio. One that could broadcast on emergency bands.

If you're trapped somewhere... listening to someone in a cushy FM radio station won't help you!

Most FM radios these days have auto-tuning and seeking. No need to know the channels, it will find them for you.

Yes, during disasters or emergencies at least some of the FM channels will switch to emergency programming. At the very least, they will give advise about where to go or not go. I know this happened in Boston during the marathon bombing.

FM can be transmitted pretty far and there are many channels and many transmitters. Unless an entire powerplant is offline, the odds that every FM channel is without power in a given area is lower. It's pretty common for you to lose power but a nearby neighborhood to still have power. Again, in my area, I know at least a few stations (from where they are located) are in areas of underground wiring. For what it's worth, that is less prone to power loss.

Yes, a dedicated FM radio is good too. But whatever you have with you is best. I have an FM radio at home, but if I'm somewhere out an about, I don't bring it with me.

FM radio can tell you where to go for emergency help, it can tell you where to not go where there is danger. It isn't only about being pinned down somewhere.

 

[Macintoshrumors]

they do not want to do this because they want every last penny from the music subscription they have going. They even made the free radio through itunes to be now a part of the paid music subscription..... They will never enable the fm even if that meant loosing one paid music subscription cancelling and listening to free music.

Apple can shout all day long that they care about the customer, and everything revolves around customer (BS everything revolves around maximizing profit). They are simply in this just like all the rest in the business industry to make as much $$$$$ as possible.

Nothing wrong with that. Fm is old news.