Comments on: Slacker, the real iPod killer? http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/ News About Tech, Money and Innovation Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:19:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Pete http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-823111 Pete Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:50:07 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-823111 Has anyone seen a good (and apparently objective) review of Padora-Slacker-Last.FM-other radio services. I haven't found one. I'm especially interested in the relative depth of the music available on each (artists,songs,etc), frequency of repeats...things like that...it's fine when it's free... I really like Slacker but I don't know whether to buy the premium functionality which would make it that much nicer . Any ideas? Has anyone seen a good (and apparently objective) review of Padora-Slacker-Last.FM-other radio services. I haven’t found one. I’m especially interested in the relative depth of the music available on each (artists,songs,etc), frequency of repeats…things like that…it’s fine when it’s free… I really like Slacker but I don’t know whether to buy the premium functionality which would make it that much nicer . Any ideas?

]]> By: Rose http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-817178 Rose Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:00:19 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-817178 LOVE SLACKER. ipod is so done! Nothing comes close! Everyone will prefer using slacker if they only give it a try. My music tastes change over time and I can customize the slacker to change with me. Best part is I don't have to go broke buying new music! Buy one you wont be dissapointed! LOVE SLACKER. ipod is so done! Nothing comes close! Everyone will prefer using slacker if they only give it a try. My music tastes change over time and I can customize the slacker to change with me. Best part is I don’t have to go broke buying new music! Buy one you wont be dissapointed!

]]> By: Music player Slacker signs deal with industry’s big four » VentureBeat http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-802479 Music player Slacker signs deal with industry’s big four » VentureBeat Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:04:09 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-802479 [...] need to be a big tech player to strike deals the major music companies. When Slacker was announced a year ago, it got positive press for being the first portable player that uses a satellite to deliver music [...] [...] need to be a big tech player to strike deals the major music companies. When Slacker was announced a year ago, it got positive press for being the first portable player that uses a satellite to deliver music [...]

]]> By: iPod Music Downloads http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-774440 iPod Music Downloads Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:53:28 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-774440 But the slacker looks huge. iPod still looks "cooler", so are its music downloads. But the slacker looks huge. iPod still looks “cooler”, so are its music downloads.

]]> By: Sid http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-769932 Sid Sat, 02 Feb 2008 16:12:45 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-769932 Delayed again on 2/2/08 (see below) Do you really think it would be all that hard for Apple to augment an iPhone or iPod touch (which already have WiFi) to include a radio type service? I doubt Apple will be caught by the Slacker, Zune, (Still)Last.fm, etc. The bottom line is they are great products even if you don't use iTunes...my 72 year old father loves his iPod and even that interface took him some time to learn. _______SNIP_________ Thanks again for your purchase of a Slacker Portable. We have begun to ship Slacker Portables based on the order they were purchased. We are working to ship them as fast as possible, but due to the number of pre-orders it may take up to 10 business days to receive your unit. We know everyone is excited to get their Slacker Portable and we apologize for the delay in shipping. We are doing everything possible to ship all of the pre-ordered players as fast as possible. Therefore we are providing expedited shipping to all orders received on or before January 31st free of charge. You will be notified by email once your order has been shipped. If you have any questions, please contact Slacker Support at support@slacker.com or call 858-943-5000 extension 3 between 8am-5pm (Pacific Time) Monday through Friday. Sincerely, Slacker Support Delayed again on 2/2/08 (see below)

Do you really think it would be all that hard for Apple to augment an iPhone or iPod touch (which already have WiFi) to include a radio type service? I doubt Apple will be caught by the Slacker, Zune, (Still)Last.fm, etc. The bottom line is they are great products even if you don’t use iTunes…my 72 year old father loves his iPod and even that interface took him some time to learn.

_______SNIP_________
Thanks again for your purchase of a Slacker Portable. We have begun to ship Slacker Portables based on the order they were purchased. We are working to ship them as fast as possible, but due to the number of pre-orders it may take up to 10 business days to receive your unit.

We know everyone is excited to get their Slacker Portable and we apologize for the delay in shipping. We are doing everything possible to ship all of the pre-ordered players as fast as possible. Therefore we are providing expedited shipping to all orders received on or before January 31st free of charge. You will be notified by email once your order has been shipped.

If you have any questions, please contact Slacker Support at support@slacker.com or call 858-943-5000 extension 3 between 8am-5pm (Pacific Time) Monday through Friday.

Sincerely,

Slacker Support

]]> By: Neville http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-722864 Neville Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:07:19 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-722864 I dislike anything to do with Ipods, and Slacker is pretty decent, though I prefer Lastfm and MeeMix.. I dislike anything to do with Ipods, and Slacker is pretty decent, though I prefer Lastfm and MeeMix..

]]> By: Ernie http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-671302 Ernie Mon, 10 Dec 2007 05:18:55 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-671302 I don’t expect this to be an iPod killer, or even a Zune killer. But i really think the Slacker portable is really just touching upon a different segment of the market. I have been using the slacker web player since it’s release in March and have to say if the hardware is upto par with the software then they will have a great combo. Also noted that if they can get the third party support then i think they will have a good following. Slacker also stated that it would not be affected by the recent internet radio royalty price hikes (for now). A couple more weeks, and we’ll let the reviews come rolling in. Also check out http://www.slackersocial.com Seems to be a good start to a social backing. I’ll try to post an unboxing and complete review as soon as it arrives. I don’t expect this to be an iPod killer, or even a Zune killer. But i really think the Slacker portable is really just touching upon a different segment of the market. I have been using the slacker web player since it’s release in March and have to say if the hardware is upto par with the software then they will have a great combo. Also noted that if they can get the third party support then i think they will have a good following. Slacker also stated that it would not be affected by the recent internet radio royalty price hikes (for now). A couple more weeks, and we’ll let the reviews come rolling in. Also check out http://www.slackersocial.com Seems to be a good start to a social backing. I’ll try to post an unboxing and complete review as soon as it arrives.

]]> By: Adam http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-8648 Adam Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:24:23 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-8648 Good concept, but awful execution. The design of the portable device is overly complicated and will scare away a mass audience. This looks like a niche product thats going nowhere, despite the hype. Anyone still talking about the zune? Good concept, but awful execution. The design of the portable device is overly complicated and will scare away a mass audience. This looks like a niche product thats going nowhere, despite the hype. Anyone still talking about the zune?

]]> By: Ashley http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-8608 Ashley Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:31:52 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-8608 Sounds easy and cool. I'll get one! Sounds easy and cool. I’ll get one!

]]> By: Steve Shaw http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-8582 Steve Shaw Wed, 14 Mar 2007 18:00:19 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-8582 As Martin points out, this is something that is going to be in mobile phones. New ultra-wide band codecs which are coming to phones will dramatically increase the fidelity of streaming audio to a mobile. Imagine you make a "call" to (800) PAN-DORA to get your music. EDGE or GPRS can provide the simple data updates required for display. And if you get another call, you simply put PAN-DORA on hold and take the other line. It's a slam dunk. As Martin points out, this is something that is going to be in mobile phones.

New ultra-wide band codecs which are coming to phones will dramatically increase the fidelity of streaming audio to a mobile.

Imagine you make a “call” to (800) PAN-DORA to get your music. EDGE or GPRS can provide the simple data updates required for display. And if you get another call, you simply put PAN-DORA on hold and take the other line.

It’s a slam dunk.

]]> By: Matt Marshall http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-8581 Matt Marshall Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:17:17 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-8581 Harshal, yes, they plan world-wide distribution. Don't know what their timing is, but that's definitely something they want to do. Harshal, yes, they plan world-wide distribution. Don’t know what their timing is, but that’s definitely something they want to do.

]]> By: Matt Marshall http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-8580 Matt Marshall Wed, 14 Mar 2007 17:15:06 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-8580 That's right. Slacker told me that they have negotiated rights, which means they won't be affected by the royalty problem that Pandora is facing. That’s right. Slacker told me that they have negotiated rights, which means they won’t be affected by the royalty problem that Pandora is facing.

]]> By: Harshal Vaidya http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-8579 Harshal Vaidya Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:51:24 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-8579 Will Slacker work in India? Will Slacker work in India?

]]> By: mrshl http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-8578 mrshl Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:15:31 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-8578 brian: slacker has probably negotiated with rights holders separately, which the law allows you to do. pandora can do the same. i don't think pandora's going anywhere. it's the small webcasters and hobbyists that are going to get killed by the new royalty rates. and i think that's the point. it sucks, but i don't think it's going to cripple the larger services. because musicians and their labels can see the obvious benefit to being streamed on services like last.fm, pandora, and now slacker. brian: slacker has probably negotiated with rights holders separately, which the law allows you to do. pandora can do the same. i don’t think pandora’s going anywhere.

it’s the small webcasters and hobbyists that are going to get killed by the new royalty rates. and i think that’s the point. it sucks, but i don’t think it’s going to cripple the larger services. because musicians and their labels can see the obvious benefit to being streamed on services like last.fm, pandora, and now slacker.

]]> By: Brian Dear http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/comment-page-1/#comment-8575 Brian Dear Wed, 14 Mar 2007 14:42:48 +0000 http://venturebeat.com/2007/03/13/slacker-the-real-ipod-killer/#comment-8575 How is Slacker supposed to survive with the new royalty rates for web streaming radio, recently announced by that copyright board? Seems like they're going to need to have ads all over the place just to break even. How is Slacker supposed to survive with the new royalty rates for web streaming radio, recently announced by that copyright board? Seems like they’re going to need to have ads all over the place just to break even.

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