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Radical.FM for iOS -- a new addition to the streaming music category

Publié: août 25, 2013, 11:05pm CEST par Brian Fagioli
About 3 months ago, my heart was aflutter for Google's Play Music All Access. I was so enamored that I declared iTunes dead. While it remains my favorite streaming music service, there is still not an iOS version. I am typically an Android guy, however, there is a fourth-generation iPod touch in my family that gets use too -- mostly for music.

This week, I discovered a new addition to the crowded streaming music category, called Radical.FM. The question becomes: is it a worthy addition to iOS?

The company describes its new iOS app by saying it has "world-first features like 'Custom Genres' and 'Unblock', and the most comprehensive library in the industry. Powered by a unique 25-million-song catalogue Radical includes online rarities like The Beatles, AC/DC, and Bob Seger, all expertly curated into logical genres. A unique mixer allows users to tune personal stations to reflect their musical tastes with more control than any existing radio service".

An ambitious statement to say the least; but one that also piqued my interest. And so, I downloaded the app for my iPod. Gladly, you can register using your Facebook account -- I can't be bothered to type a lot on the tiny iPod touch keyboard.

Once registered, the app asked me to tell it the music genres that I enjoy. While my taste is eclectic, I mostly listen to Hip-Hop music. I told the app that I liked all types of Hip-Hop music, and I was off to the races.

It immediately presented me with a song from B.o.B., followed by Tone Loc, Blondie and the Beastie Boys -- I was in heaven! I was very impressed at how obscure the selections could be. I could comfortably start the app, get the music going and relax.

The company provides the following highlights of the app:
- User-defined "Custom Genres" that can access 30 second previews of songs for curation. Once a Custom Genre contains 30 songs or more, it can be added to a station where the full-length song versions will be played.
- The ability to 'Tune' Personal Stations using intuitive sliders to adjust the values of active genres relative to one-another, and to easily add more genres at any time.
- An industry-unique feature that allows users not only to block songs or entire artists’ catalogues but to retrieve them to active rotation later via the Unblock feature.
- A wide range of interactive options for the user from a simple, intuitive lean-back experience, enabled by a few clicks to the most immersive, customizable online radio service ever offered via "Custom Genres".
- An 'open-source' wiki that combines the expertise of music radio programming professionals with concrete feedback and requests of active users.
Sadly, while the music selection is great and the UI is beautiful, I did find the app to lag a bit when skipping tracks. However, it was very rare that I encountered a song that I wanted to skip. Since this is the 1.0 release, things should only get better and I expect the lag to subside.

So, is it a worthy addition to iOS? Absolutely, this app is definitely worth a look. However, it is not on the same level as a Pandora or Spotify; yet. But hey, the price is right -- free! Give it a try and tell me in the comments if you like it.
Moto me, don't Moto meh

Publié: août 25, 2013, 6:46pm CEST par Joe Wilcox

I am apprehensive about Googorola's choice to launch Moto X with AT&T -- the carrier that failed with HTC First (Facebook phone), like Verizon Wireless with Microsoft Kin, which were targeted at similar audiences. My concern: Death in childbirth. A device so different, in terms of responsiveness, must be experienced by many people fast to build excitement and demand.

In business and marketing perception is everything. Negative perception, or lack of any at all, can kill Moto X. Motorola's top priority should be fast sales and building social media buzz around touchless and personalization benefits. I don't see either coming from the exclusives given to AT&T.

Googorola should look at the failure of the HTC Facebook and Microsoft phones, both seeking to be more consumer-friendly. Customization exclusive to the carrier is big mistake, even if temporary. AT&T's record is dismal with flashy handsets that offer benefits not immediately grasped by typical, casual buyers. Googorola should cast as wide a distribution net as possible to catch the most number of people wanting to personalize their phones. Fast. Fast. Fast.

Moto X could be a huge failure, if execution isn't perfect. The Facebook and Microsoft phones show the way to disaster. Consumers couldn't grasp newfangled benefits, and look what happened. There is too much about Moto X's mid-range, mass-market, not-like-anything-else appeal that is so similar to these other devices.

First Impressions

I don't have Moto X. Motorola graciously provided BetaNews with a review unit, and colleague Brian Fagioli has that one and reviewed it. A second isn't available, which is perfectly reasonable.

So my only experience is the AT&T store, yesterday. The sales display impresses. There is a demo phone, iPad with flashy sales info and selection of back covers so buyers can see exactly what they get if choosing to personalize. Cards for the 16GB and 32GB models are there. Grab, pay and go to the Moto Maker site to personal and order the phone.

Everything was there, but something was missing. Buyers. All the marketing and personalization options target younger consumers -- the iPhone set -- but I saw none gawking over the Moto X display.

Instead, a 40-something gentlemen approached me, excited to buy his phone; he just waited his turn to be served. Two things: The man clearly is a gadget geek, and he is an existing Motorola customer (upgrading from Atrix) -- exactly not the type of customer Googorola targets.

I was surprisingly less excited by Moto X than anticipated. The screen is way oversaturated for my tastes, and I don't like the feel in my hand -- AT&T's security device on the back probably numbs the experience. Google Now impresses, but many of the voice commands and search capabilities are already available on other Androids, they're just touch taps away, instead of immediately there.

The point: I expected to be wowed but was more meh. By contrast, HTC One sent my blood pressure soaring on sight and still does.

Change Tactics

I want to be more excited by Moto X. I really do. But I fear my assessment is right: Like the early TiVo, most people won't get the touchless concept without really using the device. Anyone who tried to explain the DVR -- called Personal Video Recorder, back in those days -- should understand; you rarely could get anyone to understand the benefits by explanation. People had to experience it.

AT&T's in-store presentation is pretty good, but static. Buyers can see the benefits of personalization but not those related to how they use the phone. I know some of those benefits, and I still left underwhelmed. Still, if an AT&T subscriber, I probably would have ordered already, simply because I know touchless is the future of all device interaction. But I'm on T-Mobile, and there's no Moto X for me.

AT&T better change sales tactics so they're appropriate to the device. Everything about Moto X interaction is active. Sales should be, too. There should be someone walking around, giving live demos. Let people ask questions, while holding Moto X. Anyone in sales should know: Get the product in potential buyers' hands, so they feel a sense of ownership. But here they also can feel relationship, because Moto X responds to their voice.

Demo the damn phone by drawing a crowd of people cooing over voice interaction. Buzz will spread. Vine videos, Tweets, Instagrams and Facebook posts will flourish, and nourish the marketing pipeline. This phone needs buzz to succeed, particularly among the younger consumer set that is the target market.

Moto me, don't Moto meh.