Grundig Digital Radio User Manual
DIGITAL RADIO GUIDE
INTERNET RADIO
79
to seven days before. One example is the BBC Radio Player. This on-demand service
allows users to time-shift broadcasts and frees them from the constraint of adhering to
station schedules. On-demand transfers control to the listeners: they can create their own
schedule of programmes.
allows users to time-shift broadcasts and frees them from the constraint of adhering to
station schedules. On-demand transfers control to the listeners: they can create their own
schedule of programmes.
Web radio has the advantage of allowing broadcasters to measure audience directly (see
Section 6.9). Broadcasters using a Windows Media Server, or other streaming media,
will have detailed reports of the streams played, while those using web servers can
estimate audience sizes by viewing the traffic statistics found in the web server log file,
an automatically-generated list of all the files served.
Section 6.9). Broadcasters using a Windows Media Server, or other streaming media,
will have detailed reports of the streams played, while those using web servers can
estimate audience sizes by viewing the traffic statistics found in the web server log file,
an automatically-generated list of all the files served.
IR adds a global audience which may be important for ethnic minorities scattered around
the world. While terrestrial radio is generally limited to a certain geographical territory,
IR's audience is effectively global and is redefined according to shared interest. IR radio
introduces a concept of a multitude of niche audiences spread globally and not
necessarily limited to one geographical region or country.
the world. While terrestrial radio is generally limited to a certain geographical territory,
IR's audience is effectively global and is redefined according to shared interest. IR radio
introduces a concept of a multitude of niche audiences spread globally and not
necessarily limited to one geographical region or country.
6.5
Internet-only stations: IR Portals and Music Portals
There are a number of web radio sites that offer customizable programming using their
own players or ones already loaded onto your PC. Most sites feature dozens of different
musical genres from baroque to zydeco and some allow you to tune in to live broadcasts
from around the globe.
own players or ones already loaded onto your PC. Most sites feature dozens of different
musical genres from baroque to zydeco and some allow you to tune in to live broadcasts
from around the globe.
There are also Internet portals which help the user find a suitable IR station. Portals such
as radio-locator.com allow users to search for stations according to genre (or format),
name, location (city, state or country), frequency (if the station is already on the air) or
even owner. Often several thousand stations are available on such portals. Some radio
portals are listed in Section 6.12.
as radio-locator.com allow users to search for stations according to genre (or format),
name, location (city, state or country), frequency (if the station is already on the air) or
even owner. Often several thousand stations are available on such portals. Some radio
portals are listed in Section 6.12.
Lists of FM and AM radio stations can be made available over the Internet to mobile
devices such as a Palm OS or Windows CE handheld computer using suitable software.
devices such as a Palm OS or Windows CE handheld computer using suitable software.
6.6
Streaming technology for radio services
With recent technological improvements such as rapid adoption of high-speed
connectivity and ever increasing computer processing and storage power, streaming over
the Internet (sometimes called webcasting) has become a mainstream media delivery
platform. Universal standards for audio and video delivery have emerged to gain
widespread adoption in the marketplace. In addition, user experience of watching video
and listening to audio online has improved dramatically. Issues such as incompatible
formats and versions or browser incompatibility are now less critical.
connectivity and ever increasing computer processing and storage power, streaming over
the Internet (sometimes called webcasting) has become a mainstream media delivery
platform. Universal standards for audio and video delivery have emerged to gain
widespread adoption in the marketplace. In addition, user experience of watching video
and listening to audio online has improved dramatically. Issues such as incompatible
formats and versions or browser incompatibility are now less critical.
There are different standards for encoding and delivering audio files and streams online.
Following the pioneering developments of RealNetworks, Windows Media and QuickTime,
it now seems that MPEG-4 will dominate. MPEG-4 represents a major step forward in
audio/video coding, as it supports new types of media objects, such as 3D and synthetic
objects. It supports interactivity at the client and server side. It is highly scalable and
covers video resolutions from a thumbnail size suited to mobile applications to HDTV for
home cinema, and from monophonic audio at 20 kbps to multichannel audio in the MBps
range.
Following the pioneering developments of RealNetworks, Windows Media and QuickTime,
it now seems that MPEG-4 will dominate. MPEG-4 represents a major step forward in
audio/video coding, as it supports new types of media objects, such as 3D and synthetic
objects. It supports interactivity at the client and server side. It is highly scalable and
covers video resolutions from a thumbnail size suited to mobile applications to HDTV for
home cinema, and from monophonic audio at 20 kbps to multichannel audio in the MBps
range.