Taking Internet Radio on the road

Slacker will be launched. Slacker is an online radio, similar to Pandora - type in the names of a few artists that you like and Slacker will feed you a continuous stream of music related to those artists. Nothing new here so far, many folks have been doing the same thing for years. The novel thing that Slacker is bringing to the table is that they will let you take Internet Radio on the road.

This summer Slacker will be releasing an iPod-like device (yes, real hardware) that will allow you to sync up and take an Internet Radio station on the road. The device will presumably enforce the same rules that we have with Internet radio - no playing a song or artist on demand, no unlimited song skipping. Engadet describes the device as such: Slacker will provide a internet radio network that won't just reach you via browser, but will also stream to a Slacker portable by way of WiFi and -- get this -- satellite service. The Slacker player, which will feature a massive 4-inch screen with scrolling touch strip and debut this summer in varying capacities between 2, 4, and 8GB up to 120GB for between $150 and $350, will have track metadata via AMG, and gobbles up and plays back audio content via WiFi and USB (with tracks purchasable for $1). The satellite part comes into play with a docking station at home or in the car, so you can get Slacker content while on the move or if you're out of range of internet access.

Sun Microsystems