OT: Pandora Internet Radio

JKMakowka

http://www.pandora.com/

It uses a algorithm to select songs you might like, based on a single song or group you input.
Free for 10h after that it's $36 a year.

So far it really seems to work, and it is a great way to discover new songs.

Could the the next big thing

thnom

Next best thing at $36 a year, I doubt it.

JKMakowka

Yeah you are probably right, but it is still a great idea, and probably worth it for quite a few people.

And if their shop takes off (you can also directly buy the songs you like) it might become free.

KDR_11k

Does it offer an MP3 stream? Because I'd love to plug that into StationRipper.

motives

you need anything special to view/listen? its been loading for a good 20 minutes now..

KDR_11k

Dunno, it doesn't load for me either. It stops loading (in Opera the status bar also reports when flash loads data) but doesn't do anything.

JKMakowka

Probably too much load, since it is featured on the biggest German online newspaper right now (www.spiegel.de).

Otherwise try defocusing the window (for example by opening a new browser window) and then switch back to it. That is what helped me, and it is working just fine right now (after it reported technical difficulties the last couple of minutes).

ElysiumGX

http://chronixradio.com/ plays all my favorite songs for free at Mp3 quality. I've found several new bands because of them over the past 2 years. They simply ask for donations, and the listeners support them. An algorithm can't tell me what I like.

JKMakowka

[ QUOTE ]
An algorithm can't tell me what I like.

[/ QUOTE ]

But it might give you hints, that help you find songs or groups you might have never even heared about.
Exspecially because it is a learning algorithm.

Of course it isn't a great thing for everybody, but for me it is great:
Recently all music featured on TV or Radio isn't exactly great in my oppinion (with excerption... maybe I am getting old ), but I don't really like re-listening to all my old music either. Searching for new music (exspecially those that is hard to get by) is a very time consuming efford, but with this internet-radio I can do it while modeling

ElysiumGX

[ QUOTE ]
Searching for new music (especially those that is hard to get by) is a very time consuming effort, but with this internet-radio I can do it while modeling

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, internet radio rocks. It's always on while I'm modeling. A good station offers all the classics you grew up listening to, with all the newest sounds you can appreciate, and is listener supported. Most of the FM radio stations can't provide that. And of course, many of them are funded to play the "latest hits" to influence sales. And those annoying DJ's, and commercials. Just gimme the music.

KDR_11k

Chronix has too much screaming for my tastes, I prefer music that actually has a melody. Takes some time to filter out all the junk after ripping it for a few hours. Listening to the stream directly makes me want to suffocate kittens.

Rhinokey

i love pandora i've found dozens of bands on it that i'v never heard of before, and 3 bucks a month is hardly what i would even call expensive. definately worth it if they keep adding music

nitzmoff

Maybe it's just me, but most of the songs have annoying audio pops in the background. Sounds like pop rocks...

oXYnary

Still have trouble findign not only odd bands and individuals, but classical music and Opera of all things. Believe it or not some of Gen X and Y still listen to things older than the 20th century!

JKMakowka

http://kuatfm.org from the Pandora FAQ for classical music.

(Haven't tried it yet, but I sometime listen to classical music, too).

@nitzmoff: must be your computer

oXYnary

No, no I want it IN Pandora.. IN my mix of tunes. Thats not an answer.

Michael Knubben

Doesn't anyone use Last.fm ?
You can listen to streams based on your tastes there as well, and it's free forever.
www.last.fm

gauss

yeah, last.fm, or failing that, Amazon.com's recommendation system


last.fm is quite handy though, i've been enjoying it for about a month now.