The Internet has been a boon for music, and now its starting to spread to the mobile Web. Many smartphones now have the Pandora application available, which can run right off the cellular data network. The next step, then, is a devise used solely for Internet radio. That’s what Epoq is trying. They plan to release a Wi-Fi radio device by the end of May. It’s a compact, pocket-sized device and at $149 it’s cheaper than an iPod. However, it’s unclear whether this kind of limited device will catch on.
The problem is that listeners can’t just walk down the street with it. Wi-Fi hotspots don’t provide expansive coverage, so that confines users to specific areas. When traveling between areas they won’t be able to listen to their tunes. Since MP3 players were designed to be used in transit, I’m not sure this transit-less device will be well received.
Epoq is also planning a tabletop Wi-Fi radio unit, a bit more practical since it can run off a home network. It’s perfect for laptop junkies like me, since the tabletop unit would provide a much better sound experience than crappy MacBook speakers. They also plan a AA-battery unit, rather than the lithium-ion version they will release this month.
It’s a neat concept, but given how people use their music players I’m not sure it’s going to be that big a deal.
Related posts:
