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Griffin RadioSHARK Exceeds Expectations

reifman writes "Picked up a Griffin RadioSHARK (think TiVo for radio) at the Apple store this evening: It exceeds all expectations. The user experience is simple. The iPod synchronization is seamless. The RadioSHARK is a counter-attack on the recording industry and its draconian file sharing lawsuits. I'm glad to see Griffin had the balls to release this product. ."

14 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Crackdown, T-Minus ? days by theluckyleper · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Anyone want to take a guess on how long it'll be before the crackdown commences?

    Actually, I just went to RIAA's website for the first time... all of the "latest news" articles on the main page are about lawsuits they've filed. Nice!

    Don't they realize that something is wrong with their business when their news is about lawyers, and not musicians?!

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    1. Re:Crackdown, T-Minus ? days by StateOfTheUnion · · Score: 5, Insightful
      I would think that this device would hold up in court for the same reason that the VCR did when it was challenged in the supreme court. deivices that record broadcasts for reasons of time shifting were upheld as legal.

      However that doesn't mean that the recording industry won't try to ban this product . . .

    2. Re:Crackdown, T-Minus ? days by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I've worked in retail, also in the service industry as both cook and server, so I know how bitchy people can be. Coca-cola isn't meant to be inhaled, but the coffee was meant to be drunk. However, one couldn't do that, because at 180F it would cause blistering. If a product cannot be safely used in the manner intended, then the company is liable. If a consumer uses a product in a manner not intended, then the consumer is liable. Not a whole lot of ambiguity there.

  2. Should that title not be by Timesprout · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Griffin RadioSHARK Exceeds reifman's Expectations

    He never actually mentioned what his expectation were in the first place though so its hard to tell what was actually exceeded.

    Peosonally I think more than one person needs to be impressed before you can write headlines like this, some guy scribbling on his blog is not a sufficient indicator for me.

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  3. Neat, but old hat... by binaryspiral · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "I'm glad to see Griffin had the balls to release this product."

    I don't see how releasing this required any balls. FM broadcasts are horrible when compared to the AAC streams from XM.

    The RIAA have written off FM copyright lawsuits because any kid with a boombox can swipe a low quality song.

    I've been doing this for two years using a TV/FM tuner that costs about the same as the Radioshark - and the bonus is I can record cable TV so now I can have low quality video too!

  4. An iPod accessory really should work seamlessly by neuro.slug · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I mean, c'mon, you're pairing something with the sexiest, sleekest portable music player on the market. Any clunkiness or loose ends would stand out like an albino at the Apollo.

    Then again, the RadioSHARK probably would have only met--not exceeded--my expectations, as given Griffin Tech's batting record with Cool New Things(tm) like the PowerMate [http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/powerma te/], I wouldn't expect anything less than a well-executed product.

  5. XM by LT4Ryan · · Score: 2, Insightful

    This would be great if it could interface with XM or Sirius satellite radio, plain and simple.

  6. Too bad radio sux by nurb432 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    At least in my area, there is little on the radio id want to record anymore.. it it all pop/top 40 noise..

    Even the so-called 'aternative' stations just keep repeating the same stuff... after 3 days you have heard it all..

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  7. Ah please... by toupsie · · Score: 2, Insightful
    The RadioSHARK is a counter-attack on the recording industry and its draconian file sharing lawsuits.

    No it's not. Its a radio receiver not a p2p app. Settle down. It is less of a threat to the evil RIAA than Audio Hijack Pro.

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  8. two major points... by rollthelosindice · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I believe that the RIAA is not that concerned about this product because of the quality of a radio broadcast. They don't mind people copying less than CD quality audio (or close to it with mp3). The source is low enough quality for them to allow it. However, Howard Stern might be upset about this (at least for the next 15 months before he moves to Sirius). People can now auto-record his show, and throw up a torrent file. It's talk radio so the quality won't be an issue. Shouldn't be long before the Stern downloads begin.

  9. Headline. by Raven42rac · · Score: 2, Insightful

    How is it ballsy, you can achieve the same effect by hooking up a tape deck to your radio. Choose your battles wisely, the headline just sounds retarded and immature. I don't see how it is a counterattack on the RIAA or the file-sharing lawsuits, it's the radio, you have always been able to record it.

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  10. Re:You forget... by freedom_india · · Score: 2, Insightful
    but the average Joe is not going to take apart their speakers and hook up leads to the wires so that he can record into his sound card
    No. But the business of RIAA is not about musicians. It is about making money. Both are different. There are two ways of making money in US ("making" money, not earning them):

    1. make something useful and sell lots of them.
    2. Litigate, leverage, collect fees from others...

    RIAA belongs to second, since the first step is known to produce crappy songs like Evanescence...

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    "Doing what i can, with what i have." ~ Burt Gummer
  11. recording talk shows, etc by codeonezero · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The one reason I'm keeping on eye on this and consider getting the RadioShark, is that for certain radio shows like KROQ's Kevin & Bean Show, which don't have an internet stream and usually start earlier than I wake up, I can now record it and put it on my iPod so I can listen to it on my way to work.

    This effectively time-shifts the show for me, which in the case of Kevin & Bean show, I think it worth it. They usually have entertaining or interesting discussions about all sorts of stuff from the weirdest news of the day to stuff like info on MPAA/RIAA lawsuits etc, artists interviews, and on occassion the Mayor of L.A. James Hahn (or a satire of him and other political and sports figures.)

    Sure you can get much better audio quality for Music from other sources, but if you want to record a talk show on the radio that you are interested in, now you can.

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  12. Re:NPR? The archives are on the web! by realdpk · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Wish they had them in mp3 or ogg, though. I'd love to be able to listen to them on my handheld, instead of having to sit at a computer while it plays.