PocketNow Review Ambicom's CompactFlash FM Receiver

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?a=portal_detail&t=reviews&id=348' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketnow.com/index.php?...=reviews&id=348</a><br /><br /></div>There's many things that Pocket PCs are great for, and listening to music is one of them. Jason Machtemes at PocketNow agrees. "One of the things I use my Pocket PC the most for would have to be listening to music throughout the day. Now, the music I listen to doesn't get cycled that often so it gets kinda stale. Sometimes I just itch for something new or different. Now, thanks to Ambicom, I can listen to the radio by just slipping in their CF FM Receiver Card, and I have instant radio in the palm of my hand." Or in your shirt pocket or PDA clip holder, but you get his drift. :wink: <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Radio.jpg" /> <br /><br />The review runs through most of the stuff you'll want to know about the device, including the classic line: "Last but not least is the mystery button, it is located under the "PWR" button and it is purple. I really have no clue what this button does!!!" Ah yes – the purple button – don’t leave home without one! :lol: <br /><br />Investigative reviewing at its finest. :wink: Only kidding, it's a decent run-through of the pros and cons of the CompactFlash FM Receiver with a fair few photos as well. Certainly worth popping over there if you want your PDA (or laptop) to access a different kind of wireless 'network' altogether.

[enemy2k2]

IMHO radio tuners should come standard on PPCs considering how cheap the chips are. I just don't get it. This tuner is a pretty neat idea but I don't think I'd want to waste the CF slot on it especially considering one could get an auto-scan mini tuner for about $5 or so. I would love it if my PPC had the capability built in. I hope eventually manufacturers begin adding low cost yet useful features like this. Oh yeah, one other thing, whatever happened to the AM band? I've noticed that cell phones or MP3 players that do have a tuner installed are usually always FM only, why has everyone forgotten about AM? Phillips have some pretty neat ICs that throw all this on one cheap, low cost, and tiny chip. Shouldn't be too tough to integrate either.

[chunkymonkey75]

I don't remember the last time I listened to an AM station. I'm sure that many here are in the same boat. I would never miss the AM band.

[Steven Cedrone]

I would never miss the AM band.

I would! KYW 1060 in Philly and 1010 WINS in NY. I need my all news/weather/traffic stations! Plus, there are quite a few other good stations and formats that can only be found on AM...

Until I make the switch to XM, anyway... :wink:

Steve

[gorkon280]

I need am. FM guys don't do the news right plus lately they steer everyone to the net when it snows (school/business closings) when all of the schools have them on the list of stations. At least most AM stations read the whole thing.

[ppcsurfr]

I want a TV/FM tuner for my Pocket PC... the one that can double as a Wi-Fi card and work with satellite feed...

:D

Mabuhay!!! ~ Carlo

[Zack Mahdavi]

IMHO radio tuners should come standard on PPCs considering how cheap the chips are. I just don't get it..

I always thought that the FM tuner was rather large. That's why most manufacturers didn't incorporate it into their electronics products.

[luiskim]

it would be great if someone made a CF or SD device like this or a wife card that is the same size to the actual flash card... with nothing sticking out if the device... when would that time come?

[rocky_raher]

it would be great if someone made a CF or SD device like this or a wife card ...
Wife card?? You really ought to spend less time with your PDA and get a girl friend!!

[maikii]

The reviewer writes as if this product is something new. In fact, THe Ibiz Pocket Radio has been out for some time, and is available for both CF and SDIO.

In fact, looking at the screen shot of the software in this review, it looks exactly the same as that of the Ibiz product. Therefore, I suspect it is exactly the same product, repackaged with a different brand name.

I have the IBiz product, and the reception often isn't very good. (Well, that may be my location, and I haven't had very good results with most mini radios.) This "new" product (quotation marks very intentional) would only be of interest to me if it could get better reception than the Ibiz. But I don't see any comparison of the products in this review. In fact, the author seems totally unaware that the Ibiz product exists--not very knowledgeable for a person reviewing PPC accessories.

[kagayaki1]

I am a huge fan of AM. I think there probably is a high correlation between the power user / developer / geek people who frequent this site, and the typical person who listens to talk radio on the AM band.

AM 710 KIRO, Seattle baby! Dave Ross, Dori Monson, it's all good.

If Ambicom is reading this, do what you can to address this (limited?) demand.

[PoweriPaq]

I bought the IBiz one when they were on sale for $20. I had to wait for the price to be right. $40 is just too expensive and the reception isn't that great. My co-worker has a small radio, and she picks up more FM channels and AM Channels than this one and cheaper too. I got this one for convenience.

[bkerrins]

Looks like a simple agruement. $40- Too expensive. No AM frequencies -That's where I get the news and traffic. FM is good for music, but not much more than that.

Either build it into the actual unit with AM or charge something on the order of $5-$10.

I like the TV tuner idea...I've seen laptops with a reference to TV...but not sure if it actually works like a portable TV.

[enemy2k2]

TV tuner add on as a CF card would certainly qualify as super cool, but the cost and battery draw would scare me off. It would probably be preferable to just buy a seperate Casio mini TV, unless you really require the cool factor of having it on a PPC! If such a thing does come out, hopefully it would have a 'capture' facility as well to record to secondary storage.

Radio on the other hand is cheap and has relatively low power draw. The tuner shouldn't be too large. Phillips for example have entire tuners on one chip. While not necessary (which is probably why no one is doing it), it would certainly be cool and desirable (at least for me) to have it included!
I wouldn't mind paying up to $25 extra (provided it supports AM as well) for a unit with such a value added option.

[maikii]

TV tuner add on as a CF card would certainly qualify as super cool, but the cost and battery draw would scare me off. It would probably be preferable to just buy a seperate Casio mini TV, unless you really require the cool factor of having it on a PPC! If such a thing does come out, hopefully it would have a 'capture' facility as well to record to secondary storage.

Radio on the other hand is cheap and has relatively low power draw. The tuner shouldn't be too large. Phillips for example have entire tuners on one chip. While not necessary (which is probably why no one is doing it), it would certainly be cool and desirable (at least for me) to have it included!
I wouldn't mind paying up to $25 extra (provided it supports AM as well) for a unit with such a value added option.

I believe there is already something like that, or coming out soon, I recall reading about it, don't remember the brand--an add-on TV tuner card for PPC. Expensive I think, and probably doesn't work very good, but I think it's out there.