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View Full Version : Radio Made Easy (and Powerful) with Resco Radio 1.0


Darius Wey
07-22-2005, 05:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.resco.net/pocketpc/radio/default.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.resco.net/pocketpc/radio/default.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The skin enabled user interface provides an easy way to listen to your favorite radio stations. Just choose your favourite 9 radio stations and assign them to the 9 preset buttons. Whenever you want to tune in, tap a button and you're ready to jam! Buttons are large enough to be controlled just by fingers without the need to use the stylus."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050723-RescoRadio.jpg" /><br /><br />Resco Radio 1.0 is a streaming radio player and recorder (MP3 and OGG) which supports both QVGA and VGA Pocket PCs, and the new Windows Mobile 5.0 platform. With scheduled recording functionality, skin support, and an extensive list of preset stations, radio junkies should find Resco Radio to be a pretty neat application. It is available from <a href="http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&productId=169299&productType=2">Handango</a> for $19.95. A trial version is also available. [Affiliate]

PocketPC Addict
07-22-2005, 05:07 PM
Sounds like it might be a handy utility for travel if you listen to certain shows at home but may not be able to hear them on the road.

Robb Bates
07-22-2005, 06:28 PM
The scheduled recording feature sounds pretty cool, but that means it requires connectivity. There doesn't seem to be any way to automatically turn on your wi-fi or bluetooth to enable an automatic connection.

Robb

Robb Bates
07-22-2005, 06:37 PM
Is it just my PPC or does this program take forever to start up? It's taking like 20 seconds for me.

Robb

Darius Wey
07-22-2005, 06:42 PM
The scheduled recording feature sounds pretty cool, but that means it requires connectivity. There doesn't seem to be any way to automatically turn on your wi-fi or bluetooth to enable an automatic connection.

I'd see that feature being most useful with the device sitting on the cradle. I love listening to all sorts of stations so I'm really loving the simplicity but feature-packed nature of this application. It beats having to dig up URLs and typing them in WMP.

Digressing here, but is anyone finding that their Resco Radio volume control isn't working as expected?

Darius Wey
07-22-2005, 06:47 PM
Is it just my PPC or does this program take forever to start up? It's taking like 20 seconds for me.

Yeah, I'm in the same boat as well. It's a tad annoying as Resco's other product, Audio Recorder, has long startup times as well. :(

Robb Bates
07-22-2005, 06:55 PM
I just downloaded Resco's Audio Recorder and love it. But as you said, startup is toooooo loooooonnnnggggg.

Volume on Resco Radio works fine. It just adjusts 1% per click, so you have to hold it down.

As for the scheduling, I guess you could turn on your bluetooth and/or wifi, then turn off your PPC. When it turns back on for the scheduled recording, hopefully it should connect automatically. Fingers crossed!

Robb

caubeck
07-22-2005, 06:58 PM
I get the same delay (10 seconds or so) with Sunnysoft's World Offline, which I use a lot. I don't have wifi, so I love these recording devices.

Can the Resco radio player be used to record programmes while my PDA is connected to the PC and then play them back?

I guess the MP3 files can be extracted easily and played elsewhere?

Chris

caubeck
07-22-2005, 07:16 PM
Just downloaded it.

Start up is about the same as when I use my dial up connection, so I notice no real delay. Recording and playback is fine.

No volume control issues to report.

I'm buying it.

caubeck
07-22-2005, 07:26 PM
There's one small thing I can mention: there's no signal on the screen when you're recording. If I ever forget, I could fill up my SD card accidentally.

Robb Bates
07-22-2005, 07:31 PM
There's one small thing I can mention: there's no signal on the screen when you're recording. If I ever forget, I could fill up my SD card accidentally.

True dat!

Also, I'm not exactly pleased with the way you start and stop recording. Two menu taps to start and two menu taps to stop. One little red button on the screen would be quite sufficient and would give an indication of recording.

Robb

caubeck
07-22-2005, 07:46 PM
Er, it doesn't record to my SD card, only to the main memory, even after changing the settings. Am I the only one?

My enthusiasm is waning. Roll on v. 1.5!


******Edit***** My mistake, it went into a "My Documents" folder. I didn't expect it.

Anyway, my suggestions: nice red recording/stop/pause button and a "screen off" switch.

I'm still planning on buying it.

rmasinag
07-22-2005, 07:54 PM
I just downloaded Resco's Audio Recorder and love it. But as you said, startup is toooooo loooooonnnnggggg.

Robb

I don't wanna be too OT and be a pitch man but I have been using VITO SoundExplorer for about 3 years now (free upgrades whoohoo!). I must say it has never failed me. I have tried about 5-6 versions of Resco Audio Recorder and that kind of delay just doesnt cut it when recording lectures. I dunno how many times I swore under my breath when I missed an important point because Resco takes FOREVER to a) Start recording b) Recording again right after I stopped ( I like to chunk my lectures, bookmarks are useless if I'm giving copies of the mp3 lecture to a classmate)

And yes VITO SoundExplorer records to my SD/CF just fine. Perfect for highest bitrates

NEways I'm going to try them on this non critical app where speed is not essential

Robb Bates
07-22-2005, 07:59 PM
I have been using VITO SoundExplorer for about 3 years now

I haven't tried VITO, mainly because I like the low bitrate (5kbps) SPEEX codec in Resco. I guess I have some strange aversion to MP3s.

But to stay openminded I'll give VITO a try.

Robb

jsloan
07-22-2005, 08:15 PM
This program is definately a work in progress. The startup time is very slow and the keypad interface doesn't refresh properly when tuning to a new radio station. The procedure for adding a new radio station is flawed and the property sheet, which should allow changing the stream URL does not do so (these properties are greyed out). It also times out when the buffering is too slow even though my desktop, using the same connection and using Media Player 10, eventually gets connected. As stated previously, I think I'll wait for version 1.5

John Sloan

caubeck
07-22-2005, 08:34 PM
I suppose the evaluation version has some limited features (the pdf manual doesn't download for me so if there's any more info, I can't see it).

I need one of these but Iwill postpone registering until these teething problems are solved.

WyattEarp
07-23-2005, 01:31 AM
Just downloaded and installed the program. This is definately a keeper. If I could use it over a BT connection it would be perfect.

WyattEarp
07-23-2005, 01:41 AM
Er, it doesn't record to my SD card, only to the main memory, even after changing the settings. Am I the only one?

My enthusiasm is waning. Roll on v. 1.5!


******Edit***** My mistake, it went into a "My Documents" folder. I didn't expect it.

Anyway, my suggestions: nice red recording/stop/pause button and a "screen off" switch.

I'm still planning on buying it.

That's strange it recorded to SD for me. I see there are a few issues to be worked out in this version. Hopefully they'll fix them quickly.

caubeck
07-23-2005, 03:18 AM
It did record to the card in the end, I just didn't spot where to till later.

Anyway, nice programme. I hope its limitations are restricted to the evaluation version.

Darius Wey
07-23-2005, 03:28 AM
Okay, well it seems I'm the only one suffering from a volume control problem, so in case there's some lost soul out there in the same boat as me, I'll explain what the problem is.

For me, the volume control seems to only enable or disable sound, not adjust it in increments from high to low volume as it should be doing. It seems from 0% to 7%, the sound is off. From 8% to 100%, the sound is on (just plain on, and darn loud at 8% too). I'm going to submit a bug report to Resco, and hopefully, this issue will be resolved in the next release.

ikesler
07-23-2005, 07:55 PM
I used it last night on my ppc6601 and really enjoyed it. Haven't recorded yet, but the app itself shows some real promise I think. Will use the trial and register when people say things are moving forward.

Monty Gibson
07-23-2005, 11:11 PM
How can anyone effectively use this with a dial-up account? I tried using my T-Mobile phone and it buffered about every 3 seconds worth of music played. Over a Wi-Fi connection would be awesome, but big deal, if you're in a hotspot or even in your own home there are literally so many more options than this program. I'm hoping someone will set me correct on this, but I just don't see the logic behind this program.

To sum:

If you're in a hotspot where Wi-Fi is free such as a hotel or at work, or if you pay for the service through T-Mobile such as Starbucks or Borders Bookstore(s) then great, what an awesome application!
If you're NOT in a Wi-Fi hotspot and have to use your cellphone to connect to a slow dial-up then it's futile.

I live in Florida where I have cable that has over 200 radio stations alone, commercial free. I also have XM radio in my car. When I leave home I have a 2 gigabyte card that I pack with music (probably the same music you would hear on a favorite radio station of yours). So, I'm never without music. For that matter, I sleep with headphones on at night listening to music from my pocket pc. So, please enlighten me someone on why I would try to listen to slow, continously buffered music if I don't have a continous Wi-Fi connection. :|

Darius Wey
07-24-2005, 04:04 AM
How can anyone effectively use this with a dial-up account? I tried using my T-Mobile phone and it buffered about every 3 seconds worth of music played. Over a Wi-Fi connection would be awesome, but big deal, if you're in a hotspot or even in your own home there are literally so many more options than this program. I'm hoping someone will set me correct on this, but I just don't see the logic behind this program.

Streaming radio was never meant to work well over a dial-up connection. Just open up a streaming URL on the desktop (on a dial-up connection) and you'll see that it sucks. Period.

If you're in a hotspot where Wi-Fi is free such as a hotel or at work, or if you pay for the service through T-Mobile such as Starbucks or Borders Bookstore(s) then great, what an awesome application!
If you're NOT in a Wi-Fi hotspot and have to use your cellphone to connect to a slow dial-up then it's futile.

Agreed - to a certain extent. Granted, it's terrible over a cellphone connection, but if you're at home with the device in the cradle, you can easily connect to a radio stream and listen away. The same can be said at home whilst your Pocket PC is in your pocket, connected to your home Wi-Fi network, headphones plugged in... and well, you get the idea. ;)

But then you could ask, why not switch on your proper radio? The answer is choice. If I'm sitting here in my house in Australia, there's no way I could connect to say, HitzRadio or Billboard (in the US) over standard FM. Enter Resco Radio.

I live in Florida where I have cable that has over 200 radio stations alone, commercial free. I also have XM radio in my car. When I leave home I have a 2 gigabyte card that I pack with music (probably the same music you would hear on a favorite radio station of yours). So, I'm never without music. For that matter, I sleep with headphones on at night listening to music from my pocket pc. So, please enlighten me someone on why I would try to listen to slow, continously buffered music if I don't have a continous Wi-Fi connection. :|

You're a lucky one. Not everyone has XM radio, or a 2GB card. While I still pack my 1GB SD with a lot of tunes to keep me happy during the day, there are times when I'm after a bit of variation and that's why I use Resco Radio from time to time. Bottom line - there's always an application for streaming radio. It wouldn't exist otherwise.

vbguru613
07-24-2005, 05:10 AM
But theres hardly a variety. Can we download more channels?

Darius Wey
07-24-2005, 06:09 AM
But theres hardly a variety. Can we download more channels?

Welcome to Pocket PC Thoughts. :)

You can always add your own if you know the streaming URL.

x999x
07-24-2005, 10:35 AM
It's nice to hear music that's not mine for a change. I think I have the worlds smallest mp3 collection.

Anyway, it's working great from my cradle, just the right volume for work.

It takes about 5 seconds to start, not bad, and record works like a charm (even on storage card).

Oddly enough, I don't have access to a radio, so this is nice.

Monty Gibson
07-25-2005, 10:24 PM
Streaming radio was never meant to work well over a dial-up connection. Just open up a streaming URL on the desktop (on a dial-up connection) and you'll see that it sucks. Period.


Agreed!


Agreed - to a certain extent. Granted, it's terrible over a cellphone connection, but if you're at home with the device in the cradle, you can easily connect to a radio stream and listen away. The same can be said at home whilst your Pocket PC is in your pocket, connected to your home Wi-Fi network, headphones plugged in... and well, you get the idea. ;)


But if "...you're at home with the device in the cradle," couldn't you just open Windows Media Player 10 and choose from a variety of Radio Stations from it, with probably better results? Even at work, you could do the same and would forego the need for your pocket pc in this instance.
Billboard and HitzRadio are both able to connect via WMP 10. You're still at your desk, why use your pocket pc that's docked in a cradle?



Bottom line - there's always an application for streaming radio. It wouldn't exist otherwise.


Bah, I love software, trust me I have over $300.00 worth for my Pocket PC hx4700 but this is just an application I have a hard time buying into. I love the idea. I even downloaded it, used it and still have it on my Pocket PC waiting for me the next time I stroll into Starbucks. But, I don't see purchasing it. If I'm at my computer at home, I listen to Windows Media Players plethora of radio stations. I just don't need another application taking up space.

:?

Darius Wey
07-25-2005, 11:52 PM
But if "...you're at home with the device in the cradle," couldn't you just open Windows Media Player 10 and choose from a variety of Radio Stations from it, with probably better results? Even at work, you could do the same and would forego the need for your pocket pc in this instance.
Billboard and HitzRadio are both able to connect via WMP 10. You're still at your desk, why use your pocket pc that's docked in a cradle?

You can. But why leave your Pocket PC idle? :lol:

On a more serious note, I guess the other reason why is because I tend to keep my cradled Pocket PC connected to a stereo unit. It's more convenience than anything else for me to just fire up Resco Radio and stream a few tracks, rather than open up WMP and scroll through a long list of stations, and then physically connect my laptop to my stereo.


Bah, I love software, trust me I have over $300.00 worth for my Pocket PC hx4700 but this is just an application I have a hard time buying into. I love the idea. I even downloaded it, used it and still have it on my Pocket PC waiting for me the next time I stroll into Starbucks. But, I don't see purchasing it. If I'm at my computer at home, I listen to Windows Media Players plethora of radio stations. I just don't need another application taking up space.

Save a little. Spend a little. I'm sure you'll make the right decision at the end of the day. :)

Rado Buransky
07-31-2005, 03:46 PM
Hi all,

Thanks a lot for your comments. We need it to make Radio better. Here are my replies to some of your questions and posts:
1) There are no limitations for trial version.
2) Startup time will be shorter. It is annoying for me too. Loading of database is slow.
3) I think I will add a record button. That is a good idea. Thanks.
4) Some other features that will be added for sure: hardware buttons, display off.

I think that a good idea is to add some advanced managing functionality for the database. Firstly I would like to have a filter which will filter out radios (streams) which have too high (or too low) bitrate.

Next thing is a better "retry". At this time, if Radio cannot connect to stream, it retries to connect to the same stream. I think that it would be better if it chooses another stream from the list of streams for the radio station and tries to connect to this (different) stream. What do you think?

Does it eat memory? I'll look at it, do some tests and will try to find this bug.

Thanks for your interest

Rado

Darius Wey
07-31-2005, 04:01 PM
Hi Rado,

Nice to hear from you. Looking forward to the updated changes you have planned. :)

Does it eat memory? I'll look at it, do some tests and will try to find this bug.

On the X50v (A04), it takes up around 5MB.

PocketPC Addict
07-31-2005, 05:14 PM
Hi all,

Thanks a lot for your comments. We need it to make Radio better. Here are my replies to some of your questions and posts:
1) There are no limitations for trial version.
2) Startup time will be shorter. It is annoying for me too. Loading of database is slow.
3) I think I will add a record button. That is a good idea. Thanks.
4) Some other features that will be added for sure: hardware buttons, display off.

Rado

Hi Rado,

I haven't had a chance to review the trial yet, before I do were you expecting your update soon or later? If it is going to be sooner, I may just wait for the update. I think it's a splendid idea for Pocket PC software though. :D

Brad Isaac

Rado Buransky
08-10-2005, 05:03 PM
Changes in version 1.10:
- fixed problem with memory consumption
- skin for devices with 240x240 screen
- added record button
- display off with advanced protection
- faster program start
- hardware buttons support

PocketPC Addict
08-10-2005, 11:50 PM
Cool, thanks for the update rado. I'm going to give it a try.