 Portable wireless audio to get spotlight at CES ·Jan 7, 11:26 AM From Wired online’s Listening Post blog: “With the Consumer Electronics Show just around the corner, manufacturers of audio equipment are preparing to unveil their wares for 2008… “Despite the ongoing lack of agreement between the major labels on which format to use for digital music, manufacturers are nonetheless determined to make gains in a number “Luckily, many of these devices will feature wireless connectivity that could eventually make it unnecessary to carry your entire music collection around with you. “Wi-Fi already allows internet-radio streaming on some portable players, but the wide-area WiMAX networks that are expected to roll out next year will soon extend that experience outside of the home, making the connection a must-have feature on any portable entertainment device in 2008. “Subscription services, which allow you to listen to millions of songs for a monthly fee, could finally attract a “Connected portables will be huge at this year’s CES, but we may not see the most promising models on the show floor… Some manufacturers will delay their next-generation devices until later in the year, as they wait for WiMAX to surface and content deals to be signed. “Just about the only thing portable audio manufacturers can offer consumers that Apple can’t is internet radio. Because iPods don’t work with music subscription services, the company can’t allow consumers to download multiple hours of internet radio programming over Wi-Fi (eventually WiMAX) onto their portable devices. “Manufacturers are likely to play up this difference at this year’s CES, to demonstrate that there just might be a reason to buy a player other than the iPod.” Read the entire article online at the Listening Post blog. share: del.icio.us.  Reddit  Digg  Yahoo  Wink  Windows  Google  Newsvine 
CommentCommenting is closed for this article.  Other stories RAIN has upgraded (and moved)! RAIN 9/13: RAIN Summit Chicago takes place today! RAIN 9/12: First Summit in RAIN's hometown takes place tomorrow RAIN 9/9: Summer holidays, "doldrums" impact July Webcast Metrics, but audience up over last year RAIN 9/8: Clear Channel launches new customizable iHeartRadio beta; RAIN goes hands-on RAIN 9/7: Meet more speakers you'll hear at RAIN Summit Chicago in less than a week RAIN 9/6: Clear Channel taps The Echo Nest to take on Pandora RAIN 9/2: RAIN reviews Spotify's radio-like product Artist Radio RAIN 9/1: UK online radio aggregator Radioplayer campaigns b'dcasters to create "all radio" ratings RAIN 8/31: Execs from Merlin, Triton Digital, jacAPPS and more to appear at RAIN Summit Chicago |
of areas — mainly by piggybacking on consumers’ video-related upgrades and emphasizing portable connectivity…
critical mass of users when WiMAX debuts on a mass scale, because users will be able to download songs and refresh playlists from more locations.
