 RAIN 2/5: Streaming music site TheSixyOne adds game-like features, visual beauty to Net radio experience ·Feb 5, 11:54 AM “QUESTS” AND OTHER FEATURES GO WELL BEYOND THE MUSIC“On TheSixtyOne, new artists make music and listeners decide what’s good. Ready?” This simple premise greets new visitors to TheSixtyOne, a streaming music site started in 2008. Then, like a curtain rising, the listener is presented with a striking full-screen image of an artist as the music starts to play. Little buttons ring the screen while snapshots, tour dates, artist bios and other information continually pop up. It’s a bit like getting thrown head-first into the deep end, but it’s well worth swimming your way through the plethora of features.
“Quests” are one of the more notable of those features. They’re quick goal-based games that earn users “reputation points,” almost like a radio RPG. For example, one quest is “In the Mood,” which requires users to listen to four different moods of music (moods are provided by listener tags) for at least 5 minutes. TheSixtyOne also features non-intrusive playback controls, song purchase options and a rich offering of artist information, all of which complement the beautiful visual design. All in all, I’ve never been so tempted by an streaming music site to hand over my email address and register for an account (which I soon did). There’s so much to do beyond just listen to music! TheSixtyOne also held my attention visually and I felt no temptation to minimize the site or switch to another tab. That would serve TheSixtyOne well if they added display advertisements. TheSixtyOne simply does an outstanding job adapting the radio experience to a computer screen. As an aside, this is perhaps the right approach for Internet radio when approaching something like the iPad. If users can’t multitask — can’t run Pandora in the background while writing emails or reviewing spreadsheets — then why not make streaming radio the destination? Shouldn’t Internet radio be worthy of filling that 9.7 inch touchscreen? TheSixtyOne already seems worthy of that role. — MS ALL ACCESS, TRITON DIGITAL TO PRESENT WEEKLY WEBINARS ON DIGITAL ISSUESAll Access, starting Wednesday, February 10, will present weekly webinars on digital issues affecting radio. The webinars, powered by Triton Digital, will be approximately 20 minutes long. Registration (here) is free. The first session, “Social Media 101,” will be hosted by Triton Media’s Jim Kerr with guests Mary Ann Halford of Bizworks360, Work+Life Fit CEO Cali Yost and David Parmet, CEO of Marketing Begins at Home. Find out more from All Access here.
SIRIUS XM DEBUTS APP FOR BLACKBERRY DEVICESSirius XM has launched an application for certain Blackberry devices. The Bold, Storm, Tour, Curve 8500 and 8900-series BlackBerrys are all compatible with the app, which tunes in to 120 channels from the satellite broadcaster, though the music is delivered via a 3G or Wi-Fi connection. IntoMobile.com has more on the new app here.OXX, DENON OFFER TABLETOP WI-FI RADIOS WITH FAMILIAR DESIGN, SOME NEW FEATURESOXX and Denon both have some new tabletop Wi-Fi radios out, both of which feature familiar rectangular designs but differ in features. Denon’s S52WT includes a CD player and iPod dock, along with two speakers. Meanwhile, the OXX Digital Classic DAB+ radio has one speaker but a crisp white look (pictured). OXX’s radio is available for $250 in Australia (more here), while the Denon S52WT is $299 (more here).
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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 |
