I don't usually plug new products. In fact, being generally pretty weary of new tech and used to big disappointments, my gizmo consumption has dropped to historically low levels. However, I was intrigued with the promise of one new device to order it and sufficiently impressed with the flawless initial performance to write it up.
What I have wanted for some time is TiVo for the radio. The Griffin RadioSHARK is it. It's a $70 USB device plays, pauses, and records live radio on a Mac or PC.
I want the convenience of being able to listen my favorite shows on my own schedule. If I get interrupted, I want to be able to pause the program. More than that, I want to be able to schedule recordings in advance, and I want to listen to them on my iPod. The RadioSHARK obliges.
I kept expecting something to go wrong, but nothing did. Setup was a snap, and reception was good. As I was going away for the weekend, I programmed it to record "Prairie Home Companion" and "This American Life", two of my favorite shows. When I came back, there they were. There is even an option to add a scheduled recording to an ITunes playlist, so as soon as I synched my iPod, I could take them with me.
One nit: You have to enter the date, time, station, and duration manually as there is no integrated program guide (though I imagine this could come as an enhancement).
Posted by mitch@osafoundation.org at January 17, 2005 08:05 PMThe radioSHARK is super. Try it with RadioTime.com for a detailed program guide and "TiVo for Radio" service.
The service works with the radioSHARK on the Mac now and Windows soon. But it works with their $39 FM tuner or Internet streams on Win/Mac now.
Posted by: Bill Moore at January 18, 2005 07:08 PM
Ahh, I had been eyeing this device but your enthusiastic review pushed me over the edge - it's coming from Amazon this week.
For folks who might be interested, Griffin advises that you take a radio into the room where you'll be using the RadioShark in order to test whether you can get a good signal.
Posted by: hunter walk at January 24, 2005 11:39 AM
Get the software update from GriffinTechnology for the radioShark. I was initially underwhelmed by the quality of the radio but the update is a HUGE improvement - fm was noisy like am before the update but after the update my fm quality was vastly better, noise free and works better now than my Terk antenna for my hifi system.
Recording works as expected and sound quality is excellent.
Posted by: Graham ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://blogs.osafoundation.org/mitch/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 27, 2005 06:07 AM
I must say, I just purchased this item and the reception is pretty crappy for me any way. I'm trying to tune a FM station that is broadcast locally from about 3 blocks away from my house and I mostly get static. I've got the Shark sitting in my Window and am using a Sagean ANT-60, which is plugged into the mic port and unwound about 15 feet creating a "web" in the window (I've also tried various other positions and poses, with and without the Sagean antenna). There are several stations that I pickup with any other radio tuner that I own (even the on tiny FM tuner for my rio mp3 player). I'm also using the latest version of the software for the Mac Version; 1.0.3 (RS59).
I'm going to try the trick mentioned by some of purchasing a USB extension and wrapping it around the unit and see if that helps. If not, I'm returning it (which is a 50 mile trip to my Apple Store). If it does work, then I think that Griffin needs to put a USB extension in the box with the unit.
I'm disappointed, and I think that this will turn me off of other Griffin products. I had be considering the PowerWave for some time, but there are other USB audio input devices on the market. The only other "saving grace" would be if the tuning software worked for Internet Radio stations (including Windows media), but it sounds like those plans have been scrapped.
PS I do think that it is cruel that the only station that the unit will "seek" to is a FM Country station broadcast from several counties away.
Posted by: Wes at January 30, 2005 08:53 PM
I just picked up my radioSHARK and there WAS a USB extension cable in the box.
What's the extension wrapping technique for improving reception? Anyone care to describe it or provide a link?
Cheers. Vic.
Posted by: Vic Cromarty at February 1, 2005 04:00 PM