This hasn't been a consideration until now - and based on the backlog of feature enhancements and issues that need to be addressed in Q1, this isn't on the radar right now.
Wireless Internet Radio for scanning
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This hasn't been a consideration until now - and based on the backlog of feature enhancements and issues that need to be addressed in Q1, this isn't on the radar right now.
Why should RadioReference develop it? We've already got the platform in place, and an API in place for folks to license and consume.
Why don't one of you develop it and sell it, license the API for realtime stream info access, and make some revenue for yourself.
Folks, RadioReference is a platform and service provider. We can't just develop and market plugins, clients, and features for every person's whim and gadget. We've provided the tools necessary for 3rd parties to integrate with our platform, for which they've done quite nicely (i.e. iPhone apps, Android apps, Rob Dale's new application etc)
I have to admit that the API is one of useful things that I have come across! If you learn the basics of it, and you are a developer, you can put RR streams on anything that can bark with an internet connection. I'm sure someone a little more advanced could create a program for the XBox 360 to integrate feeds (man, only if I knew just a little more on how to program XBox 360 I could really make money from that!)
Lindsay,
How often do you change the links?
How often do you change the links?
As a consumer of the feeds, you should assume that the links, servers, and mountpoints change all the time. I'm not trying to dodge the question -- I'm speaking about our system and infrastructure, so with that said, if you are relying on static links you should assume that the links could change hourly.
The only way to know the latest is to be a licensed user of the Live Audio API.
hum... I was looking at the Squeezebox Server Plugin docs and I understand Perl, but I don't understand how their stuff works.
Yes I would assume they would change occasionally, but I've never found any to change frequently, and with the intent to make it difficult, or impossible for people to keep up with, or to configure their devices.
You've watched this thread develop enthusiasm for almost two months! You've read about people investing in Internet radios specifically for this purpose. I think you had a ethical responsibility to your members, especially your paying members, to disclose what your intentions were.
You also need to revise you list of benefits to Premium Subscribers:
The following features are available to Premium Subscribers
- Access to the RadioReference.com Web Service, which allows numerous programming applications to access the database directly, providing an easy to use process for programming scanners and communications equipment with data directly from the RadioReference Database. See the Web Service Application Support section for a list of applications that directly support this valuable Web Service.
- Advanced searching and reporting capabilities
- Access to all live audio broadcast archives
- My RadioReference custom watch lists - your own customized front page on RadioReference.com
- PDF and CSV Downloads of communications data
- Access to post advertisements in the RadioReference Classifieds
The frequencies and related info in your database, the interesting articles and breaking news, the unlimited resources of assistance, discounts, and technical information, in the forums. Last but not least, the scanner audio streams, most all of which are supplied by members of Radio Reference.
The members of Radio Reference are it's life's blood. They helped to build it into the profitable enterprise that it is today. If all the members could delete what they have contributed, there wouldn't be much left, would there?
I'm just surprised and disappointed by your whole approach, and especially your attitude Lindsay. I think your members deserve better than this.
To all your loyal followers who like to gang up, and jump into threads such as this, with attacks and insults in hopes the person who speaks up will just go away, save your breath!
Actually, I don't see a problem with the list of benefits. Those all hold true to what they say. It says that programs that developers make will be allowed access to the static audio URLs.
Agreed, but in the list of benefits needs to state that is required. The audio feeds will be attractive to everyone, especially new people coming into the hobby. They are not going to know, or understand this. It would be natural to assume their Internet device would be capable of using this, like most other radio feeds on the Internet. Not everyone in the scanner/radio hobby is a developer.
k8mcn
Member
BUT--are the feeds at static links or do the links change? just curious...........
The links are dynamic as Lindsay said, and it is up to the developer to change the links in the program. I don't know if they change less often or not, but they are still subject to change at any time.
Actually, to use the programs this isn't required. It would only be required to pay for the program or plugin.
k8mcn
Member
i dont have a dog in this show, but i think the main question being asked is.........do the links change every so often just because they do, OR are they being deliberately changed frequently to make the use of the internet radio much more inconvenient? In the end this is Lindsay's show,and we are nothing more than patrons that decide if we choose or do not choose to be here... but honesty usually draws more understanding if that is the reason for the URL changes...................
The system is designed to obfuscate direct links to the feeds to protect RadioReference's revenue model (and the revenue models of licensee's of radioreference.com). We must drive listeners through our defined channels, or we will not be able to afford to maintain the significant infrastructure out there.
So, the answer is, yes, we will and do change feed mount points, relay servers, and use other methods to protect and direct streams to our delivery channels. An unfortunate side effect is that some folks who are advanced users and very technical are going to be faced with challenges. For this, I apologize. But that is the way it is.
Understand, that if we make available to every vendor, person, and user every feed mountpoint and feed information for free, we basically give up our complete revenue model for others to bypass, and exploit and use to only their benefit. A good example is the iPhone and Android market. I can tell you that those applications are generating 50-70K a month in revenue in that environment. If we aren't able to generate revenue from those platforms, they will basically put us out a business by sucking our bandwidth and content for free while we're on the hook to deliver.
Hey look, I'm sorry you went out an purchased a device that you would "like" to have work seamlessly with our feeds, however we have to strike a balance between accessibility and sustainability.
Contrary to what you might think, I don't (cannot) read every thread posted in our user forums. This topic was pointed out to me late last week by our admin team and that's when I jumped in.
MPSCS, I appreciate your concerns and value your feedback, but there was no nefarious reason and I didn't target you or anyone in these threads with changes last week.
You are more than welcome to be disappointed with my attitude, and nitpick our benefits list and stretch to justify what you think we should do. And you are more than welcome to remind me who my customers are and that I don't know what I'm doing and the community is going to go down the tubes because I didn't accommodate the specific issue in this thread. However, when you get in a position to run and manage a business such as ours, you'll quickly learn to see items such as these as a forest and focus less on individual trees.
Lindsay, I'm not accusing you of targeting anyone. You could have serviced your customers better by keeping them informed on where you intend to go with this project, and how you plan to go about it. At least share the info that has a direct impact on the members, and what they can, and can not do.
If you take a deep breath, and step back and look at the big picture, you have an enormous opportunity with these Internet radio devices! It can open up a whole new market of members that for many reasons do not have the option to scan the frequencies directly for themselves.
As for referring members to Logitech, to try and convince them they should invest in your systems feeds, I think we would hit a brick wall. However if you, the actual provider of the service were to approach them, I think you might get their attention. We are not the enemy, nor are we an insignificant group trying to cause you grief. We are your membership, which is what you strive to continue to attract and maintain. This is just another way of doing it.
MPSCS,
It isn't feasible to notify members of every single architectural change and technical decision that we make on the back end. Furthermore, these changes, by our reasoning should not have impacted any legitment user accessing our streams through our designed distribution channels, and if it did impact someone, then our services were not being used as intended and folks went around our distribution process. And frankly, our team doesn't know of each and every "method" that folks are using to access our services, from hacks, to third party software etc. And we certainly didn't know that there were 10 guys out there compiling feed mount points and using dedicated internet radio devices.
Right now, I don't see a huge opportunity for RadioReference to invest time and effort to partner with one vendor to include our feeds in their niche product. We could pick a thousand different unique niche device makers to contact and ask them to license our API and include in their products our feeds.
As I indicated before, we have a process and a platform already in place to support manufacturers, developers, and device makers if they want to include RadioReference content in their devices. At this time, it is up to those organizations to reach out to us if they want to include our streams in their devices, and the only incentive they have to license our API is if their customers demand it.
It isn't feasible to notify members of every single architectural change and technical decision that we make on the back end. Furthermore, these changes, by our reasoning should not have impacted any legitment user accessing our streams through our designed distribution channels, and if it did impact someone, then our services were not being used as intended and folks went around our distribution process. And frankly, our team doesn't know of each and every "method" that folks are using to access our services, from hacks, to third party software etc. And we certainly didn't know that there were 10 guys out there compiling feed mount points and using dedicated internet radio devices.
Right now, I don't see a huge opportunity for RadioReference to invest time and effort to partner with one vendor to include our feeds in their niche product. We could pick a thousand different unique niche device makers to contact and ask them to license our API and include in their products our feeds.
As I indicated before, we have a process and a platform already in place to support manufacturers, developers, and device makers if they want to include RadioReference content in their devices. At this time, it is up to those organizations to reach out to us if they want to include our streams in their devices, and the only incentive they have to license our API is if their customers demand it.
I don't know...that didn't work here!
I think RR has lost the spirit of the hobby. It's all about the almighty dollar from here on!
Bill,
RadioReference is a business, which incurs both significant expenses and my time as a full time employee. If this site is expected to thrive and continue to operate, it has to make money. If you have a problem with that then you obviously don't believe in capitalism and you are more worried about yourself than the overall success of this community (for which you participate heavily in).
Just because we haven't broken down and adjusted our overall strategy and priorities to meet what you deem the approach be does not mean that we are arrogant money sucking individuals, and it certainly doesn't mean that we aren't looking out for the rest of the community as a whole.
If you want to be a valuable contributor, I welcome you to participate candidly, but professionally. We are busting our tails over here to delivery a high quality platform for everyone to enjoy, including you.
PS: why the multiple user accounts? MPSCS and GreatLakes?
RadioReference is a business, which incurs both significant expenses and my time as a full time employee. If this site is expected to thrive and continue to operate, it has to make money. If you have a problem with that then you obviously don't believe in capitalism and you are more worried about yourself than the overall success of this community (for which you participate heavily in).
Just because we haven't broken down and adjusted our overall strategy and priorities to meet what you deem the approach be does not mean that we are arrogant money sucking individuals, and it certainly doesn't mean that we aren't looking out for the rest of the community as a whole.
If you want to be a valuable contributor, I welcome you to participate candidly, but professionally. We are busting our tails over here to delivery a high quality platform for everyone to enjoy, including you.
PS: why the multiple user accounts? MPSCS and GreatLakes?
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