Livio Radio Built For Pandora
By Morelli
A new radio box called Livio is the first device to be designed around the Pandora online music service. The radio can also tune into more than 11,000 other radio stations, and costs $150. It works with a Wi-Fi connection, but can also be connected to the Internet with an Ethernet cable.
The Pandora interface is integrated in Livio, with built-in “thumbs up” and “thumbs down” buttons on the box and the remote control, so you can tell the station’s algorithm what to play next. You can also plug your iPod into the auxiliary input when you don’t have a connection.
Pandora has been available on other devices like smart phones such as the iPhone and BlackBerry, or even other standalone radios, but Livio is the first to be dedicated to the customizable aspects of Pandora’s service. Jessica Steel, Pandora’s senior vice president of business development, says that “Pandora’s listeners are increasingly using Pandora off of the PC, so we’re always looking for new products that make that easy to do.”
What remains to be seen is how Pandora is going to profit off of the new device. Web radio stations pay hefty fees to performers and record companies, currently much more than traditional or even satellite radio. It’s probable that Livio’s manufacturers pay some sort of fee to Pandora, but no details have been revealed as to what sort of deal is in place. The new radio is available at shoplivio.com, is it worth the pricetag?
Source: CNET
Monday, June 8, 2009 10:35AM
If your looking for an internet radio that has 11,000 internet radio stations and the ability to listen to Pandora that's not on your computer the Livio Radio is right for you. Create your own stations and listen to what you want to hear. If you want to listen to your ipod hook it up to the auxiliary input and play it through the Livio's speaker. With the dedicated thumbs up and thumbs down buttons on the radio and on the remote its easy for Pandora to get to know your music preferences even better so you don't get one of those songs that don't match the kind of music you like listening to.