radio

Windows Phone 7 custom ROM development got a big boost today with the advancement in two areas:

• Custom ROM Image Editor (by AnDim)
• Mixing of HTC ROM images & different radios (by ansar.ath.gr)

The former is what you see above and is basically a simple GUI for manipulation of ROM images, making custom ROM development that much easier. Basically it allows for the "...extraction, replacement, addition, removal" of ROM files. This is still in testing and therefore limited (only read and extract functions) but it's a big step in the process.

The other news comes by way of XDA member ansar.ath.gr. A few days ago, he garnered some attention by successfully swapping ROM images from one HTC WP7 device to another. Today, he has gone further by manipulating radio images as well. He notes:

This is a custom ROM not signed with the new and yet not completely hacked MS WP7 signer. If this is true for all operators and spl's then the game just started.

...Now there is a way to flash only the radio from other operators

Once again, for practical matters, this means little for even those who are itching to flash a new ROM. What it does mean is that progress is being made to allow custom flashing of different regional ROMs, radios and mixing and matching. Although significant, we have to wonder just how much improvement will come down the pike from such maniuplation. Still, it's fun to watch as we know these guys will keep at it, no matter what obstacles they face.

Source: XDA 1, XDA 2

For those fed up with the glacial movement of Pandora on the Windows phone platform, a new alternative has hit the streets: Slacker Radio.

Showing up on various forums, the .cab and service is actually very, very polished. It is the official version, but SlackerRadio themselves have not published it on their site yet.

No compromises here as you get album images, lyrics, band bio, reviews and a wide selection of music to choose from.  Audio quality is also extremely good, trouncing Pandora's 64kb stream. Plus they got that whole "let me power off the screen without disrupting the stream" thing. 

Two negative's we've noticed: landscape support is not there and we've had a few songs cut out towards the end for some reason (not uncommon with Pandora either). 

Of course, there is the free "basic" version which limits you to something like 6-skips per hour while the program steers you towards the "full" version with upgrade notices in parts.  Likewise, you don't get all those lyric bonuses in the free version.

If you want the subscription, it's $4.99 per month (on a month-to-month basis) or $3.99 a month on a 12-month plan (billed monthly). You can also try out the subscription for 7 days for free.  We suppose if streaming is your thing it's not a bad deal: the quality of the product is quite top notch. If you just like streaming your own music (as opposed to the jukebox, random streaming), give nanoGroove a shot.

Grab the file at XDA or scan the MS Tag below to automatically download it.

Edit: Whoops!  And just as fast Slacker Radio has remotely pulled the plug. The app currently doesn't work and we have to wait for the fine folks at Slacker Radio to drop this app "officially".  Sigh. [Here's their official reasoning]

It's been quite some time since Resco has updated their Radio program (see earlier review), so it's no surprise to see them set their sights on giving it an overhaul.

So far, not too much has changed as can be seen below.  There is still a limited selection of stations (you can manually import Shoutcast) and no way to search for new stations, in that regard, Kinoma Play is still easier with full Shoutcast integration.  List of changes so far:

• Touch optimized list of radios (All Stations)
• Letter bar for easier navigation in Categories
• Icon for stream quality visualization

Still, if you just want a streaming radio app, Resco Radio is a beaut with its simplicity and speed (plus you can record streams, natch).  It's running smooth on the my Touch Pro 2, so go and give it a shot and give the Resco team some feedback!

There's an update available for the Motorola Q9h on AT&T. But before you get all hot and bothered, here's what we know:

• No, it's not Windows Mobile 6.5.
• No, it doesn't appear to enable some secret WiFi capability.
• No, Windows Marketplace for Mobile is nowhere to be found.

Maybe it finally opens the Q9h to those over-the-air updates we learned about nearly a year ago. (We're not holding our breath, though.)

About the only thing we can tell is that the radio (as in the thing that connects it to cell towers) appears to have been updated. If you go to Settings>About, our radio version has gone from MODEM4_U_40.11.40R_04 to MODEM4_U_40.11.40R_07.

Also, under Settings>Phone information>APFlex, we've gone from NONORMANATTCORE00040 to NONORMANATTCORE00043. And in the same location, AP has gone from 01.09.28R to 01.09.28DR.

So, if you're not having any problems making calls and getting data, you might what to leave well enough alone. This is a ROM update, after all, and that means you'll be wiping your phone clean. (Is it weird that we did so without thinking twice, at 10 p.m. on a Friday night? Nahhhhh.)

If you're the type who lives on the bleeding edge, hit up the Motorola update tool (get it here if you don't currently have it), and flash away. And if anyone knows anything else that's changed, hit us up in the comments.

Via Everything WM. And thanks, Mike, for the e-mail tip!

We’ve seen a number of the Windows Mobile apps that we know and love make their way to the dark side, but the flip side of that trend seems to be kicking in.

One of the iPhone app store’s finest, WunderRadio, is making its way to a Windows Mobile device near you. WunderRadio has gotten rave reviews from various locations in the Blogosphere as an Internet Radio application. Having partnered with RadioTime.com, WunderRadio offers mobile access to over 36,000 radio stations.

WunderRadio will reportedly be available for 30 day promotional prices of $9.99, after which it will set you back $14.99. Notable features include GPS functionality to find local radio stations and the ability to listen to popular programs after they have aired.

Via jkOnTheRun