Through a glass, darkly

[Guest]

So, what's been happening?

I don't know why but I feel like an alcoholic rising to his feet for the first time to address the gathering at his local AA support group, but...

I'm an iPad user.

I started using a couple of months ago. It's a fascinating thing to be introduced to: you have to have these ''apps'', cheap mostly, but mostly useless, however, there are some surprising ones, like TuneIn Radio Pro.

Basically, you get presented with a world map, not unlike google maps, with which you can pan around the world with a flick of a finger. With two fingers - a habit users soon pick up - you can zoom in on any part of the map you like. Suddenly, little coloured pins appear scattered across the land, and the more you zoom in, the more new ones appear. These, I am informed, are local radio stations. Mali, for example, has hundreds of the little things! It all looks bloody marvellous.

I'm told if you click on a pin head you get a live stream of that station's broadcast but this is as far as I go. I haven't clicked for fear that the sound of U2 might cast forth into my ear phones and I realise we're all living in our own World Music version of the Truman Show, courtesy of the Beeb.

Maybe if I had a stiff drink first....

[Globaltruth]

So, what's been happening?

I don't know why but I feel like an alcoholic rising to his feet for the first time to address the gathering at his local AA support group, but...

I'm an iPad user.

I started using a couple of months ago. It's a fascinating thing to be introduced to: you have to have these ''apps'', cheap mostly, but mostly useless, however, there are some surprising ones, like TuneIn Radio Pro.

Basically, you get presented with a world map, not unlike google maps, with which you can pan around the world with a flick of a finger. With two fingers - a habit users soon pick up - you can zoom in on any part of the map you like. Suddenly, little coloured pins appear scattered across the land, and the more you zoom in, the more new ones appear. These, I am informed, are local radio stations. Mali, for example, has hundreds of the little things! It all looks bloody marvellous.

I'm told if you click on a pin head you get a live stream of that station's broadcast but this is as far as I go. I haven't clicked for fear that the sound of U2 might cast forth into my ear phones and I realise we're all living in our own World Music version of the Truman Show, courtesy of the Beeb.

Maybe if I had a stiff drink first....

I'm not an iPad user, but I do have an iTouch. And this morning in an oddly synchronistic move driven by necessity I downloaded a free version of the very same app onto my little device.

No such map presents itself, but I do have access to the same stations. Sound quality, well, it's like a little radio...

Of course, in the open world in which we live, you don't need any such fancy gizmo, just a good old web browser and a link to the site

http://tunein.com/

more than 500 WM stations.

[ian russell]

I know, but I needed the gadget to free my hitherto blinkered browsing habits.

You don't get a map? that's the best part.

I confess I did swipe across South America the first time, to land on something like Patagonian FM. It sounded tango-ish.

[MrGongGong]

You need this interface I think

http://www.simonblackmore.net/~spritemusketeer/webstream/

Simon is a Geek Wizard of the Highest Degree

[Pianorak]

. . . I confess I did swipe across South America the first time, to land on something like Patagonian FM. It sounded tango-ish.

Are you sure it wasn't Welsh?

[ian russell]

Mr Gong, what a truly fantastic find! I especially like the way Blackmore is posed at his tiller like some post-modern Charon in a hoodie. The vessel looks basic but well built too, nice teeth!

I'm off to post this up on my Stumble Upon app...

[MrGongGong]

You should check out his iLog and Weather Guitar as well

[ian russell]

Are you sure it wasn't Welsh?

now that you mention it....

No, surely. I sometimes pick up RedDragon FM on my way home. The give away there is the occasional insertion of English words amongst the incomprehensible; the Welsh apparently have no word for Eclectic.

Or, for that matter, David Sylvian. It comes out as Duffy or The Stereophonics.