ooTunes

Mike Lightman | May 7, 2009 Music

User rating:

(45 votes, average: 3.04 out of 5)

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I like a few days to sit with the app before I get it all down on paper. I’ve taken a few extra days with ooTunes because frankly, the app terrified me. Yes, let me repeat – I was scared by a stack of code & some graphics. You think I’m pathetic, admit it. Well, if you witnessed the power this thing has, you wouldn’t be making fun.

On it’s own, ooTunes is arguably the most comprehensive & extensive radio app in the App Store. If you want to listen to Bulgarian Hip Hop, there’s a station for that. If you want local news from Saskatchewan, there’s a station for that. But, it’s really a misnomer to call it just a radio app. With the built-in web browser, it becomes your total streaming device. Factor in the addition of the ooTunes server for your home computer & you’ve got the a complete listening package.

You can’t mention ooTunes without a nod to the development team. I’m pretty sure the entire team consists of just one incredibly talented & dedicated developer named Steve. Since I first reached out to him about ooTunes, Steve’s maintained an almost alarming level of friendly. Read any of the reviews on iTunes & you’ll see customer service is so very important to him. He’s super responsive with requests & bug reports. You just can tell he really wants to provide a quality product.

As I’m writing this, I’m listened to a live Rogue Wave concert from Archive.org, checked ESPN.com on the built-in web browser (yep, the Yankees are still losing), checked the police scanner from Chicago & took a walk listening to my own music collection over 3G.

Steve graciously provided me with a copy of the server to test with the iPhone app. The iPhone app is a total win on it’s own, but add in the server & it just explodes with even more content. It’ll stream audio & video right to your phone. All this gushing is a little embarrasing, right? Yeah, It is.

Once you find something good, you can share it on Facebook, Twitter or Email it. There’s Last.FM to suggest other stuff you might like. If you hear a track on the radio, you can buy it from amazon, iTunes & a bunch of other stores. There’s so much audio goodness, I honestly can’t keep track of it all.

There are a few little things here & there, but nothing that will hold you back from bringing joy to your ears. Since the radio catalog is so big, it takes more than a few seconds to load the stations. The interface is also a little cluttered.

OoTunes has a goofy name, but it’ll do everything for your ears except QTip them after a shower.

: Login page

: Built-in web browser

: Options for music

: Tweet your favs

: Sharing options

: Main interface

Tags: $3.99, radio, streaming

http://www.edmontonfireradio.com Edmonton Fire Radio

I agree, this app is one of the best available. I have tried several other applications and to be honest, they all fall way short.

Our main interest is listening to our own station, Edmonton Fire Radio. However with so many entertainment options I find myself moving from station to station looking for something of interest. I find it difficult to stay on one station for very long with this app because there is so much to explore.

One really cool feature is the ability to bring up lyrics while listening to a song. To do this while the song is playing, touch ‘recent’ and select the song you are listening to. Within seconds you’ll see an icon next to the lyrics icon indicating that you can now check out what the heck the artist just said.

Rounding out the package is the ability to listen to shoutcast, icecast, Live 365 and more. This is really an entertainment powerhouse that I believe has no equal.
sam

question can u play live internet radio whit the ootunes live radio like studio92.com
http://mezerik.com mez

Yes you can play internet radio but not by entering an actual stream address. However if you email the developer with a stream you would like added then they will add it usually immediately.

If you wish to play streams not on there and don’t want to submit them then you can get FStream and it’s free. It also has recording functionality but doesn’t come with any stations preset.

I use both and Love ootunes but still use Fstream. I also use FStream client on my mac for live streaming as it’s lightweight interface is great and it uses hardly any memory unlike other apps such as itunes.
http://mezerik.com mez

Sorry for not hitting reply first. Anyway your question is answered. :-)
MarlonC

This App is totally awesome. I’m a transplanted New Yorker now living in Middle TN. I listen to the Spanish radio station in NYC LaMega all day and can all night. It cuts out once and a while but for the most part its absolutely continuous stream. I can even go back and listen to a stream i previously listed to if i saved it. Internet while jamming to the radio [check]. That in itself is more then what the IPhone can do without upgrading the phone to the latest one. Good stuff – i recommend everyone get one.
Jmatos51

Radio Station dosn’t play
Radio Sociedade da Bahia
Never connect with station