Internet Radio on the Go

Internet streamers and radios are nothing new, but Com One's $249 Phoenix IP Radio is cool because it's battery-operated and doesn't need a computer, so you can carry it around like an FM or AM radio—just like in the olden days. The radio is about as big as an old-school portable AM/FM radio, but has a sleeker, curvier, iPod-white design. It can detect and sign on to any open Wi-Fi hotspot automatically, and features eight presets so you don't have to go fishing for Internet stations.

The Phoenix IP Radio may not sound as good as, say, the audiophile-esque Roku Soundbridge Radio, but it's got portability, and works with virtually any Internet radio station. Like the Roku, it has a built-in alarm, so you can wake up to your favorite streams. It's also compatible with the latest version of Bluetooth so you can use stereo Bluetooth headphones and listen to tunes wirelessly up to 30 feet away.

The Phoenix IP radio is just one of several innovative sound products I saw this week when I met with Com One, the French company best known for its Bluetooth accessories (like the Bluetooth Stereo Speaker).

Personally I prefer Internet radio to FM, satellite, or HD radio, so I welcome anything that helps me access my favorite streams in new ways.

How about you? Do you listen to Internet radio a lot? Do you prefer it to regular radio? If so, what's your favorite Internet radio station?

Related links:

iPod and iTunes: Add Additional Radio Stations
A Wi-Fi Music Player In The Works?
How To Record Internet Streaming Radio