Pandora: Internet Radio Done Right

Posted: April 1, 2010 at 12:17 am by Nathan Driskell
Filed under Computers Social Media

A couple of days ago I was browsing the Internet looking for new music. I am very picky with what I listen to, resulting in a very limited music collection. I heard about an Internet Radio Station named Pandora, which combines the concept of Stumbleupon and music. I was interested, and created an account. Hours later, I was convinced Pandora was the finest Internet Radio Station I have ever seen. Using Pandora, I have been exposed to numerous artists I never knew existed.

Your Own Radio Station

What makes Pandora stand out is instead of listening to other’s stations, Pandora requires you to create your own. You begin by inputing an artist, song, or album into the system. Pandora then checks with other users to see what artists are similar to your selection. The station then plays them to you. You can add numerous artists, allow you to create a wide range of songs and sounds. As a member (it is free), you can save your station to listen to at anytime. You can modify it at will, and even make multiple stations. You can even have the system shuffle stations, giving you a wide range of musical choices.

What is really nice is exposure to other artists. You can choose if you like a song, and Pandora will add more songs similar to the song you are listening to. Likewise, if you dislike a song, you can tell Pandora to not include it, and it will remove songs similar. It is a nice system that after sometime will leave you with a tailored system just for you. Instead of going to another Internet Radio station and hearing 2-3 songs an hour you like; you will hear more toward your liking.

Pandora uses ads within the system, just as all the other’s do. The ads are displayed all over the page, which at times can be distracting and annoying. In addition, every 6-8 songs you hear a 30 second ad. However, as a free service this is to be expected. The good thing is you can pay to download a desktop application that will be ad free. Right now the cost is $36 per year, which is not bad. If you are someone who hates ads, then I suggest you upgrade, as the ads in time will annoy you.

Interface

Pandora uses Adobe Flash to deliver the songs. The Interface is simple put informative for the most part. You have full access to your profile while listening, and can even add new artists while a song is playing. One major feature is the ability to pause your station. This is a welcome addition, as often you need to go and do not want to miss what is being played. The interface also includes information on the artist, song, lyrics, fans, and even links to purchase the music.

The Flash interface is not without it’s flaws. Most of the links do not work. Clicking links for similar artist does nothing, as well as links for more information. I am using Google Chrome, so maybe there is a compatibility issue. There should not be, as Flash should not depend on your browser. This is somewhat annoying, especially if you want to learn more about an artist or a song.

A Worthy Experience

Despite it’s flaws, Pandora is the best Internet Music Player I have used. Pandora is best for listeners who want to learn about new music and artists similar to their tastes. I have only used Pandora for 2 days, so there may be issues I am not yet aware. Overall, I am pleased and recommend Pandora to anyone who wishes to explore new music.

Visit Pandora’s Website Here.

Update

I just discovered the free version has a limitation on how much you can listen. It seems you get 40 or so hours per month of listening time. If you switch to the paid service, you get unlimited listening time. While this is disappointing, it makes sense, as there needs to be a reason to upgrade.

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About the author: Psychcomp is owned and maintained by Nathan Driskell, a Licensed Professional Counselor - Intern specializing in Internet Addiction and Asperger's Disorder. Nathan is also a Web Designer and Network Administrator. Contact Nathan at the following locations: dami ...@psychcomp.com">E-Mail Twitter

Tags: Internet Radio, Pandora

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