About damned time...
http://www.radioworld.com/news-and-...ple-to-turn-on-fm-reception-in-iphones/340506
http://www.radioworld.com/news-and-...ple-to-turn-on-fm-reception-in-iphones/340506
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FCC Chairman Calls on Apple to Turn on FM Reception in iPhones
- Thread starter joebtsflk1
- Start date
If no response from Mr. Cook within the next 24 hours, Pai should call for a rulemaking.
This needs to be done on Android as well.
I guess I never gave it a thought, as my old Nokia N95 does have an FM radio function and while I don't use it, I knew it was there. We just checked two other phones, my daughter's Huawei and wife's LG V20. Both have FM and both work.
The Nokia was bought from a vendor in China via Ebay and the Huawei was purchased in the Philippines. The LG was purchased in the states.
The LG was SIM locked to T-Mobile when we got it, but they unlocked it for us. Any possibility that unlocking also opened up the FM radio side? Never thought to check it before it was unlocked.
The Nokia and Huawei were unlocked from day one.
This is all well and good, but Apple's interest is in controlling the user experience. Compared with Internet-based applications, the use of FM radio in their phones could be a negative experience for some customers, especially when using a headphone cable (earbuds) for the antenna and most of the new phones are going wireless to the headphones anyway, so Apple would have to integrate an FM antenna into a metal case?.
Apple, let alone any of the smartphone companies, won't want to risk negative press from turning on what amounts to old technology, nor try to defy physics by putting an antenna into the phone.
Apple, let alone any of the smartphone companies, won't want to risk negative press from turning on what amounts to old technology, nor try to defy physics by putting an antenna into the phone.
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Apple most likely sees the FM capability on the chips installed in their I-phones as competition to 'apple music'. Although extremely limited, 'apple music' does offer a radio feature which is basically a miniscule version
of sirrius/xm, offering a handful of different genres of music. In my opinion, I think Apple will fight activating the FM feature all the way to the Supreme Court. I downloaded I-Tuner PRO on my I-phone which gives me the ability to stream radio stations not only from all over the United States but from all over the world, so I personally don't, see any major benefit in attempting to make, as someone mentioned in a previous reply, an FM receiver out of a tiny metal case without a headphone jack.
of sirrius/xm, offering a handful of different genres of music. In my opinion, I think Apple will fight activating the FM feature all the way to the Supreme Court. I downloaded I-Tuner PRO on my I-phone which gives me the ability to stream radio stations not only from all over the United States but from all over the world, so I personally don't, see any major benefit in attempting to make, as someone mentioned in a previous reply, an FM receiver out of a tiny metal case without a headphone jack.
Another factor I thought about is the carrier. I've had some Samsung phones that from what I've been able to find out have an FM chip but Verizon won't activate it. Carriers need to be pressured into activating the FM chips in phones.
And yet the chip is there. Which means that it gets used in some countries, regardless of quality of experience. My understanding is it's activated in China, where the phone is made. So maybe this means Apple isn't concerned about the user experience in China, because that government requires it.
So AllAccess.com reports that Apple responded to Pai's request, via TechCrunch:
"APPLE cares deeply about the safety of our users, especially during times of crisis and that’s why we have engineered modern safety solutions into our products. Users can dial emergency services and access Medical ID card information directly from the Lock Screen, and we enable government emergency notifications, ranging from Weather Advisories to AMBER alerts. iPHONE 7 and iPHONE 8 models do not have FM radio chips in them nor do they have antennas designed to support FM signals, so it is not possible to enable FM reception in these products."
http://www.radiodiscussions.com/sho...ple-Bites-No-FM-Chips-In-Latest-iPhone-Models
The problem with this response is that cell services weren't available during the recent hurricanes. Cell service is still not available in Puerto Rico one week later. Once again, this is what happens when you don't have a mandate. OTA radio companies operate under lots of FCC and government mandates. Companies like Apple don't. Maybe it's time to level the playing field here.
"APPLE cares deeply about the safety of our users, especially during times of crisis and that’s why we have engineered modern safety solutions into our products. Users can dial emergency services and access Medical ID card information directly from the Lock Screen, and we enable government emergency notifications, ranging from Weather Advisories to AMBER alerts. iPHONE 7 and iPHONE 8 models do not have FM radio chips in them nor do they have antennas designed to support FM signals, so it is not possible to enable FM reception in these products."
http://www.radiodiscussions.com/sho...ple-Bites-No-FM-Chips-In-Latest-iPhone-Models
The problem with this response is that cell services weren't available during the recent hurricanes. Cell service is still not available in Puerto Rico one week later. Once again, this is what happens when you don't have a mandate. OTA radio companies operate under lots of FCC and government mandates. Companies like Apple don't. Maybe it's time to level the playing field here.
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Well said. I don't think Apple gives a good Road Apple about the User Experience. It's all about keeping Apple users tied to the Apple Univer$$e.
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I agree, which is why FCC rulemaking is required.
That's not the point. There are several apps on my phone that I don't use. The point is that it's available.
Just make it an update (I get those every few months) and that will handle the activation.
And also require carriers to make the activation an available option.
I agree with Kelly. If the FM chip was activated, how do you educate the user that it is now active, where to find it and why it has been activated? With Hurricanes, Tornadoes and bad weather, you get some advanced notice of the storm. Activating the FM option in time to educate the user and push out the update before damage to the Cell network would have to be figured out. How many days before a natural disaster, if it could be activated, should it be activated to give the user time to find the “FM App”.
If it could be done some ground rules would have to be in place (how far ahead of the event does the FM get activated). Who sets the ground rules.
I would also like to point out that events with no advanced or very little notice would not be as effective. An example would be an earthquake. No advanced notice is given before an Earthquake, to push out an update to activate the FM option. After the event, the network may be compromised so the activation cannot get pushed out to the affected users.
If people were given an option to download an app for $45 that would provide emergency communication and an FM radio. Would they do it? If yes then the app should order them a Baofeng UV-5R set to the GMR/FRS band and the NOAA weather channels, the radio also has an FM tuner in it. For $20 they get sent a simple transistor AM/FM radio with a simple whip antenna for FM reception and a wrist strap so they can hold a smart phone while listening to the radio with one hand. Of course good quality batteries. Put it with your emergency kit.
Maybe Smartphones should have a built in Life preserver or eatable so it can be used as an emergency food source. Your smartphones perishable date has expired, time to upgrade. It’s another way to get your client base to upgrade!
If the Iphone had an eatable version would it taste like an Apple?
If it could be done some ground rules would have to be in place (how far ahead of the event does the FM get activated). Who sets the ground rules.
I would also like to point out that events with no advanced or very little notice would not be as effective. An example would be an earthquake. No advanced notice is given before an Earthquake, to push out an update to activate the FM option. After the event, the network may be compromised so the activation cannot get pushed out to the affected users.
If people were given an option to download an app for $45 that would provide emergency communication and an FM radio. Would they do it? If yes then the app should order them a Baofeng UV-5R set to the GMR/FRS band and the NOAA weather channels, the radio also has an FM tuner in it. For $20 they get sent a simple transistor AM/FM radio with a simple whip antenna for FM reception and a wrist strap so they can hold a smart phone while listening to the radio with one hand. Of course good quality batteries. Put it with your emergency kit.
Maybe Smartphones should have a built in Life preserver or eatable so it can be used as an emergency food source. Your smartphones perishable date has expired, time to upgrade. It’s another way to get your client base to upgrade!
If the Iphone had an eatable version would it taste like an Apple?
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I have a V20 that is locked on AT&T and the FM tuner is fully functional albeit listenable only when there is something plugged into the headphone jack.
The FCC regulates phone devices, so obviously this would be spelled out in the rule mandating activation. I suggest an app on the screen, along side such other apps as camera, weather, and maps. Once its on the screen, it'll be very obvious to users.
OK so the FCC gets it's way and the phones magically upgrade and turn on the FM chip. Should the FCC specify what station the radio is tuned to when activated?
The other issue, while this would help with the current situations in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, it is not the silver bullet to all situations. The crank charger with AM/FM/NOAA radio, flashlight and USB charger could be a better option. Because even if they can listen to FM on the phone the battery is going to go dead. There is only so much light a phone can put out at night.
The other argument to activate the FM is you throw all of your resources at the problem. In some instances where your not at home or between your home and destination you may not have your crank charger. However alot of people carry a spare battery, Maybe get a manufacture to make a battery with an AM/FM radio in it. The USB connection to the phone could be the antenna.
Maybe Apple should come out with a Apple branded Crank charger/radio/flashlight and a battery with a radio/flashlight as an upgrade any one could get for their smart phone. For some people this might be a way to expose them to Apple products.
The other issue, while this would help with the current situations in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, it is not the silver bullet to all situations. The crank charger with AM/FM/NOAA radio, flashlight and USB charger could be a better option. Because even if they can listen to FM on the phone the battery is going to go dead. There is only so much light a phone can put out at night.
The other argument to activate the FM is you throw all of your resources at the problem. In some instances where your not at home or between your home and destination you may not have your crank charger. However alot of people carry a spare battery, Maybe get a manufacture to make a battery with an AM/FM radio in it. The USB connection to the phone could be the antenna.
Maybe Apple should come out with a Apple branded Crank charger/radio/flashlight and a battery with a radio/flashlight as an upgrade any one could get for their smart phone. For some people this might be a way to expose them to Apple products.
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