Aaron Adams’s Blowhard Blog

Griffin Technology recently released its much anticipated radioSHARK USB-powered AM/FM radio for both Mac and Windows. It features live audio recording and subsequent export to iTunes, time-shift recording, scheduled recording, and other features you’d expect from a computer-controlled radio.

Read more for details about the radioSHARK.

The radioSHARK gets its name from its obvious resemblance to a shark’s characteristic dorsal fin. Unlike a shark, however, the radioSHARK’s fin has gills that light up blue when the device is powered on, and red when the device is recording audio from the airwaves. The radioSHARK is powered completely by the USB port on a Mac or PC, so there is only a single cable needed for operation, which is good news for those of us who despise the spaghetti of cables the backsides of our desks have become. A weighted stand attached to the bottom of the radioSHARK keeps it upright. I’ve found that the radioSHARK is quite an attention-getter as it sits on my desk at work. It’s hard to tell what the fin is until someone explains it.

As cool as the hardware looks, the software lacks the same visual polish. For those of you who care about such things, the interface is styled in what I would best describe as faux brushed metal.

Then again, if you look at Apple’s brushed metal, you’ll notice that the brushed metal for Quicktime is different from that used for, say, Safari. Notice also that the interface doesn’t incorporate Apple’s usual red, yellow, and green window control buttons, but instead has custom buttons to close and minimize. Also, I noticed the curvature of the top corners is different than the curvature of the bottom corners, as if they’ve been chopped off a bit. It’s a minor quibble, but considering the striking appearance of the hardware, I’d like to see Griffin invest the same care into the software’s appearance. The Mac interface is the one pictured above, and the Windows interface, pictured below, is similar except for preference dialogs, which you would logically expect to take on a Windows look and feel.

Notice how the top and bottom of the Windows version is blue and the Mac version is silver. You can choose from a number of colors, including pink, in the preferences.

I like the idea of using the slider at the top to select a station rather than a more clunky method such as using + and - buttons. The station directly under the pointer is shown real-time, and that makes it easy to find the station you’re after. Presets are stored, added, and edited in the drop-down just below the station identifier. To add a preset, you simply move the slider to your station of choice, select “Add preset…” from the drop-down, and type in call letters or another name for the preset.

Just below the preset drop-down is the volume control. It works as you would guess, and clicking on the silent speaker to the left mutes the radioSHARK.

The first button down the left side is the Band button which selects either the AM or FM band for your listening pleasure. I’ve found the radioSHARK’s reception to be very good. I listen to AM talk radio during the day and there seems to be quite a bit of interference, most likely due to the fact that my office is directly outside the server room. I don’t know enough about radio to say for sure that’s the cause, but I’m betting it is considering AM reception with the radioSHARK at home is much better.

The Seek button works as it would on any other radio, traveling down the dial and stopping at stations until you press the seek button again to continue.

Below the Seek button is one of the features that really makes the radioSHARK stand out from ordinary radios Ñ the recording feature. Depending on the preferences you set, you can can have the radioSHARK record one station continuously, even as you change stations, until you stop it, or you can have it record your live listening as you flip. When the recording is done, radioSHARK will place the resulting AAC into an iTunes playlist. The applications’s preferences allow you to choose the bitrate and recording quality of the AAC file, and you can also select which iTunes playlist in which to place that AAC. If AAC doesn’t meet your needs, AIFF is also an option.

On the right, the top button is used to schedule recordings. If there is a radio program you’d like to record every day, the scheduler will set the radioSHARK to record and optionally export that to an iTunes playlist based on the settings described above. Sync your iPod and you’ll never miss your favorite shows again. The scheduling window is pictured below.

The EQ button displays the equalizer window which comes with a number of presets, including everyone’s favorite, “Annoying Car”, which really does sound like an annoying car.

Last, but certainly not least, is time-shift recording, designated by the TS button on the bottom right. Imagine you’re listening to your favorite radio program and you have to leave your desk for a while. That’s no problem for the radioSHARK Ñ hit the pause button in the time-shift window and walk away. When you return, press play and the audio will continue right where it left off.

The slider shows the size of the recording buffer, which is customizable in the preferences. This particular example has a buffer of 5 minutes. If you’re away from your desk for 3 minutes, radioSHARK will play from the back end of the buffer and you won’t miss a thing. If you’re gone for 7 minutes, then the two minutes at the back end of the buffer have been lost and you’ll miss a little of your show. Time-shifting has to be enabled in the preferences before you can pause live programming.

One final note: The radioSHARK has an 1/8th inch plug in the back which is not mentioned anywhere in the manual, and nowhere is any indication given as to what this plug is for. I’ve been told that an antenna extension can be purchased and plugged in there, but as of yet, I haven’t tried it.

Everyone I have talked to has winced at the radioSHARK’s $70 price tag. I haven’t been radio shopping recently, but I’m sure a fine radio could be purchased for a fraction of that price. The difference is, that radio wouldn’t have recording capabilities like the radioSHARK does and wouldn’t have a time-shifting feature, which can come in very handy. Overall, if you’re an avid listener of radio or have a compelling need to record radio for any reason, the radioSHARK is well worth the money. Griffin may have taken a long time bringing the radioSHARK to market, but it was worth the wait.

Griffin radioSHARK $69.99