Categories
News

Survey Finds 33% of Users Wanting FM Playback on MP3 Devices

fullipod.jpg
In a Jacobs Media survey conducted between late February and March of 2007, approximately 33% of respondents in a survey consisting of over 25,000 listeners of various rock stations around the United States cited that they’d like FM radio playback on current or future iPods. Jacobs Media operates as a radio consulting firm within the United States.
The poll also established that an FM playback ability seemed more important to users than an increased storage capacity, larger screen or video playback according to Macworld UK.
To date, Apple has never included a built-in FM receiver with its iPod devices, leaving third-party firms to provide these features. Microsoft’s Zune MP3 player, which debuted in late 2006, made a point of including FM radio support and marketing this as a missing feature not found on the iPod.
The poll also discovered that MP3 player ownership has steadily increased, rising 47% in 2006 to demonstrate a 34% increase.
“iPods are showing no signs of stopping,” said Fred Jacobs, President of Jacobs Media. “Last year, our data showed that the growth of personal MP3 players was far from over. This year, our new study confirms that this phenomenon continues to have lots of life, and we expect strong growth throughout ’07.”
This brings about a good question. How important is an FM playback feature on your iPod to you and have you gone to a third party outfit to fill this need? What’s your overall take on it?
If you have an idea or comment, let us know.


fullipod.jpg
In a Jacobs Media survey conducted between late February and March of 2007, approximately 33% of respondents in a survey consisting of over 25,000 listeners of various rock stations around the United States cited that they’d like FM radio playback on current or future iPods. Jacobs Media operates as a radio consulting firm within the United States.
The poll also established that an FM playback ability seemed more important to users than an increased storage capacity, larger screen or video playback according to Macworld UK.
To date, Apple has never included a built-in FM receiver with its iPod devices, leaving third-party firms to provide these features. Microsoft’s Zune MP3 player, which debuted in late 2006, made a point of including FM radio support and marketing this as a missing feature not found on the iPod.
The poll also discovered that MP3 player ownership has steadily increased, rising 47% in 2006 to demonstrate a 34% increase.
“iPods are showing no signs of stopping,” said Fred Jacobs, President of Jacobs Media. “Last year, our data showed that the growth of personal MP3 players was far from over. This year, our new study confirms that this phenomenon continues to have lots of life, and we expect strong growth throughout ’07.”
This brings about a good question. How important is an FM playback feature on your iPod to you and have you gone to a third party outfit to fill this need? What’s your overall take on it?
If you have an idea or comment, let us know.