@Steevo- My aplogies. Those URLs don't work on my Chumby. I *used* to get WABC, didn't realize how things have changed. I tried some alternate links I had on my PC that used to play fine in Winamp, but now they just forward to that horrible flash player. Thank you for letting me know how they're up to something. Even on VLC, I can't easily find the 'real' link to the stream anymore. It goes to a page where VLC then picks up the stream. (I wonder if iheart is checking the browser, and blocking things like Chumby.) I just checked and some of the stations that used to be on Shoutcast (including WABC) aren't there any more. leo_keil above notes a lot of changes to iheart non-Chumby versions. So, it looks like you really did uncover something significant with iheart. Let us pray they're not going to sell it to Google.
I have another couple of shots I can try to find the direct link to these streams. Sometimes it's possible to find older mp3 streams from before they upgraded to aac. Sometimes the links to mp4a's can do funny things, like make your player try to download it rather than stream it. I'm really annoyed by this, so I'll be trying hard to find away around the Borg. This homogenized radio across the country is terrible. On the other hand, if the Borg put Jeri Ryan in that flash-player window, maybe I could tolerate it.
@BoloMKXXVIII and Joan Jett- I've wanted to buy a radio for years, but never did. I just couldn't decide what to go with. (That's why I bought my 1st Chumby.) Hope you can tell me more about your radios. I can't figure out the market, many of the models have been around for years. I haven't seen anything "wow" new lately. I'm also curious about the station providers. It seems like a lot of the stations come through 3rd parties, rather than straight through the web. The Sangean seems like a great radio with good sound, but I don't know what they limit it to 12 station presets. Do you have to type in additional URLs for >12? Can you type in your own URLs like in "My Streams?" (I used to have a good Sangean Short-wave radio.)
The Mondo looks very cool. Just my same reservations about station providers. It seems like Grace has more options. My big question is, how's the sound for both of them. And do they get good wi-fi connections? Please give me any more about how you like your radios.
As for my internet listening, I do use my PC a lot because it's hooked up to a good sound system. I've got a C1 in the same room (bedroom) for casual listening. Believe it or not, I really like the sound of the little C1 on its own. In my living room, I have another C1 plugged into a decent Sony Bookshelf system. The sound isn't the greatest "hifi," but it's ok. Sometimes I'll plug powered computer speakers into a Chumby, which makes surprisingly good sound. But yes, I really do want to buy a real radio. My apartment's on the ground floor, so I got really lousy radio reception before web radio.
I'm also looking for a 'portable' web radio solution. For wi-fi, I'm lucky enough to have a real "classic" pocket device I can use with earphones. It's an HP iPaq 111, one of the last real PDAs. It puts most small tablets to shame. It has Windows Media Player, but I installed a different player that works very well with streams, and sounds great. Unfortunately, it's getting a little old, and the battery's not holding a charge well.
This is another thing I'd like to buy- a small "entertainment" tablet with speakers, mostly for web radio. I don't need a tablet for serious browsing or work or even video, but I'd like good sound. Anybody have one like this? There was an old thread on this I can't find. I'd seen a small tablet with big speakers, I think it was an Archos, but I can't find it now.
Thanks for your advice. And Steevo, sorry I gave you some outdated info. But remember, resistance is *not* futile. I'm going to keep trying.