Software Review (Windows Phone 7): Slacker Radio

With the jump from Windows Mobile to Windows Phone 7, the access to music and video became less of an afterthought. Just the inclusion of the Zune Music and Video hub made all the difference in the world. Add to that back up for Zune Laissez passer and the efforts that Microsoft made to get developers and services interested and Windows Phone 7 is already in the tiptop two mobile platforms for music.

Slacker Radio is i of those music services that set the standard for streaming radio. The service offers a gratis and a premium service for $4.99 per month (or $iii.99 per calendar month billed annually at $47.88). Only how does that Slacker Radio app work? Does the app hold up its stop or does it brand the service worthless on Windows Phone vii? Read on to observe out.

Slacker Radio - WP7

Features

At its core, Slacker is a radio service which streams audio over your information connection. The service includes over a hundred radio stations that cater to a diversity of unlike musical genres. Comedy and News stations are also available.

Existence an Cyberspace based service, Slacker allows you to customize your listening preferences. If you hear a vocal that y'all enjoy, you lot tin can adjust the rating by using the favorite and ban buttons. You also have the option of simply skipping the current rail if you choose. Complimentary accounts are limited to vi skips per station per hour. Other features that Slacker provides are quick access to additional information such every bit vocal lyrics (for subscribers) and biographical information about the artist.

Slacker Radio - WP7

One of the major features that the Slacker service supports is known equally station caching. The thought of station caching is that content from Slacker downloads to the storage space on your device. The benefits are that you tin mind to your station without a information connection, giving you lot better bombardment life and also allowing y'all to mind when your connexion may not be stable. The only problem is that Slacker for Windows Phone 7 does not nevertheless support station caching, though this feature could be coming in the future.

Slacker Radio - WP7

Usability

The Slacker radio interface on Windows Phone seven uses the panoramic UI that has go then familiar. The home screen allows you to navigate between the stations and also allows you to search for a specific artist or song and build a custom station. It also integrates (to a betoken) into the Zune Hub, showing the current track and providing you a shortcut dorsum to the Slacker app. The "At present Playing" portion of the app allows you to swipe to the right to skip to the next track, and in the landscape orientation gives you a slightly different view of your options.

The major downside to the Slacker app on Windows Telephone 7 is the lack of multitasking support in the current version of the Bone. As soon as you navigate abroad from Slacker, your music stops. On the flip side, you can plow the device screen off and even so listen to your music; even viewing the lock screen doesn't crusade whatsoever issues.

Slacker Radio - WP7

Determination

Slacker is a great service, and the app for Windows Phone vii is a dandy start. My biggest issue isn't even Slacker'south problem as much as information technology is the fact that Windows Phone 7 doesn't nevertheless let multitasking. The second issue is the current lack of caching support past the application.

The good news is that the app is free, and the service tin be free as well. I tin can't really recommend that you pay for the service when you aren't going to get the full benefits right now, simply it is fairly reasonable as pay-for-play services go.

If you're unsure, head on over to the Marketplace and get your free copy of the Slacker app. Information technology's definitely worth a effort.