For most avid media consumers, more than one or two applications serve this purpose. Player, podcast app, radio app, favorite apps and apps I put to try. From this point of view, the very idea of a 'in one bottle' solution looks very attractive.
The free Audi als Radio app aims to bring the entire experience of listening to music, podcasts, radio and more to one place. And what's more, it was continuous, meaning you could sync it across your phone, tablet and PC without any problems.
The first thing that catches your eye when you enter the application is the tiled interface. All the advantages and disadvantages of this approach have long been discussed and described, but in this case it looks quite justified. Large sections such as 'Radio', 'Podcasts', 'My Recordings' hide many categories, and, at first glance, it is easy to get lost in all this diversity. However, once you start using the app, this feeling goes away very quickly. This is not to say that the application is absolutely intuitive, but looking ahead, it can be noted that it will take a minimum of time to master it. And if we return to the visual component, then it is quite on the level. The app looks good, there are two color schemes to choose from, and, nicely, the interface is equally suitable for screens of all sizes while maintaining functionality. Although, of course, the larger the screen, the more enjoyment the displayed music album covers.
Radio
The main section in Audi als Radio is listening to internet radio stations. Their app 'knows' about 100,000. Stations can be sorted by countries, genres, popularity and top performers, and you can also choose the ones closest to you. In addition, you have the ability to scan radio stations for a given artist – the application will find for you the ones that are currently playing it. You can add your favorite stations to your favorites. But if suddenly your beloved was not found in all the variety, this is also not a problem. You can enter the URL manually and it will be added to the database.
If you are bored with searching and just want to listen to the radio, or you are confused by hundreds of similar stations, the application will offer you options based on your previous requests and listens. And it will do it quite accurately.
If the radio station has Twitter or Facebook, then you can view news from there. Perhaps, such a function will please someone.
A distinctive feature of Audi als Radio is a convenient implementation of recording music from the radio. There is a timer recording function. You can record the broadcast in its entirety, or you can cut out individual compositions from it.
By the way, returning to the search for radio stations in the application, you can select them based on the broadcast quality. In the settings, you can set the minimum and maximum bitrate, giving priority to either quality or speed and traffic savings. By the way, it is also possible to 'explain' to the application that you are ready to listen to the radio within the range of Wi-Fi; when you leave such an area, the application will automatically stop.
Podcasts
In fact, the functionality of the application related to listening to podcasts is not much different from the radio. However, there is no way to independently adjust the recording quality. You can, however, pause the podcast to listen to it when it suits you.
In total, more than 260 thousand podcasts are available, however, in Russian – only about two and a half thousand. You can search by topic or by language. In addition to the 'main' language, you can add an 'additional language', and then the search will expand.
Music and video playback
Among the functionality Audi als Radio is the ability to work with your library. The app has a built-in audio player for listening to your music collection. But video playback will be carried out using a third-party player.
Settings
This is not to say that there are too many settings here. But, on the other hand, they are quite enough for an application focused primarily on listening to the radio. In terms of appearance, two possible color schemes and the display of the album cover (or the radio station logo) have already been mentioned. There are equalizer settings, both manual and presets. You can configure the saving of traffic, battery power, buffering size, playback on a third-party device.
It is convenient that access to settings is always in the same place, although the menu may differ slightly.
With the ability to configure the on / off timer, Audi als Radio can work as an alarm clock. Perhaps it will be much more pleasant for you to wake up to the sounds of your favorite radio station, and not to a long-boring melody. You can also doze off while listening to music, having previously set when the application should turn off.
Synchronization and work with multiple devices
To sync, you need to create an account at Audi als. It is easy to register here, and it will not take time, but if it is more convenient for you, you can do it via Facebook. Unfortunately, the app does not support any other social networks.
The presence of a desktop version of the application is its indisputable advantage. Provided the browser is synchronized on a PC and a phone, it is very easy to access the application on all devices, and you will see the same interface everywhere. Syncing with Windows is seamless, so the much talked about Continuum in Microsoft wins in yet another single application.
Moreover, the desktop version includes a whole brood of music combines that allow you not only to sort your music collection, but also to do streaming, converting, recording and much more, and not only with music, but also video.
Content playback is possible from a local library, as well as from cloud storage or from any other device that is connected to your smartphone or PC.
Eventually
Perhaps, as a noticeable flaw Audi als Radio can only be called incomplete localization of the application. Not all menu items are translated into Russian, however, in order to understand the application, you do not need a high level of English proficiency. But there are many more advantages. And the most important of them is its versatility and its high-quality implementation. Internet radio, podcasts and your own media collection, all accessible from a single app. A sufficient number of settings and their intuitiveness. Cross-platform and the ability to synchronize between several of your devices. Nice additional functionality like a radio as an alarm clock. And, finally, intuitiveness in mastering, despite the proposed number of possibilities.
The application definitely deserves the closest attention of users who cannot imagine their daily life without media content of any kind.
Download Audi als Radio