TORONTO – Digital radio streaming app Radioplayer Canada has announced a prototype touchscreen radio app for dashboards designed to show how smart 'hybrid' technology can transform in-car listening.
‘Reference Radio’ displays HD Radio, FM, and Internet radio streams as a single list of stations, meaning that the driver just taps a station logo to play it, and the system automatically selects the best signal source. Voice control, podcasts and personalization will be trialled in the next phase of development.
"Reference Radio represents another major step toward an even better user experience for radio listeners," said Radioplayer Canada board chair and Rogers Radio SVP Julie Adam, in the news release. "Our collective industry goal is to provide simple, seamless, and safe radio listening for the automobile."
Demonstrated at an industry event in Berlin, the prototype used a 7-inch Android touchscreen, the size often seen in modern car dashboards. Car companies, equipment manufacturers, and interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback on the prototype.
"We've distilled years of research, development and testing into this prototype, which will be the catalyst for a long-overdue conversation between broadcasters and car companies," added Radioplayer Worldwide managing director Michael Hill. "The Radioplayer Reference Radio shows that radio can be simple, smart and sexy in the connected cars of the future."
