HTC Rezound: No FM Radio App .... :)

[Ruvort]

And is RSSI near 0 or negative ? See my post above.

Here's my guess. Verizon (the customer) tells HTC to disable FM and they do.

And the Rezound is exclusive to Verizon ? No International version with FM ?

I can imagine a small possibility that there is a jumper missing (or a grounding jumper present) on the PCB with the FM/combo chip. A missing jumper would connect the chip FM antenna pin(s) to the earphone jack, or a present jumper would ground the pin.

If so, then it's possible that a bit of soldering might enable FM.

Also, there's always the remote possibility of a software controlled antenna switch somewhere. But I've been looking for this magic switch on various Motorola devices for the past year and haven't found it yet.


All in all, I'm very doubtful about the prospects for Verizon HTC devices with no stock FM app to be FM enable-able. I'd love it since my app would have a new market, but the Verizon/HTC FM disabling story seems pretty likely IMO.

I really hope this isn't the case. I miss FM radio on my phone. I had it on my Dinc2

Sent from my HTC Rezound via Tapatalk

MyColorScreen

 

[humpagardengnome]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

I'm bummed to hear this myself. FM should be a standard on every smartphone that it's applicable to have it. To me, the accessibility is more than just an entertainment feature, it's every bit as important as 911 access on our phones, in many ways.

 

[mikereidis]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

The disabling of FM on phones is mostly a US phenomena, by US carriers.

There was an attempt a few years ago to pass laws requiring mobile devices to have FM chips. The electronics industry protested and showed surveys indicating most people don't care about FM on mobile.

The fact that so many people buy Rezounds and Razrs and Nexus devices and US Galaxy S*s without FM tend to bear out those surveys. It's only after purchase, and perhaps high data fees, that a good number (but not a majority I think) of people decide they want FM.

Now it's "funny" that most of these devices have FM combo chips. So the complaints of the OEMs about added cost seem a bit silly.

They might have to spend an extra buck or so, for software, testing, maybe even a bit of a license fee for FM specifically to the combo chip manufacturer. I read something also about patent(s) at Washington University, but I dunno.

 

[SurfingJerry]

I said the same thing in the fm thread in the rezound rooting/hacking forum.

I'm bummed to hear this myself. FM should be a standard on every smartphone that it's applicable to have it. To me, the accessibility is more than just an entertainment feature, it's every bit as important as 911 access on our phones, in many ways.

 

[SurfingJerry]

At purchase I thought the rezound DID have fm radio. I am CERTAIN that official websites said so, too, not just 3rd party reviewers etc.
All the 3rd parties got their info from somewhere and it's all the exact same. It's not like they got together at rezound-con and decided they would all add fm radio to the feature list even though htc/vzw never mentioned it.

The fact that so many people buy Rezounds and Razrs and Nexus devices and US Galaxy S*s without FM tend to bear out those surveys. It's only after purchase, and perhaps high data fees, that a good number (but not a majority I think) of people decide they want FM.

 

[humpagardengnome]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

I said the same thing in the fm thread in the rezound rooting/hacking forum.

Well, now I know I'm not alone. I can already tell that your a man of great wit and intellect. I like the way you think.

 

[humpagardengnome]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

At purchase I thought the rezound DID have fm radio. I am CERTAIN that official websites said so, too, not just 3rd party reviewers etc.
All the 3rd parties got their info from somewhere and it's all the exact same. It's not like they got together at rezound-con and decided they would all add fm radio to the feature list even though htc/vzw never mentioned it.

Alot of third parties(blogs, tech. sites) base alot of their "facts" on hearsay, rumor, assumptions and misinformed rhetoric. I'm sure you did hear it from one or more sources, at some point. I thought for sure there would be fm on the Rezound but never read anything that told me it did. I just assumed it would.

 

[mikereidis]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

Alot of third parties(blogs, tech. sites) base alot of their "facts" on hearsay, rumor, assumptions and misinformed rhetoric. I'm sure you did hear it from one or more sources, at some point. I thought for sure there would be fm on the Rezound but never read anything that told me it did. I just assumed it would.

And for the last 2 years or so, that was a safe assumption for HTC products.

Sometimes marketing literature etc. comes from an international or other variant that DOES have FM. Or somebody decided at the last moment that it should be disabled, in favor of data plan revenue etc.

But if it's on an official Verizon (or HTC) website and you confront them, they change it pretty fast. IMO you have recourse to at least return the phone, lest they be accused, rightfully, of false advertising.

 

[humpagardengnome]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

And for the last 2 years or so, that was a safe assumption for HTC products.

Sometimes marketing literature etc. comes from an international or other variant that DOES have FM. Or somebody decided at the last moment that it should be disabled, in favor of data plan revenue etc.

But if it's on an official Verizon (or HTC) website and you confront them, they change it pretty fast. IMO you have recourse to at least return the phone, lest they be accused, rightfully, of false advertising.

Don't think I'd return a phone over the lack of native fm radio support but you raised a good point. That certainly would be an interesting base argument in a customer vs carrrier/manufacturer scenario, if someone actually had proof they advertised it as such. Don't think they ever did that though, at least, not to the best of my knowledge.

P.S. Glad you dropped in for this thread, your knowledge/contributions have been interesting & very informative.
Thanks for doing whatcha do w/ Android development. Really, wish I could slap Spirit on my Rez.

 

[mikereidis]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

Don't think I'd return a phone over the lack of native fm radio support but you raised a good point. That certainly would be an interesting base argument in a customer vs carrrier/manufacturer scenario, if someone actually had proof they advertised it as such. Don't think they ever did that though, at least, not to the best of my knowledge.

P.S. Glad you dropped in for this thread, your knowledge/contributions have been interesting & very informative.
Thanks for doing whatcha do w/ Android development. Really, wish I could slap Spirit on my Rez.

You can, just run it in the emulator mode. No sound though, LOL.

AT&T has Galaxy S and S2/Note variants with no FM and they accidentally advertised it with FM, I'm sure because of the generic marketing documents they got from Samsung.

They quickly fixed their website when it was found out. They refund no problem in such a circumstance because otherwise it's an open and shut small claims court case they would lose, which costs them money and bad will.

I've spoken with LOTS of people wishing, hoping I can get FM on their Atrix or Galaxy Nexus etc. When I suggest they consider a different phone, they almost always tell me they LOVE that phone and will keep it.

Thus proving those surveys indicating most people don't base purchase decisions on FM. End result: US (and Canadian now) carriers disable FM, particularly on high end devices. They are businesses set up to maximise profit, so you can't really blame them, unless you want to blame capitalism in general.

And forcing companies to support FM is some kind of "dictatorial big government socialism"...

Not to start any sort of political discussion... Most sides/corners of the political spectrum have valid points to make. I'm Canadian and lean left of the Canadian centre, and there are things I like about that, but capitalism has plenty going for it.

 

[donlow]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

There are FM apps that work on the Rezound. I currently use TuneIn Radio, It works fine.

 

[Wanda]

There are FM apps that work on the Rezound. I currently use TuneIn Radio, It works fine.

Right. But its not an FM receiver. Your streaming radio stations over your data connection.

 

[donlow]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

I am using TuneIn Radio app on my Rezound. Works fine.

 

[donlow]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

So you want an FM radio app. Not an FM radio app. Now I understand. How stupid of me not knowing the difference between an app & an app.

 

[zmann]

I understand what your saying. You want a tuner where you have to use your headphones for a antenna. Not a streaming app. My phone has one but I never use it.

EVO - LUTION 3D

 

[Wanda]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

So you want an FM radio app. Not an FM radio app. Now I understand. How stupid of me not knowing the difference between an app & an app.

Chill the sarcasm. If you had bothered to read any of the thread you would have known this was in reference to an FM tuner.

I understand what your saying. You want a tuner where you have to use your headphones for a antenna. Not a streaming app. My phone has one but I never use it.

EVO - LUTION 3D

Exactly. I used mine on my Incredible too. Bummer the Rezound doesn't have one but life goes on.

 

[zmann]

I guess when you do not understand what someone is trying to say you must belittle them so as to not feel so stupid.

EVO - LUTION 3D

 

[mikereidis]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

At least part of the blame for confusion goes to the carriers and streaming app devs/companies who call their apps "radio" or sometimes even "FM radio".

Carriers sometimes say their phone has a "radio app". IMO they should call them "streaming apps" or similar but they're not gonna listen to me, LOL.

Do a search for my Spirit FM app on Play or anywhere using "FM radio" for the search. What you get is a whole LOT of streaming apps. I have to call my app a "real, tuned, OTA FM radio app" to try and convey that, but you have to read the description.

And, while I'm ranting...

Try going to a carrier website and try to figure out which phones support real FM. Try looking for an FM box to tick when doing a search by features. I do this, an web searches, everytime someone asks about a device I don't know, and don't have a confirmed entry in my own compatibility list.

The only foolproof way to see if real FM is supported so far is to download the official manual for the phone model & variant and do a search for FM in the manual.

 

[swervedriver212]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

How do you get an app from a different phone?

 

[swervedriver212]

Re: No FM Radio App ....

How do you "grab" an app. from a different phone?