Slacker announces caching for the iPhone
Slacker announces station caching for the iPhone and iPod Touch, bringing both devices one step closer to a subscription music model.
Oh, I'm sorry...I can't hear you over the deafening chorus of angels singing "Hallelujah!" Yes, it's true: the iPhone and the iPod Touch are one step closer to subscription music and I'm pleased as punch about it. Slacker, which released an app for the devices earlier this year, is about to roll out an update that will allow for caching and over-the-air refreshing of stations.
While the new capability isn't a huge deal for the iPhone, it's a big win for iPod Touch owners because it means you won't need to be connected to Wi-Fi in order to enjoy Slacker Radio. The only time you will need to hop on is when you're ready to refresh content on the stations, which is a blissfully easy process, thanks to Slacker's excellent onscreen interface.
Actually, the news is great all around, as playing from a cached station takes significantly less of a toll on the battery than streaming.
In addition, Slacker will be launching apps for Palm and Android devices, as well as updating the Blackberry app. All the new goodness should be available in the next two or three weeks.