LogMeIn Ignition App May Pave Way for Listening to Howard Stern on iPhone
In an interesting turn of events, it is quite possible that an advertisement read on the air by Howard Stern himself could pave the way for Sirius XM subscribers to catch his show on Apple iPhones and the iPod Touch. Howard, unlike other high profile talent on Sirius XM, has not been touting the new Sirius XM app, but he has been doing live reads for another iPhone app for LogMeIn Ignition.
LogMeIn is an application that allows iPhone and iPod Touch users to access their home or office computer from their devices. In the ad for LogMeIn Ignition, Howard touts, “If it’s on your computer, it’s on your iPhone.”
In theory, a consumer who downloads the LogMeIn Ignition app onto their iPhone has complete and unfettered access to their home computer through the device. A look at the LogMeIn Ignition website reveals that those that upgrade to the LogMeIn PRO function will allow users key features that should make listening to Howard 100/101, as well as other content not available through the iPhone app, very possible.
With LogMeIn Pro, you can do everything you can do with Free, but more. Pro also includes:
- Target-to-local printing: This means that if you choose to print anything from the target computer, you will receive it on your local printer.
- File Manager: With LogMeIn’s File Manager you can quickly and securely transfer files between the local and the remote (target) computer
- Mini Meeting: You can a trusted friend or colleague to remotely view or control your Local PC’s desktop.
- Remote Sound: You can hear any sounds locally (i.e. music, podcasts, email notifications) coming from your target computer.
While consumers would have to pay a small premium for such a service, the usefulness of a program such as LogMeIn Ignition goes beyond satellite radio. For hard core Howard Stern fans, baseball fans, etc. this could be a great solution.
The consumer aspect is quite obvious, but the interesting story is in the debate about Sirius XM not having the rights to include Stern on their iPhone app. Certainly Stern or his agent could not argue that an app such as LogMeIn Ignition violates his contract with Sirius XM, yet it is an app such as this that would allow consumers access to their already paid for Sirius XM subscription through their iPhone, via their home computer.
If you think about it, the iPod touch is nothing more than a mini computer, and the iPhone simply adds the ability to place phone calls. The Internet accessed on these devices is no different than the Internet accessed by a home computer, laptop, or the still smaller netbook computer. Thus, how much teeth could the Stern contract actually have unless it specifically excluded Apple, and even then there would seem to be a lot of holes in the stance. Howard broadcasts on the net, yet now he want to control what types of net connections are allowed to broadcast his show.
I have not yet tested whether the LogMeIn Ignition app will allow this, but in theory it should. There may also be aspects of the subscriber terms of service that would preclude a consumer from accessing Sirius XM content in this way, but in reality, how could the company ever police such use?
Clearly Howard and Sirius XM are trying to hammer out an agreement, but there is no telling how long that will take. Something tells me his own live read may be exhibit one in the contract debate. Fans of content such as Howard Stern, baseball, NASCAR, etc. may well consider a solution such as LogMeIn Ignition as a worth while alternative.
“If It’s On Your Computer, It’s On Your iPhone…” – Howard Stern
Position: Long Sirius XM, No Position Apple.
Yes, but will we be able to listen to Rosie O’Donnell?
Wow – that’s a completely unneccessary LONG WAY AROUND to get to Howard.
Just download WunderRadio App. It allows you to hear any stream (including Howard 100/101 of course) that you would hear if you went to Sirius.com.
Ya, WunderRadio isn’t free; it’s $6.99 but who cares? You get what you pay for and I think it’s well worth it because it also streams the RadioTime (www.radiotime.com) database of just about every domestic and international radio station you can think of.
It’s probably one of my favorite apps. Just as an aside, using the Ipod adapter to Aux In on my stereo, I can stream worldwide radio over my car audio while I drive, which is a dream. (I love 89.9 TSF Jazz from Paris).
Best,
Robb
Hmm – one oher thought…I wonder if LogMeIn Ignition would work with Rhapsody-To-Go on the host computer????
Talk about a multi-million song jukebox available on your Iphone anywhere…
Robb
Blah – just looked and you need both the $29.95 LogMeIn ignition coupled with the $69.95 per year LogMeIn Pro on the host computer. For $100 a year, I’ll stick to wireless radio and Pandora. 😉
Its not about this being the best viable solution its about the irony. See, Howard advertises a product that lets you circumvent Sirius XM’s app BS shortfall. Get it?
Tyler,
If people really want–make that need–to listen to Howard, they can get the pocket tunes app at the Itunes store. It’s $9.99 and works fine.
I think Stern could come out with his own app, charge $4.99 or more, make a killing, and STILL have Sirius XM in the palm of his hands. Why? Because while it is nice to hear him (and Sirius XM in general) on my Iphone, Sirius XM still has to sell subs via cars, and Sirius XM needs Stern there. It’s frustrating to fans and stockholders, but Stern seems to be one shrewd businessman.
But pocket tunes isnt ironic. Howard isnt advertising pocket tunes on his own show.
if it’s anything like my VPN remote connection to my office computer from my laptop the connection is too slow. Way too much data to travel and get decent streaming audio
It takes 30 seconds to install Pocket Tunes or Oo Tunes. This business of logging into your home computer, downloading and purchasing the software, and keeping your computer on is the biggest waist of time imo. Give me a break, 10 bucks for PT and 4 bucks for Oo. Who needs the Sirius Xm app; not me that’s for sure.
Just to set the record straight (and head off any disappointment), LogMeIn Ignition for iPhone does not currently provide remote sound (though it is a feature of computer-to-computer remote access using LogMeIn Pro). We hope you’ll consider the app for mobile productivity nonetheless.
Thank you,
Allyson Pelletier
Director, Consumer & SMB Products
LogMeIn, Inc.
Um, why not get a satrad radio! Duh!
The iPhone app has now had a reverse effect on the industry. Sure the iPhone app is great, but try long distance travel.
Have you tried it? Unless you got 3G, and a great signal – the sound quality and connection is not great. (thanks AT&T, expand your towers!!!)
By releasing the app on the iPhone, it has shown consumers that SatRad is the best option for radio on the road – NOT on cell phones!!!
We have a long way to go before the connection/quality is anywhere close to SatRad!
I can’t wait for the new satellite as well – it will even be better! Go SIRI!
I hate to sound like a broken record, but long before the SiriusXM App became available on the iphone, I came across Pocket Tunes for the iphone. At $9.99 it was a little steep in price for an app, but You definitely get what you pay for. When I spent the summer on the beaches in Wildwood NJ, I got to listen to Sirius. When I visited my Aunt out in Kansas on her farm, where I couldn’t see a cellphone tower to save my life, I got to listen to Sirius. Recently when my parents had a Labor Day Barbeque, my brother, sister and I compared iphones, and when their respective radio apps couldnt get sirius, my pocket tunes came through once again. Am I a spokesman for Pocket Tunes? No, but I own it and have since January of this year, and I havent been disappointed once.
Abbeville