iPhone vs. Satellite Radio

I canceled my Sirius Satellite Radio service yesterday. Not because I didn’t like it anymore. I actually loved it. For my 50 minute commute each way, it has provided countless hours of entertainment.

But with the release of iPhone 2.0 software and the ability to download specific applications for the iPhone, I’ve found that no longer need satellite radio due to a couple of new applications.

There is a web service called Pandora. Pandora basically takes the bands you like, compares the tones, harmonies and beats, and then finds comparable music it thinks you will like. And it does an amazing job.

I love hip-hop. But I can’t stand the kind of hip-hop they play on the radio. Even on Sirius, they often wouldn’t play Talib Kweli, People Under the Stairs, Tribe Called Quest, or even The Roots. But with Pandora, it has recognized my tastes and plays those artists that I like.

And better yet, it can mix my musical tastes. I can go from hip-hop to alt-country to folk to rock. Playing all types of music that fit with the kind of bands I like. I can fine tune my tastes by letting Pandora know which songs I like or don’t like by hitting a simple “Thumbs Up” or “Thumbs Down”.

Well, Pandora released an application for the iPhone. And I’ve fallen in love with it. It works well even over the EDGE network. There is a bit of pause in between songs, but I get the kind of music that isn’t even played on Sirius. Best of all, Pandora is free! And Pandora just may be the application that makes me upgrade to the iPhone 3G in order to get faster service.

But there are also times where I like to listen to talk radio. And that’s where AOL Radio comes in. This application for the iPhone comes with plenty of talk-radio stations all across the country. And again, it’s another free application.

So, after thinking it through, it was time to cancel and save that $12 a month in Sirius Subscription fees. And for those investing in Apple, this is another area in which to watch. I think Satellite Radio has found a new competitor in the iPhone. The only question is if the AT&T network can handle the bandwidth of millions of iPhone users listening to Pandora and AOL Radio.