It’s no secret that Mari and I are big fans of Internet “radio” services Pandora and Slacker. And recently both companies have been cooking up new ways to access their programming. This month, Pandora introduces a Vista sidebar gadget and limited Windows Mobile handset support.
The Vista widget has a polished appearance and operates well. Although, while it is much more compact than Pandora’s Adobe Air desktop client, be prepared to give up a large chunk of your sidebar. Collapsible track info or album art options might help, but the strip containing the Windows Vista logo (above) is persistent and will ultimately feature advertising. I also suggest the Pandora dev team think beyond the sidebar, like the very nice XM gadget or even Microsoft’s own RSS headlines, for changing stations rather than forcing us to operate in such a cramped space.
On the Windows Mobile front, this marks the first time Pandora has provided a mobile software client direct to consumers… independent of a carrier approval and fees. Initially, the HTC XV6900/Touch (Sprint & Verizon) and Motorola Q9C (Sprint & Verizon) handsets are supported. So, while I own Consumer Reports top rated cellphone (Blackjack II), I haven’t yet experienced the new Pandora Mobile. (However, I’m counted amongst the 2 million registered iPhone app users.)
