Re:The hidden FM radio in your pocket and why you can't use it
by firloop on Friday April 17, 2015 @02:01PM
(#9396052)
This article is misleading. While it is true that almost every smartphone has an FM radio on the SoC, it's not true that it's always up to the carriers to enable the radio. Many unsupported phones are lacking the trace between the FM input to the headset jack, meaning this issue can't be fixed in a software update.
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Re:The hidden FM radio in your pocket and why you can't use it
by Zikes on Friday April 17, 2015 @02:10PM
(#9396097)
> Samsung, Apple and LG are among those who have not switched on the chip, but HTC and Motorola chips haven't been blocked, Smulyan says. Sprint has turned on the FM chip for phones on its network.
It seems like they're citing manufacturers as well as carriers. Since many major carriers order variants of phone models specific to their network, it's not out of the question that either could be responsible for the lockout, even if it is at the hardware level.
Re:The hidden FM radio in your pocket and why you can't use it
by grok2 on Friday April 17, 2015 @02:12PM
(#9396107)
Is there a reason not to have that trace? And does it only prevent listening via the headset jack, but not on the phone's speakers?
Re:The hidden FM radio in your pocket and why you can't use it
by synackrst on Friday April 17, 2015 @02:16PM
(#9396127)
The connection isn't needed for audio -- it's needed because the headphones / line out cable acts as the FM antenna.
Re:The hidden FM radio in your pocket and why you can't use it
by iblaine on Friday April 17, 2015 @02:15PM
(#9396121)
How convenient for the phone manufacturers and wireless carriers.
Re:The hidden FM radio in your pocket and why you can't use it
by spectrum1234 on Friday April 17, 2015 @02:24PM
(#9396178)
"This article is misleading."
^Yes this is NPR's classic bias against corporations.