So we all know for weeks that the Cliq/Dext, Droid/Milestone, Nexus One, and even the iPhone 3GS, have the Broadcom BCM4325 chip that besides integrated IEEE 802.11a/b/g (MAC/Baseband/Radio), Bluetooth 2.1 + enhanced data rate (EDR), also integrates an FM receiver. When I saw some tweets that our friends over at alldroid.org had a topic going about creating an application to take advantage of this chip I decided to do some digging.
Turns out that Erin Yueh, who has Android running on his Beagleboard, already developed an FM Radio app that runs on Android 
Of course the Beagleboard runs on a TI OMAP3530 so I can imagine the app or the drivers need some porting, but I don’t know enough on that subject. There has to be some deeper reason why HTC, Motorola and the other Android smartphone manufacturers haven’t provided an FM Radio app… maybe we will find out in the near future, when they read my article
Those of you eager to see this app in action, here’s a video:
Bottom line is, this proves it is definitely possible to have OTA FM Radio on Android devices that have the necessary FM receiver built in. How soon will we see one ?
p.s. I hope the guys over at alldroid.org don’t send me C&D emails for posting this article 
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Just one question, When can I get it?! and because the Nexus One has an FM transmitter too, Does Erin Yeuh’s app transmit as well.
OK, that was two questions. My bad.
Just one question, When can I get it?! and because the Nexus One has an FM transmitter too, Does Erin Yeuh’s app transmit as well.
OK, that was two questions. My bad.
@QMan: no idea when you can get it, I am hoping for some reaction from Erin Yueh
You are right btw, the Nexus One has the BCM4329 which is also capable of Tx… if an app would be able to use it then you could transmit your music etc. to your car radio without an external FM transmitter.
@QMan: no idea when you can get it, I am hoping for some reaction from Erin Yueh
You are right btw, the Nexus One has the BCM4329 which is also capable of Tx… if an app would be able to use it then you could transmit your music etc. to your car radio without an external FM transmitter.
HTC Tattoo has FM Radio. Can nobody try pulling the app from that?
From what I have read is that the Tattoo uses HTC proprietary API’s…
HTC Tattoo has FM Radio. Can nobody try pulling the app from that?
From what I have read is that the Tattoo uses HTC proprietary API’s…
I’m just waiting for a FM app that wont’ close when Iopen another window, then I’ll be ditching my mp3 player
I’m just waiting for a FM app that wont’ close when Iopen another window, then I’ll be ditching my mp3 player
Just having an FM receiver isn’t enough to make an FM radio. An antenna of some type would have to have been designed into the phone. Does anyone know of a tear down of any of the phones that has found an FM antenna as part of the design?
To reply to myself:
The Alldroid team has found that the FM chipset built into the Droid uses the headphones as the antenna (a very common practice). So it seems it’s not only possible, but somewhat likely that, at least the Droid, has a usable FM receiver built into its hardware.
Just having an FM receiver isn’t enough to make an FM radio. An antenna of some type would have to have been designed into the phone. Does anyone know of a tear down of any of the phones that has found an FM antenna as part of the design?
To reply to myself:
The Alldroid team has found that the FM chipset built into the Droid uses the headphones as the antenna (a very common practice). So it seems it’s not only possible, but somewhat likely that, at least the Droid, has a usable FM receiver built into its hardware.
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Excellent post. If you are looking to listen to BBC Radio on the iPhone – I strongly recommend BBC Streams – it is easily the most convenient way to listen to BBC Radio on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and it’s free at BBCStreams.com.
Excellent post. If you are looking to listen to BBC Radio on the iPhone – I strongly recommend BBC Streams – it is easily the most convenient way to listen to BBC Radio on the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and it’s free at BBCStreams.com.
My Motorola MB508 Flipside came with an FM reciever app from AT&T called AT&T Radio. The headphones double as the antenna. It is available on the Market though I don’t know if there are any carrier/hardware requirements to run it.