Slacker brings local caching, webOS, Canada
updated 02:15 pm EST, Mon January 11, 2010
Slacker iPhone, Android, BBerry upgraded
Slacker in the post-CES wake has sent details of a major overhaul to its Internet radio app. The new version is the first outside of its phased-out hardware to support caching and will store as many as 25 stations and 2,000 songs to keep music playing even in the subway. It will also automatically cache over either 3G or Wi-Fi and, on the iPod touch, no longer needs an active Wi-Fi connection to keep running.
Backing the upgrade is an expansion to Palm's webOS platform. Phones like the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus now have similar features to the Android, BlackBerry and iPhone apps; like all but the iPhone, they can also play radio in the background.
Updates should be available as soon as this week and should also include Slacker's first expansion beyond the US, venturing into Canada. Pricing should remain the same at $5 US ($5.12 CAD) month-to-month or $4 US per month ($4.10) if paying for a year's worth of service in advance.
