CNET Editors' note: The 'Download Now' button takes you to Slacker's BlackBerry download page.
CNET Editors' review
Don't be fooled by Slacker Radio's freemium BlackBerry app--it's not just loafing around. After logging onto your Slacker.com account, you'll be able to choose among your favorite and custom stations, and all of Slacker.com's genre-based programming. A stream of overlapping album art stands out on the app's dark-themed interface, keeping track of the songs you've listened to and those yet to come. Familiar buttons let you pause, skip, save, and ban songs.
From the BlackBerry's menu key, you'll be able to view stations, plus artist and album info. You can also reset your messages or the entire account, and shut down the Slacker app, which will otherwise conveniently continue to play in the background while you do other tasks.
Surprisingly, multitasking is only this application's second best feature. Honors go to its ability on BlackBerry to cache stations as they play and store cached stations on a Micro SD card. The process of plugging your device into your computer to get Slacker Radio to recognize the cached stations is an unfortunate and sometimes inconvenient step we hope its developers will overcome, but other than having to be in short range of a computer, it at least is painless. When Wi-Fi wobbles and 3G cuts out, clicking on a cached station is a windfall for any serious listener. Subscribers to Slacker's Radio Plus service also get the benefit of the lyrics tab, provided by Slacker Radio Partner LyricFind where lyrics are available.
Now if we could just send custom station creations to our friends, we'd stick a fork in this app and call it done.
Watch the CNET video review of Slacker Radio for BlackBerry:
Publisher's Description
From Slacker:
Listen to all of your favorite personalized Slacker stations on your BlackBerry for free. You can listen to over 100 stations programmed by music experts or create your own custom stations right from your Blackberry.
You'll have detailed artist biographies, full album reviews and more. Best of all, the music can be stored on your phone so you can listen even when you don't have a connection. The following specs are recommended to listen to Slacker Radio: BlackBerry OS 4.5 recommended (OS 4.3 minimum requirement); Data Plan or Wi-Fi (An unlimited Data Plan is recommended for streaming); Streaming stations play only in the United States; SD Card with 500 MB of free memory required if caching stations
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All versions:
3.1 starsout of 23 votes
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Current version:
2.0 starsout of 6 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-6 of 6
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"Would rate ZERO if it were an option"
Version: Slacker Radio for BlackBerry 3.0
Pros
There is nothing positive to write about a company with deceptive business practices like this one
Cons
First, contrary to what their "Live Talk" Customer Service representatives tell you, when you sign up for a Trial Account you are required to enter a credit card. Then, just TRY to cancel! Good luck - there is NO place on their website to cancel. The Customer Service rep argued with me about the required credit card, then told me to call them. After being placed on hold for 30 minutes I gave up and have filed complaints with my bank regarding the fraudulent credit card charge, Better Business Bureau, and our state attorney general. Not worth the headache to deal with a company who refuses to place a "cancel my account" button on their website.
Summary
Don't do it!!
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"Before update, great, after update, not so much"
Version: Slacker Radio for BlackBerry 3.0
Pros
It's free, when it works there's a decent variety.
Cons
Since the update it will only play one song before it goes into an eternal buffering that locks up my phone.
Summary
Until the issues are fixed, skip it.
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"Not what it appears to be........"
Version: Slacker Radio for BlackBerry 3.0
Pros
Plays and displays artist's name and album details well
Cons
Slacker has a habit of playing approximately 4 minutes of a song. Longer songs are just truncated and all of a sudden you're listening to what's next in their cue.
Summary
This product is aimed at teeny boppers and people with AM-radio sensibility and short attention spans. For serious listening, go with Pandora or load mp3 files onto your card. Even the free version of Pandora has never failed me. Slacker I have deleted. Can't imagine what they were thinking.
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"Frustrating"
Version: Slacker Radio for BlackBerry 3.0
Pros
Decent music, when it functions properly.
Cons
Crashes often, frequently plays two songs simultaneously, not very good security.
Summary
It's true - it crashes all the time! Continuously crashing, frequently plays two songs at once, I've had my account hacked into several times, freezes phone, etc. Basically, there are several technical issues that are pervasive, and I am quite surprised that these issues have not been addressed. I would not recommend this to anyone, but with that said, I think it has great potential.
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"Not worth it"
Version: Slacker Radio for BlackBerry 3.0
Pros
Not much. Some good songs.
Cons
Stalls all of the time and often crashes.
Summary
One stream I was searching for wound up turning off my screen and throwing my Blackberry into a reboot. When I got the Blackberry back up, I deleted Slacker. It's a piece of trash that is not worth the effort to download it - or use it!!
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"as good as pandora"
Version: Slacker Radio for BlackBerry 3.0
Pros
great music selection
Cons
user interface
Results 1-6 of 6
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