Radio 2.0?
February 12, 2016 11:47 AM Subscribe
Anchor, which seems to be to audio what Twitter is to writing or Instagram to photography, launched a few days ago as a new "truly public" radio where everyone can contribute and comment.
"Anchor is a free iPhone app that makes it easy to broadcast short audio clips to a global audience in seconds. Your listeners can talk back, sparking instant group conversations that were never before possible. When not recording, listen to authentic humor, knowledge, inspiration, and debate from Anchor’s global collective of personality." Broadcasters can post 2 min audio clips, recorded using the app, and commenters can respond with 1 min clips.
"Anchor is a free iPhone app that makes it easy to broadcast short audio clips to a global audience in seconds. Your listeners can talk back, sparking instant group conversations that were never before possible. When not recording, listen to authentic humor, knowledge, inspiration, and debate from Anchor’s global collective of personality." Broadcasters can post 2 min audio clips, recorded using the app, and commenters can respond with 1 min clips.
Hmm, I wonder how this will overcome the social acceptability barrier. It is really easy to surreptitiously tweet/read Twitter in meetings, during meals, at one's desk, etc. The audio component makes this seem way harder.
posted by Wretch729 at 11:58 AM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by Wretch729 at 11:58 AM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
I can not, for the life of me, figure out why anyone in their right mind would see this as a good idea, as a good use of time, or enjoyable....
posted by HuronBob at 12:00 PM on February 12, 2016
posted by HuronBob at 12:00 PM on February 12, 2016
I gave this a try, and found myself rerecording a simple message multiple times. I imagine it will be much more difficult for trolls in this kind of a setting, as listening to your own voice feels much less anonymous.
posted by cubby at 12:01 PM on February 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by cubby at 12:01 PM on February 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
#whatcouldpossiblygowrong?
posted by Splunge at 12:02 PM on February 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Splunge at 12:02 PM on February 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
"truly public" radio
With that in mind, should I start an account and dedicate at least one week a month to pledge drives?
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:02 PM on February 12, 2016 [10 favorites]
With that in mind, should I start an account and dedicate at least one week a month to pledge drives?
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:02 PM on February 12, 2016 [10 favorites]
My local newspaper comment section, but with sound.... And, if you think that what those idiots TYPE is annoying, wait 'til you hear it in their whining, nasal, voices...
posted by HuronBob at 12:04 PM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 12:04 PM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ah, the call-in show, the one part of radio I hoped would not be replicated on the Internet.
"This is more of a comment than a question..." Repeat ad nauseam.
posted by Cash4Lead at 12:09 PM on February 12, 2016 [9 favorites]
"This is more of a comment than a question..." Repeat ad nauseam.
posted by Cash4Lead at 12:09 PM on February 12, 2016 [9 favorites]
I look forward* to being called ugly, various swear words, stupid, and given various methods which I can be harmed via this medium.
*i do not look forward to it
posted by Kitteh at 12:14 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
*i do not look forward to it
posted by Kitteh at 12:14 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
No web or android app :( Only for the beautiful people
posted by mosschief at 12:14 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mosschief at 12:14 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
How long until it Chatroulettes into nothing but heavy breathing and they rename it Wanchor?
posted by Sys Rq at 12:16 PM on February 12, 2016 [6 favorites]
posted by Sys Rq at 12:16 PM on February 12, 2016 [6 favorites]
So it's like the Uber of Twitter of Web 2.0 of radio of
segmentation fault
posted by Mayor West at 12:21 PM on February 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
segmentation fault
posted by Mayor West at 12:21 PM on February 12, 2016 [5 favorites]
I can see Apple expanding Voice Memos in iOS to allow something like this on a small, trusted-peer basis, similar to a FaceTime/Shoutcast hybrid, or on a more ambitious level, as a collaboration tool for GarageBand.
To a lesser extent, I can also see Apple using something like that to draw more listeners into a Beats subscription model, though I'd bet the EU would raise concerns over that degree of integration.
posted by Smart Dalek at 12:22 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
To a lesser extent, I can also see Apple using something like that to draw more listeners into a Beats subscription model, though I'd bet the EU would raise concerns over that degree of integration.
posted by Smart Dalek at 12:22 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I feel like this would be great for people with certain disabilities, and also a good workplace tool. Like an audio Slack but for a more focused conversation.
posted by sweetkid at 12:34 PM on February 12, 2016
posted by sweetkid at 12:34 PM on February 12, 2016
"truly public" radio does NOT equal "iPhone only". It doesn't come anywhere close. Please avoid making that obvious mistake in the future.
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:34 PM on February 12, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 12:34 PM on February 12, 2016 [4 favorites]
With that in mind, should I start an account and dedicate at least one week a month to pledge drives?
There's no public radio station in America that has one drive a month.
posted by Automocar at 12:37 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
There's no public radio station in America that has one drive a month.
posted by Automocar at 12:37 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
"truly public" radio does NOT equal "iPhone only". It doesn't come anywhere close.
Heh-heh-heh, I bet the startup didn't have enough coders/support staff on hand to fully implement an Android or browser-based version.
Looking closer at the company, it should be no surprise to see Anchor has only a million and a half in the bank for its rollout, which was drawn from a knot of VC sources, including no less than CrunchFund, the investment arm of TechCrunch, who scooped the story.
That's not dandruff falling off the unicorn's tail, folks - it's salt.
posted by Smart Dalek at 12:44 PM on February 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
Heh-heh-heh, I bet the startup didn't have enough coders/support staff on hand to fully implement an Android or browser-based version.
Looking closer at the company, it should be no surprise to see Anchor has only a million and a half in the bank for its rollout, which was drawn from a knot of VC sources, including no less than CrunchFund, the investment arm of TechCrunch, who scooped the story.
That's not dandruff falling off the unicorn's tail, folks - it's salt.
posted by Smart Dalek at 12:44 PM on February 12, 2016 [3 favorites]
I can see Apple expanding Voice Memos in iOS to allow something like this on a small, trusted-peer basis, similar to a FaceTime/Shoutcast hybrid
This has been possible since iOS 8: a group chat with audio messages. Though I've never heard of anybody doing that.
posted by designbot at 12:47 PM on February 12, 2016
This has been possible since iOS 8: a group chat with audio messages. Though I've never heard of anybody doing that.
posted by designbot at 12:47 PM on February 12, 2016
to audio what Twitter is to writing or Instagram to photography
#whatcouldpossiblygowrong?
What's to stop Anchor from becoming an audio version of Yik Yak and taking on a similar potential for use in cyberbullying? Is Anchor going to be moderated in some way?
posted by fuse theorem at 12:52 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
#whatcouldpossiblygowrong?
What's to stop Anchor from becoming an audio version of Yik Yak and taking on a similar potential for use in cyberbullying? Is Anchor going to be moderated in some way?
posted by fuse theorem at 12:52 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Though I've never heard of anybody doing that.
Presentation is everything.
Heh-heh-heh, I bet the startup didn't have enough coders/support staff on hand to fully implement an Android or browser-based version.
I'm sure this or something similar will come, along with (I hope) easy-to-use layered audio production tools. I mean, I hear the snark, but when terrestrial radio came out, not everyone could afford a set either. I don't know of any form of radio that doesn't require the purchase of sending and receiving equipment.
posted by Miko at 12:52 PM on February 12, 2016
Presentation is everything.
Heh-heh-heh, I bet the startup didn't have enough coders/support staff on hand to fully implement an Android or browser-based version.
I'm sure this or something similar will come, along with (I hope) easy-to-use layered audio production tools. I mean, I hear the snark, but when terrestrial radio came out, not everyone could afford a set either. I don't know of any form of radio that doesn't require the purchase of sending and receiving equipment.
posted by Miko at 12:52 PM on February 12, 2016
And, if you think that what those idiots TYPE is annoying, wait 'til you hear it in their whining, nasal, voices...
Relevant: XKCD 481 (later: "...maybe there’s hope after all.")
posted by effbot at 12:54 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Relevant: XKCD 481 (later: "...maybe there’s hope after all.")
posted by effbot at 12:54 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm sure this or something similar will come, along with (I hope) easy-to-use layered audio production tools.
Certainly at least the Android version. "iOS first" is still the usual strategy for smaller code shops, for demographic and sometimes technical reasons. I'd bet good money the Android development is well underway.
I'm eager to see if there is any difference re: harassment. My hypothesis is that people will be less likely to be assholes using their actual voices, but then again it might take full video to rein in Internet Dickwad tendencies.
posted by middleclasstool at 1:33 PM on February 12, 2016
Certainly at least the Android version. "iOS first" is still the usual strategy for smaller code shops, for demographic and sometimes technical reasons. I'd bet good money the Android development is well underway.
I'm eager to see if there is any difference re: harassment. My hypothesis is that people will be less likely to be assholes using their actual voices, but then again it might take full video to rein in Internet Dickwad tendencies.
posted by middleclasstool at 1:33 PM on February 12, 2016
There's no public radio station in America that has one drive a month.
I know, but it certainly feels that way sometimes.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:39 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I know, but it certainly feels that way sometimes.
posted by Strange Interlude at 1:39 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
I imagine it will be much more difficult for trolls in this kind of a setting, as listening to your own voice feels much less anonymous.Hooray! Soon there will be a open platform whose potential for scintillating conversation free of insults and cruelty and trolls is matched only by XBox and Playstation voice chat. I've asked users of those platforms to let us know what to expect from this new golden age of civility, and they say that your mother will be more excited than the time... wait, that can't... oh God, no...
posted by roystgnr at 1:43 PM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
My hypothesis is that people will be less likely to be assholes using their actual voices
That hasn't stopped people from abusing X-Box Live, TeamSpeak and Ventrillo over the years.
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:49 PM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
That hasn't stopped people from abusing X-Box Live, TeamSpeak and Ventrillo over the years.
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:49 PM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Whoops. Have a Coke and a smile, roystgnr.
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:51 PM on February 12, 2016
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:51 PM on February 12, 2016
I listened to a sample conversation which turned out to be a dozen Likeable Socioeconomically Comfortable White People complaining about the Troubling Restrictiveness of Political Correctness
posted by an animate objects at 2:27 PM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by an animate objects at 2:27 PM on February 12, 2016 [2 favorites]
Ah, the call-in show, the one part of radio I hoped would not be replicated on the Internet.
Ah, I have fond (not) memories of a crazy experiment done by a non-commercial public radio station in Italy - that also happens to be the official radio station of a political party, the Radical Party (libertarian progressive - promoters of the divorce and abortion referenda back in the days) - in the 90s they decided to leave entire hours of the programming open to anonymous callers, and calls were not censored AT ALL. Hours on end of unscreened, uncensored calls, with no topic, no limits, no moderators.
It was a blast! mesmerizing and awful and hilarious and disgusting and incredible and ultimately pointless. So many people with too much time on their hands and so much outrage and rants and conspiracy theories and random insults and obscenity and general craziness. You’d tune in just for a laugh really. In principle, it was an admirable experiment in free speech, much in line with the party’s philosophy but really, in practice, it made you want to emigrate instantly just to listen to a few minutes of it.
Proper radio shows with proper screened calls on a topic can be great, and useful. That was the opposite. Still, fascinating in its own way.
“People have things to say, they just don’t have the means to say them with their voice,” says Mignano.
Sigh... Well I don’t have an iPhone so I can’t judge, maybe it will turn out to be brilliant? At least it will be limited and it will be in response to a prompt by broadcasters. And I admire the optimism. Clearly you can’t even raise half a dollar for an app these days without boundless optimism about humankind and communication and grand statements about the usefulness of what you’re doing.
posted by bitteschoen at 3:14 PM on February 12, 2016
Ah, I have fond (not) memories of a crazy experiment done by a non-commercial public radio station in Italy - that also happens to be the official radio station of a political party, the Radical Party (libertarian progressive - promoters of the divorce and abortion referenda back in the days) - in the 90s they decided to leave entire hours of the programming open to anonymous callers, and calls were not censored AT ALL. Hours on end of unscreened, uncensored calls, with no topic, no limits, no moderators.
It was a blast! mesmerizing and awful and hilarious and disgusting and incredible and ultimately pointless. So many people with too much time on their hands and so much outrage and rants and conspiracy theories and random insults and obscenity and general craziness. You’d tune in just for a laugh really. In principle, it was an admirable experiment in free speech, much in line with the party’s philosophy but really, in practice, it made you want to emigrate instantly just to listen to a few minutes of it.
Proper radio shows with proper screened calls on a topic can be great, and useful. That was the opposite. Still, fascinating in its own way.
“People have things to say, they just don’t have the means to say them with their voice,” says Mignano.
Sigh... Well I don’t have an iPhone so I can’t judge, maybe it will turn out to be brilliant? At least it will be limited and it will be in response to a prompt by broadcasters. And I admire the optimism. Clearly you can’t even raise half a dollar for an app these days without boundless optimism about humankind and communication and grand statements about the usefulness of what you’re doing.
posted by bitteschoen at 3:14 PM on February 12, 2016
I know, but it certainly feels that way sometimes.
Are you a sustaining member of your local public radio station? That's the best thing you can do to lessen the number and length of fund drives.
(Sorry, I'm a former public radio fundraiser. Sometimes I can't turn it off.)
posted by Automocar at 5:14 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
Are you a sustaining member of your local public radio station? That's the best thing you can do to lessen the number and length of fund drives.
(Sorry, I'm a former public radio fundraiser. Sometimes I can't turn it off.)
posted by Automocar at 5:14 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
so I think this is a really interesting idea, based on the sort of Rick Mercer Rants that I've experienced and enjoyed. It requires the kind of brevity that Twitter enforces, would encourage tight scripting and lack of ad-hoc ranting. It seems like a good way for people to explore ideas quickly, without the considerable production expense (camera, lighting, sound) that good YouTube presentation requires.
It's interesting enough that I'm going to try to write some things, and record them, for the service. :)
posted by aurynn at 5:21 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
It's interesting enough that I'm going to try to write some things, and record them, for the service. :)
posted by aurynn at 5:21 PM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]
That hasn't stopped people from abusing X-Box Live, TeamSpeak and Ventrillo over the years.
Those are private VOIP chats and not publicly posted and permalinked recordings though, right? Maybe I'm being naive, but I'm inclined to think that might make a bit of difference.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:39 PM on February 12, 2016
Those are private VOIP chats and not publicly posted and permalinked recordings though, right? Maybe I'm being naive, but I'm inclined to think that might make a bit of difference.
posted by middleclasstool at 7:39 PM on February 12, 2016
I'm already fascinated by the incoming chaos. As far as call-in shows, one of my favorite things in the 1990s was Coast to Coast AM and I loved hearing the weird stories and all of the awesome accents from all over the country. It was like the world's biggest campfire. Granted, it didn't really have the cyberbullying element that could crop up, but maybe, like someone said, using your real voice will make people less likely to do that as it'll feel less anonymous and more public.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 4:32 PM on February 13, 2016
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 4:32 PM on February 13, 2016
It's interesting enough that I'm going to try to write some things, and record them, for the service. :)
Aurynn, I wanna be your first ranter. I don't even know what you're going to produce and already I'm waiting to fire off some angry replies. Bring it!!
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 4:34 PM on February 13, 2016
Aurynn, I wanna be your first ranter. I don't even know what you're going to produce and already I'm waiting to fire off some angry replies. Bring it!!
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 4:34 PM on February 13, 2016
« Older "Launch Day Urine Bags" - Locker R5 | Michael Jackson's Pet Chimp Bubbles Is Retired in... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by JoeBlubaugh at 11:56 AM on February 12, 2016 [1 favorite]