Iphone and things we can't do without it

Many of us can't live without an iphone, we can try, but it will be very hard to see our lives without one.

For my dad, it isn't about seeing, it is about listening his favorite radio news station from Colombia: RCN Cadena Basica.

See end of article for latest stream updates - October 2, 2010

Please notify me of changes, I will be more than happy to update them, thanks.

From the moment he got his iphone he uses a little app called TUNER to listen to this radio station live everywhere; at the grocery store counter, while he is driving, while he is exercising and when he takes a break from it, he is watching YouTube. He was following the elections last year from Colombia's RCN Cadena Basica, this was second-hand information at best. They were probably watching Univision or some other Spanish-speaking TV station in the US. The irony was that my dad has long adopted US customs but gets his fair share of world news from this source.

Anyhow, this precious stream of news and political satire from Colombia banished from the virtual world. What was he supposed to do? Listen to it the old-fashioned way, using his laptop?

Nope, he said. He looked around and kind of cracked the url's and popups and finally was able to decipher the stream: http://stream.ifx.net.co:8004/1044.mp3

This was it, a single line that looks like a website, the answer to his angst. Now he is a happy camper and listens to RCN Cadena Basica anywhere anytime, again.

For reference purposes, for Colombians, and other people who wish to be up-to-date in Colombian politics, music, etc see the following streams from RCN. (Only Cadena Basica is confirmed to work, but the others should work as well)
Feel free to add more if you wish or send me an email message.

Amor Stereo
http://stream.ifx.net.co:8003/939.mp3

Antena 2
http://stream.ifx.net.co:8006/650.mp3

Cadena Basica
http://stream.ifx.net.co:8004/1044.mp3

Fiesta
http://stream.ifx.net.co:8008/fiesta.mp3

La FM
http://stream.ifx.net.co:8001/949.mp3

La Mega
http://stream.ifx.net.co:8000/909.mp3

Rumba Stereo
http://stream.ifx.net.co:8002/rumbast.mp3

Radio Uno
http://stream.ifx.net.co:8005/radiouno.mp3

UPDATE 09/08/09

Apparently, RCN Colombia has switched most of their audio feeds to one of the least scalable audio formats around. Yes, they switched to a Windows-based audio format that Mac users can't listen to.

This is bad news to Mac users, like my dad and many more people, who rely on RCN for their daily dose of Colombian news.

When is RCN Colombia going to make up their mind with the audio feeds? BBC and KCRW have kept their audio feeds for years and are able to scale their technologies seamlessly. If you are able to get past this hurdle, please let us know.

Working audio feeds (Windows Media Player):

Cadena Basica
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=rcnradio5322k33P

Fiesta
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=fiesta17922k33P

Amor Stereo
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=amorst16322k33P

Antena 2
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=antena217322k33P

La FM
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=lafm19322k33P

La Mega
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=lamega19922k33P

La Cariñosa
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=lacarinosa22922k33P

Rumba Stereo
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=rumbast23322k33P

Radio Uno
http://media.rcn.com.co/rcn/live/onair.php?channel=radiouno23922k33P

UPDATE 09/17/09

RCN should make it easy for listeners to listen to their radio stations. They should pay attention to the KCRW iPhone app (amazing radio station based in Santa Monica with its own iPhone app. http://www.KCRW.com) which lets users listen to live and past shows and it has a great user interface. Actually, it is more fun to listen to KCRW on the iPhone than on its web sibling.

Thanks to John Diaz-Montano for providing clues to the following links.

Don't hesitate to inform us if they stop working.

Cadena Basica
http://216.180.254.122:9025/;file.mp3

La Mega
http://72.9.254.170:9035/;file.mp3

Amor St.
http://216.180.254.122:9010/;file.mp3

La F.M.
http://216.180.254.122:9039/;file.mp3

Antena 2
http://216.180.254.122:9041/;file.mp3

Radio 1
http://216.180.254.122:9013/;file.mp3

Rumba St
http://216.180.254.122:9015/;file.mp3

La Cariñosa
http://216.180.254.122:9002/;file.mp3

Fiesta
http://216.180.254.122:9008/;file.mp3

Bolero
http://216.180.254.122:9052/;file.mp3

UPDATE 12/03/09

I have to cheer RCN Colombia for developing their brand new iPhone portal for their radio stations.

Usually I would find the url streams for Tuner's iPhone, but I realized that listening to radio stations using their iPhone web portal is a much better solution than using a dedicated radio program. Think about it! You can listen to RCN Colombia and do whatever you want on your iPhone.

Because of that, I am not bothering to get the url streams. Let me know however, and I will get them for you.

For instance, this is the new stream RCN Cadena Basica: http://209.51.139.122:9025

Take Care

UPDATE 01/12/10

Once again, RCN Colombia changed the streams for their radio stations. I wish they were more consistent like BBC's Radio 1 (they've changed their streams 2-4 times in 8 years) but thanks to a dedicated group of fans the new streams are available for everyone to enjoy!

Thanks to John Diaz-Montano and everyone, don't hesitate to shoot me an email to notify me of any changes, I will be more than happy to post them.

Cadena Basica:
http://174.142.32.185:9025

La Mega:
http://174.142.32.185:9035

Amor St.:
http://174.142.32.185:9010

La F.M.:
http://174.142.32.185:9039

Antena 2:
http://174.142.32.185:9041

Radio 1:
http://174.142.32.185:9013

Rumba St:
http://174.142.32.185:9015

La Cariñosa:
http://174.142.32.185:9002

Fiesta:
http://174.142.32.185:9008

Bolero:
http://174.142.32.185:9052

Thanks

UPDATE OCTOBER 2, 2010

Oops, they did it again.

Thanks to anonymous for letting me know about the updated streams, now with the iPhone multitasking feature it is much easier to listen to radio stations than before. See updated RCN streams plus 4 more virtual ones, including Colombianísima.

Cadena Basica:
http://174.142.208.229:9025

La Mega:
http://174.142.215.90:9035

Amor St.:
http://184.107.42.133:9010

La F.M.:
http://174.142.215.90:9039

Antena 2:
http://174.142.215.90:9041

Radio 1:
http://174.142.208.229:9013

Rumba St:
http://184.107.42.133:9015

La Cariñosa:
http://174.142.215.90:9002

Fiesta:
http://174.142.215.90:9008

Bolero:
http://174.142.79.44:9052

Colombianísima:
http://174.142.79.44:9338

Nuestra Tierra Radio:
http://174.142.79.44:9365