$19.95

The radio airwaves will never be safe again. The RadioSHARK adds a software controlled AM-FM radio to a  Mac or PC computer (Apple MacOS X 10.x or later, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows XP) - but thats just the beginning. The RadioSHARK can also record any AM, FM or even Internet radio broadcast. You can program the RadioSHARK to record a scheduled show or as a way of 'pausing live radio, giving you the ability to return to right where you left off moments or even hours later. It can also record audio Internet streams, either scheduled or real-time, from any streaming audio application available.

Every so often a product comes out that catches the eye. Sometimes it’s because of the styling, other times because of the functionality it promises. The radioSHARK from Griffin Technology falls into that category for the second reason.

Griffin Technology has been known for coming out with cool accessories. I owned one of their PowerMates for quite some time. I never got much use out of it, but I thought it was one of the coolest-looking products with its brushed-metal surface and pulsing purple light. Griffin also makes a whole host of accessories for the iPod as well as the iCurve laptop stand.

The basic premise of the radioSHARK is this: TiVo for radio. It can timeshift live recordings, be set to regularly record a program, or simply used to listen to live radio on either the AM and FM band. It cannot be used to listen to satellite radio or broadcasts streamed over the Internet. It supports any PC or Mac with a free USB port on Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.2.8 or 10.3.

From the time I first heard about it, I wanted one. I listen to the radio quite a bit. When working in my office at home, I often have NPR or the local sports-talk station (WMVP ESPN Radio1000) tuned on my cheap, ten-dollar radio. I was thinking the radioSHARK would be the perfect product for me to record shows that I so often miss: This American Life, The World, and Prairie Home Companion on NPR, and Mac, Jurko, and Harry on the sports-talker. I could also listen to the radio play-by-play of the Chicago Bears on my Mac (instead of putting up with the insipid TV commentary so prevalent these days) while watching the broadcast in another window.

However, like so many new products, release dates kept slipping and slipping. Finally, it appeared on the market in late 2004, and Griffin was kind enough to send us a review unit.
Out of the box experience

The radioSHARK was smaller than I had imagined. The unit itself measures about 7-1/2in x 4in x 2in. It is a semi-glossy white plastic with a metal base. There is a single, 4ft-long white USB cable emanating from the rear of the unit. Along with the radioSHARK receiver came an installation CD and a *gasp* printed manual.

It is a very cool-looking device, to boot. Shaped like a shark fin, it has three curved plastic panels in the side that light up when the unit is plugged in.

I have gotten into the habit of ignoring installation CDs for products like this, preferring instead to check online for the latest versions. I then downloaded version 1.03 of the radioSHARK application for Mac OS X, and version 1.1.6.0 for Windows XP, installed them, and was on my way.