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This article is misleading. While it is true that almost every smartphone has an FM radio on the SoC, it's not true that it's always up to the carriers to enabl
by firloop 12y ago
This article is misleading. While it is true that almost every smartphone has an FM radio on the SoC, it's not true that it's always up to the carriers to enable the radio. Many unsupported phones are lacking the trace between the FM input to the headset jack, meaning this issue can't be fixed in a software update.
- Zikes 12y ago> Samsung, Apple and LG are among those who have not switched on the chip, but HTC and Motorola chips haven't been blocked, Smulyan says. Sprint has turned on the FM chip for phones on its network. It seems like they're citing manufacturers as well as carriers. Since many major carriers order variants of phone models specific to their network, it's not out of the question that either could be responsible for the lockout, even if it is at the hardware level.
- grok2 12y agoIs there a reason not to have that trace? And does it only prevent listening via the headset jack, but not on the phone's speakers?
- synackrst 12y agoThe connection isn't needed for audio -- it's needed because the headphones / line out cable acts as the FM antenna.
- iblaine 12y agoHow convenient for the phone manufacturers and wireless carriers.
- spectrum1234 12y ago"This article is misleading." ^Yes this is NPR's classic bias against corporations.