For the SBC Yahoo DSL Subscribers
 

I recently switched my internet provider to SBC Yahoo DSL service. As part of their service you get what is called "lauchcast raido". Continuous streaming audio with no talking, promos, commercials, requests or other foolishness. Just continuous, randomly selected music. That's all.

But that's NOT ALL there is to it. It's an intuitive, interactive raidio that lets you have a certain amount of control over the content you listen to. You can even create your own "my station" if you wish, that plays only songs and artists of your choice.

It took a bit of digging on my part, but I was able to find that they do have an excellent "Progressive Rock" station. (You have to be an SBC Yahoo DSL subscriber to get it.) This in and of itself is really no big deal. Lots of Progressive Rock streams out there on the net right? What makes this service extraordinary, in my opinion, is the "Skip" button and the rating system they have in place to get your feedback on the songs or artists playing. These ratings also influence the content that plays on "my station" if you have one.

I discovered that if you don't like the song or the artist that is playing, you can hit the "Skip" button and another song will begin playing immediately. It's almost like "On Demand". This service is also remarkable in this respect, it gives you the oportunity to "rate" the artist, song or album you're listening to. One of the choices in the rating system is "Never Play Again". If you use this rating, you won't hear that song ever again. Or you can choose to never hear anything by that particular artist ever again.

What a fucking righteous concept dude!!!

I don't know how they are able to do this, but it is increddible!

And if you're one of those people that just has to hear what somebody else wants to hear, you can search for other members with your musical tastes and listen to their "my station". Once again, all totally interative. It's really quite remarkable.

So if you're an SBC Yahoo DSL subscriber, you may want to check this out just for shits and giggles.

But I will always love the Aural Moon because it was my first internet streaming audio experience 'lo those many years ago. It's like my first love. I'll never get over it.

Kev

Re: For the SBC Yahoo DSL Subscribers
 

That feature will be known as the "Godspeed" button! :D

And with Aural moon, you'll never get an STD!:p

Re: For the SBC Yahoo DSL Subscribers
 

Aural BLASPHAMY !! Don't do it, step away from that launchcaster!! I have SBC dsl l-cast and it sucks!! Poor sound quality, nothing near the Moon. ThinLibrary, no Fanbase with priceless knowledge, no character, just a puter with all the classics but no SOUL. Yes there are plenty of those stations on the net! Stay with the HEART of PROG> AURAL MOON, ... what a guy

Re: For the SBC Yahoo DSL Subscribers
 

[SBC Yahoo DSL foo]

I know exactly how they do it. They were doing a demo of it at the last NAB convention I was at.

It essentially requires a single, individual Aural Moon class computer, running a highly customized SAM-like interface.

For each user.

In case you didn't catch that last bit, allow me to emphasize:

FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL USER

For a fan base the size of Aural Moons, where we consistently have 150-200 listeners at any given time, this would bring our personal streaming costs upwards of $150-200 THOUSAND dollars. Per month. That's over a million and a half a year.

Now I know Jim's got some serious finances going on, and I, for one, am REALLY glad he does (since I couldn't afford to run this site on my budget, even if we were to move everything into Vax's basement).

In short, not really practical for our uses.

Let SBC/Yahoo do their thing. I think Scharcnorr has a point -- one of the things that make Aural Moon what it is is the people behind it. Not just Jim and myself, but you. And everyone else reading this. The input from the user base makes it much more than just a conduit for the All Zappa All The Time Hour.

Calling Kev a traitor for investigating other avenues isn't entirely fair, nor is it accurate. He simply seems to be investigating an alternate method of getting cool toons.

Of course, one of the things that makes Aural Moon a community is that it's much more than just random streaming of music. We have the daily theme, we have other such things as well. Y'all are a part of what makes Aural Moon worth busting butt over.

Roger -Dot- Lee, just my $.03 CDN, adjusted for inflation and custom duties.

Re: Re: For the SBC Yahoo DSL Subscribers
 

Hey sharcnorris, what the fuck did I ever do to you?

Re: Re: For the SBC Yahoo DSL Subscribers
 

Thank you Roger. Thanks for confirming my belief that there IS intelligent life on the MOON afterall.

Kev

funny, I didn't read sharc's reply in that way at all, just a bit of friendly joshing to someone about the Moon.

we'll miss you, kev.

Re: Re: Re: For the SBC Yahoo DSL Subscribers
 

I'm sorry, that just made me laugh uncontrollably.

Roger, I was chatting with mr shev today. I don't think he's going anywhere.

If anything, he's a two-timer:D

Re: Kev,.
 

Was there something about this statement from my original post that you didn't understand?

I accept your apology sharcnorris. But a full retraction of your entire post(s) would have been more in order here.

Kev

Re: Re: Kev,.
 

Ok. But let me give you a little friendly advice. The next time you wanna try to project your own little bit of hysteria on somebody for something they posted in these forums, make sure you have read and comprehended the post in it's entirety.

That way, you won't come off sounding like such an idiot.

There now, I'm done.

el coda
 

this was my intent, got out of hand, My offences have been removed.....peace