More confusion in the world of Digital Radio?

What does the term "Hybrid Radio" mean to you?

It's a phrase that's taking off. Well, in certain circles.

Unfortunately - different people mean different things. I fear a repeat of the classic confusion of drones assistants in electronics shops - who thought "Digital Radio" meant one with a digital display. The confusion is still out there - like this "digital" radio on Amazon.com.

Definition 1: To the people behind DAB (WorldDMB) a "Hybrid Radio" is a radio that combines broadcast stations and the internet. I like this meaning - expecially when it uses the new open international standard, RadioDNS. (I'm involved in a part of this project)

Definition 2: Frontier Silicon (the people who make the chips etc., for many modern radios) mean something different - radios built using an ideal mix of software and hardware. Distinct from old radios that were all hardware, and many new radios that can be seriously modified by a software update. Fortunately this definition won't be visible to consumers.

Now there's a third meaning...

Definition 3: VW's new trial device in Germany.

If you saw "Hybrid Radio" advertised in a car dealership, what might that mean? Recharging the batteries when braking? Er... no.

Hybrid is an odd word to use to describe a car radio - as VW seem determined to do. Hybrid describes a regenerative-braking power system, surely.

Even if we put that confusion to one side - in VW's case they don't mean the same thing as WorldDMB.

VW are working on a project where users schedule a "playlist" of content they want to hear in their car on a website. Later, in their car, the "Hybrid Radio" follows that playlist. One minute tuning into a news bulletin, the next playing you a different station, and so on.

I don't think many people plan their car radio listening that far ahead. It feels like a project invented by road safety campaigners to stop people getting distracted when retuning their radios. "The playlist can be selected by a single button press".

But people won't listen to the radio like that, will they?

I don't know if this VW system will have any other features that will actually be useful. But at first glance it looks a bit underwhelming. Of course - car manufacturers are all looking for things to do with an internet connection in their cars.

I'm all for that. But please don't call it a Hybrid Radio.


Photo: Flikr (Creative Commons) by Menes on the rocks