Using similar audio recognition software as the popular phone app Shazam, high end Pure digital radios will soon be able to identify, bookmark and buy your favourite songs using wifi and the screen based digital radio interface. The FlowSongs feature, which has already been operating in the UK for the past year, was launched in Australia today as part of Pure’s latest product range.
At the launch, Pure’s Australian managing director Graeme Redman told retailers and media that radio used to be the “take it for granted medium,” but it is not any more. There are now over 400,000 DAB+ receivers in Australia in the 18 months since digital radio was launched, and 60% of the population is covered by a DAB signal.
Also speaking at the launch, Pure’s UK based sales head Peter Blampied said Imagination technologies, Pure’s parent company, sees the future of radio as a combination of efficient broadcast technologies teamed with internet based “personalized technologies.” The personalized technologies he talked about include Pure’s Lounge online service, which now has a special site for Australia.
Pure’s Pete Downton said the online services also allow efficient tracking of listening habits. From this tracking he has concluded that the first choice of listening when people buy a digital/wifi radio is to listen to their traditional radio on the new platform, and that the second most significant reason why people use the new technology is for catch-up services, to time shift their favourite programs and listen at a time that suits them. Listening to new stations appears to come after these two priorities in the UK research.
PURE FlowSongs: 
FlowSongs is a ground-breaking cloud-based music service that allows the user to identify (tag) tracks playing on any radio station and buy them directly from any PURE radio with Flow technology built-in.
The first of a range of new services coming to PURE’s internet-connected digital radios, FlowSongs allows users to tag and buy tracks while listening to any digital, FM or internet radio station and stream them at the touch of a button from their radio without having to switch on a computer. In addition to streaming purchased tracks from any PURE radio with Flow technology, tracks can also be downloaded in a high-quality MP3 format to a PC or Mac and added to the user’s MP3 collection.
“FlowSongs is a unique and easy-to-use cloud-based music service that delivers a bridge between radio, which is the most popular way of discovering new music, and the ability to own that music,” says Redman.
Available on any PURE radio with Flow technology, the new FlowSongs service will be accessible on eight radios in the PURE range, including the Sensia, Contour, AVANTI Flow, ONE Flow, Oasis Flow, Siesta Flow, Evoke Flow, soon-to-be released Sirocco550 and future models.
A key factor in the launch of FlowSongs is PURE’s radio and media portal, the PURE Lounge (thelounge.com), which has added a full online music store. The Lounge has innovative new search facilities and the latest web technology, while the store allows users to buy tracks and manage playlists. All content can be easily listened to and also managed through PURE’s internet-connected radio range.
To access the FlowSongs service, users register their Flow radio on the Lounge (www.thelounge.com), then open and top-up a Lounge Account using a credit or debit card. When a song is selected, FlowSongs tags the track and shows the user the artist, album and price. To purchase a track, the user chooses ‘Buy’ and then enters their optional four digit PIN to confirm the purchase.
FlowSongs and the online music store will be available in Australia from May 2011.
New products from Pure:
ONE Flow, is Pure’s most affordable, portable internet-connected digital radio with Flow technology. The fifth member of Pure’s ONE family, ONE Flow adds to Pure’s growing Flow range and delivers premium internet-connected digital radio at a market changing price point of $249.
ONE Flow offers all the benefits assocated with broadcast digital radio and also uses a Wi-Fi connection to access thousands of internet radio stations and podcasts from around the world, as well as PURE’s unique selection of ambient sounds for relaxation.
Other features on the ONE Flow include support for the full international family of DAB digital radio standards, FM radio, unlimited internet favourites, 30 digital and FM presets, kitchen and sleep timers, 3.5mm input for an iPod or MP3 player, two easy-to-use alarms, headphone socket and a large LCD display.
The i-20 is a digital iPod/iPhone dock that allows users to seamlessly integrate their digital music and video collection into their hi-fi or AV system. It is a next generation digital iPod dock, which supports all digital audio output compatible iPod models including the iPod Touch and iPhone.
The dock delivers flexibility and quality by allowing the user to connect to a hi-fi system or radio* using digital or analogue outputs. When connected via the analogue output, the i-20’s hi-fi quality DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter) ensures that the sound quality from high bit-rate compressed or uncompressed iPod tracks is delivered flawlessly. The inclusion of video outputs on the PURE i-20 allows users to view videos stored on their iPhone or iPod on their TV. RRP: $149
The Twilight digital radio features dawn simulation, mood lighting, as well as built-in natural sounds and lullabies. The dawn lighting helps you wake up gently to light before it click the audio on to jolt you out of your slumber.
Twilight boasts digital and FM radio, an auxiliary input for an iPod or MP3 player, a large LCD display with auto-dimming, ultra bright and efficient LED lights and touch sensitive controls. Equipped with four independent alarm settings, Twilight gives the user the choice of waking to a tone, digital or FM radio and special alarm tones, including ‘church bell’ and ‘cockerel’; or natural sounds including ‘wind chimes’, ‘dawn chorus’ and ‘cicadas’.
Adults can use Twilight as a reading light or relax with its numerous mood light settings, a combination of mood lighting and natural sounds, or of course a favourite radio station.
Twilight’s glass dome is touch-sensitive and acts as an on/off switch for the lamp. Press and hold the lamp and the light dims or brightens gradually.
PURE Twilight is the most energy efficient product of its kind on the market thanks to its energy saving LED based light solution. Twilight is also part of the EcoPlus programme, a statement of PURE’s ethical philosophy and ongoing commitment to looking after the environment. RRP: $329
The Contour is another member of Pure’s internet-connected DAB+ radio family of products. It features modern design with back-lit touch-sensitive controls, with audio entertainment options, including FM, digital and Internet radio, as well as performing as a premium iPod/iPhone dock with Wi-Fi media streaming.
Contour also offers the cloud-based music tagging and buying service, FlowSongs. It features a retractable iPod/ iPhone dock and a full-featured remote control. The addition of video outputs (component, S-Video and composite) allows users to view YouTube videos and videos stored on their iPhone or iPod via a connected TV screen.
The Contour compliments its diverse range of entertainment options with superb audio quality. Incorporating PURE’s Clearsound™ technology**, which delivers clear dynamic audio, higher volume levels and low power consumption , Contour has been designed with an accousticaly tuned and sealed cabvarchar(15) with dual bass ports to deliver unparalleled volume, clarity and response from 18 KHz down to less than 50 Hz.
Other features include DAB, FM, a 3.5mm auxiliary input for an iPod/ MP3 player, 3.5mm stereo headphone output, USB connector for software upgrades or optional Ethernet adaptor and 3.5mm component video / s-video output and RCA composite video output. RRP: $499
The Sirocco 550 is a mini system, but with high quality speakers that emit 80W RMS Clearsound.
It features DAB+, FM and Internet Radio, a CD, Retractable dock made for iPodTM and iPhoneTM, and Video Out via composite, component or S-Video.
Pure has also brought a bit of colour into the Australian market with the Pure EVOKE Mio, a digital/FM radio available in five striking new colours – teal, lava, grape, cherry and noir – with a two-tone leather effect finish and matching cream fascia.
Based on the multi award-winning and iconic EVOKE-1S, this mpodel complements the latest ‘on- trend’ kitchenware colours.
Other features on the PURE EVOKE Mio include an additional input for an iPod/ MP3 player, an OLED (Organic LED) display; textSCAN™ and Intellitext® for pausing, controlling scrolling text and storing information for browsing at a later date; an alarm, kitchen timer and 30 presets. Price to be confirmed.