[Spirit FM] mikereidis:
:D

Thanks ! Did you write this or is it somewhere else online ?

"Up a third on 2010" sounds like "up 33% from 2010 to 2011" which I can't imagine.

To a certain extent, I think so, yes. But it's not "removal" so much as death by neglect, for Google at least. Some Android phones do support FM and there is no evidence Google actively sabotages such efforts. For Apple, perhaps "suppress" is appropriate, since they control the hardware and system software and must approve all apps. Rumors persist that iPhone hardware may be capable and that Apple intends to enable it "some day", but no hard evidence.

Positive points here for Microsoft and RIM. MS WP has at least a simple FM API it appears, and RIM has just enabled FM on some devices.

From what I've read, the BIG business deals are between the OEMs and the MNOs/carriers. The latter apparently pay the OEMs for "Non Recurring Engineering costs" for each new, customised "model" that may have somewhat different bloatware loads and variants of the hardware. Variants offered by many OEMs include FM and No FM versions.

Apple is an OEM, but Google isn't really. But Google DOES have a give and take with the OEMs; they demand things they feel are in their long term interest and in turn tend to support things the OEMs and carriers want.

And Google IS an advertising company, and so far they make nothing from OTA radio ads.

I don't entirely understand the fascination with Nexus devices, at least for those who use aftermarket ROMs. Galaxy S2 is almost the same, but yeah, the US variants seem to have no FM.

Yes, official updates are more likely with Nexus, but I'm happy with aftermarket ROMs. But I do understand most people want stock ROMs. As for bloatware, the new Galaxy Nexus's seem to have it now.

Yes I think the costs are pretty small when it's just a matter of a few cents worth of parts and engineering/QA time. Costs may actually be negative when a "No FM" variant is produced of a device that does have FM.

If only the various parties made producing FM apps easier.... ST Ericsson is proposing an Android FM API, but it seems to be going extremely slow with IMO no positive signs for any success. Can hardly find any info on the net even...

Spirit DOES work with ICS in general, and specifically on some devices/ROMs, such as my Galaxy S with all the ICS ROMs I've tried so far.

The main issues are support for whatever APIs or access methods may or may not be available on a ROM, and this is still an issue on Android versions from 2.1 and up.

I'm currently adding support for Proprietary APIs (the "big" FM secrets of the industry I guess). Hopefully soon, Spirit will support 90% or more of the Android devices on which FM is possible, on Android 2.1 or any later version.

=====================

BTW, the "suppression" of FM on mobile devices seems to be strongest in the US. But the rest of the world suffers too, because the US "No FM" variants are sold elsewhere also.

From my sales figures, my app is more popular with Europeans than Americans per capita.

I think one reason (of many) might be that many people listen to radio on their way to and from work. In the US that is more likely to be via car, where there is usually already a radio. In Europe, public transit. biking and walking are used more, where a portable radio device would be needed.