<p>Where have I been? Just discovered Pandora radio. Buzzing along at my desk, jamming to Buffett, Morrison, Grateful Dead… </p>
<p>Skype now this… all of you have prob discovered this ages ago, but apparently I’ve been under a rock!</p>
<p>What have you discovered lately, new to you ?</p>
<p>Under a rock with you, sistersunnie. I just went to Pandora - it is new to me, too. I take it the song choices are based on others you like? What station did you start with? The choices weren’t great, I went with Woodsman. </p>
<p>How can this be available for free? Ads?</p>
<p>NY Mom I dont know much about it, dont know about the stations. I just put in that I liked Buffett and it selects for me. It sets up a profile or prerence for you I guess. I’m loving all of it.</p>
<p>Can anyone say how this can be free??</p>
<p>My youngest daughter turned me on to it, she listens all the time at college.</p>
<p>Since you’ve taken those cyber steps, do you know about Hulu, Vudu, Netflix on demand, Amazon video on demand, Cinema Now, and other ‘on-demand’ movie and video services that one can stream to their PC or TV (if equipped) via the internet? You can watch all kinds of movies, including in HD, on your PC or TV. If your TV doesn’t support it natively (some of the newer sets do) then you can get a Blu-Ray DVD player that also supports these streaming services or you could buy a small box like a Roku or Boxee or you can possibly connect your PC in order to see this on your TV.</p>
<p>With my cable provider, Cox, I can stream movies from Epix and Vutopia to my PC and watch some movies on it on demand - included in the cost of the package I have from Cox.</p>
<p>With the streaming services more and more people are opting out of using cable TV and just using a broadband network connection to stream movies, TV, etc.</p>
<p>You can make your own Pandora “stations” by plugging in some artists that you like to listen to. So for instance, if you like Kelly Clarkston (don’t know why she was the first person that came to mind) and you make a “Kelly Clarkston” station, it will likely play her songs, as well as other female pop artists similar to her and probably some other American Idol singers.</p>
<p>If you make a “Rolling Stones” station, you will get a station filled with likely older rock songs.</p>
<p>Pandora has a lot more ads now that it did awhile back - I’d say that’s how it’s free. :)</p>
<p>If you like Pandora, you might check out grooveshark. Unlike Pandora which selects songs for you, you can select your own on grooveshark. It’s more work, but a way to create a customized playlist.</p>
<p>Put Herman’s Hermits into Pandora and you get a great selection of 60s British invasion music…</p>
<p>vballmom, what I like about Pandora is that introduces me to stuff I don’t know about. Half the fun to me is to discover new artists or rediscover old ones I’d forgotten all about. I’ve used Pandora forever, but really love having it on my smartphone. It’s great at the gym or when I take a walk. I’ve got all sorts of stations - one that plays mostly Zydeco, another that plays Texas style country, another that plays protest songs (started with Phil Ochs), another that plays heavy metal. I get most of my British invasion music from my Kinks station. :)</p>
<p>My one complaint is that it doesn’t give me enough new music that someone who likes the older music would also like. I think it used to do a better job of it, but they tweaked the algorithm to look at the music less abstractly.</p>
<p>In addition to Grooveshark mentioned above (which I love when I discover new music I like), try LastFM. It plays stations like Pandora (you put in a band you like), but also has stations you can choose from, such as Celtic Christmas music. Both of these are free - they will “time out” if you just leave it running, but you only have to tell it to “resume” and it starts playing again. On LastFM, like Pandora, you have to listen to a commercial every time it starts, but it’s short. On both Grooveshark and LastFM you can listed to other people’s radio stations which is fun. My kids send me stations to listen to. </p>
<p>Pandora limits you to 40 free hours each month, but you can pay a small amount and have unlimited listening. LastFM is free, although I believe you can pay a small fee and get rid of the commercials. I can’t remember if Grooveshark has commercials.</p>
<p>Being totally out of it, I apparently need this thread. Whole new worlds to explore!</p>
<p>I have the Pandora app on my iPhone and iPad. My fav stations are Maroon 5 and Glee. LOVE it !</p>
<p>Pandora now has comics as well (stand-up). In snippets, like “5 o’clock funnies” - 3 to 5 minutes of great (and some not so great) comics. George Carlin, Dane Cook, Steven Wright, Bill Cosby and a ton more. Try it, but be prepared…it’s for adults!</p>
<p>We chipped in at work (3 of us) for the $36 a year, unlimited playtime, zero commercials. We took turns making “stations”. It’s great!</p>
<p>I have done Hulu a few times. I feel like singing Aladdan’s “Its a whole new world” Hmmm wonder if Pandora has a Disney channel…</p>
<p>Pandora recently went public, which surprised me because you can make your own with better selections, without the ads. Hulu is or recently was being sold and I haven’t watched it since Comedy Central left.</p>
<p>I wonder if there is a commercial purpose to this thread, and all the threads where people recommend products and links.</p>
<p>I have not been too excited about Pandora or Tunee Music or other choices. I am impressed on my Droid smart phone. I am constantly amazed by all the options. Currently I am using my Droid as a hotspot for my laptop computer.</p>
<p>I’ve listened to Pandora for a few years but the ads drive me crazy. I’ll mute them and then forget to unmute it. My sons keep us updated on anything new techy wise.</p>
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<p>There are certainly threads that do have a commercial purpose. But when it is a thread started by a CC poster that I’ve read on many other threads, I don’t have that kind of worry.</p>
<p>I started the thread and theres no commercial purpose for it. I discovered something that I enjoyed and wanted to share. Also wanted to ask others about their experience with it. </p>
<p>Guess I crossed a line?</p>
<p>Sistersunnie, you’re fine!!! I totally understand the purpose of the thread!</p>
<p>Sunnie, when I read this title I thought you had a mishap with your rock garden installation.</p>