OS / PlayerRadio playback-only WM apps: Resco Radio 1.71 Mundu Radio v1.0.2w beta b10329 (QVGA screenshot; VGA screenshot)Generic WM apps with streaming capabilities (note that PWMP isn't included in the chart as it's only compatible with WMA streams (albeit, is the best at playing them back); LGC Jukebox is discussed in the Symbian section and WinVibe 4.9.5 isn’t included because I can’t find a direct download link now and it’s only OGG / MP3 compliant, not having any streaming-related goodie): Conduits Pocket Player 3.51b6Kinoma Play 1.0Spb Online1.0GSPlayer V2.28 with the AAC (1.03) plug-inMortPlayer 3.31 b63PocketMusic 5.01 CorePlayer 1.1TCPMP 0.72rc1 MPlayer current version Symbian: Nokia Internet Radio betaCorePlayer 1.1.2 b2LCG Jukebox 2.17
Price$19.95free$19.95; upgrade price: $9.95$29.99$29.95freefree$19.95$19.95freefreefree$24.9519.99 euros (PPC version: 16.99)
Default station list?+, extensive+, albeit not very extensive (about 45 stations)-+, very extensive, always-updated (stored online)+; good but in no way so excellent as for example Kinoma------+, very extensive, including, fortunately, a lot of non-English stations too-+, extensive
Format support: MP3 (SHOUTcast)+ (4.5% at 624 MHz ; ~6 (4 Resco + 2 Device) % at 520)+ (8…11% at 624 MHz); note that if it only uses one of the speakers, readjust the volume (this has always happened on the Dell Axim x51v)+ (8..9% at 624 MHz)+-+ (5% at 624 MHz)+ (6.8% at 624 MHz)+ (7% at 624 MHz)+ (6% at 624 MHz)+ (6% at 624 MHz)+ (~4% CPU at 624 MHz)+ (0.93W in 2G)+ works OK (0.85W)+ (1W)
AAC(+)(SHOUTcast)+ AAC only (REQUIRES the $9.95 Codec Pack add-on); ~10% on a 624 MHz x51v; on a 520 MHz HTC Universal, however, it was 32% (12% Resco + 20% device.exe) CPU-- (absolutely no support)+, even AAC+-+ full AAC+ support (24% at 624 MHz)-- (starts to connect and buffer but, then, disconnects. This means the separate AAC plug-in doesn’t make it possible to play AAC(+) streams either)+ AAC only (6% at 624 MHz)+ (25% at 624 MHz); FULL AAC+ compliance (Stereo!!) with the additional LibFAAD CAB+ AAC only (~5% CPU at 624 MHz)+ AAC only (0.93W in 2G)+ AAC only, works OK (0.84W)-
WMA (ASX, also see built-in WMP)--+ (4 (Born Again)…8-11 (Peili) %), both MMS and HTTP++-, not even with the WMA (1.01) plug-in--+ (7% at 624 MHz; MMS isn’t supported. As in most cases you can just substitute HTTP for MMS in the ASX file like in the following example (Peili):

<Ref href = "http:// mediau.yle.fi/ liveradiopeili" />

where the original was <Ref href = "mms:// mediau.yle.fi/ liveradiopeili" />

+ (4.5% at 624 MHz; with HTTP only (Born Again); MMS (Peili) isn’t supported). At least, unlike CP, it doesn’t crash / freeze.--+, ~0.8W (currently, useless with MMS Radio Peili (with directly entering the address) and this also applies to HTTP “hacking” it (the same heavy stuttering issues even over 3G); HTTP Born Again is flawless.)-
OGG (SHOUTcast)+ (6.2% at 624 MHz; ~9 (7+2)% at 520)-+ (13% at 624 MHz; no playback problems)--+ (9…10% at 624 MHz; no playback problems)+ (12.5% at 624 MHz; no playback problems)+ (11% at 624 MHz; no playback problems)+ (11% at 624 MHz; no playback problems)+ (11% at 624 MHz; no playback problems)- (VBR streams like THIS don’t seem to work - only the first, CBR tag. The VBR body after that is completely messed up) -+ (~1W; currently, useless (the same problems as with WMA MMS streaming) – at least with the test VBR stream. No such probs on Windows Mobile.)? Supposed to have; however, my test stream has turned out to be “incompatible” (as has been reported by the app)
RealAudio----------+ (both HTTP and RTSP; HUGE (70% on 624 and 100% on 520 MHz) CPU usage) – just GREAT (not taking the CPU usage into account)!---
Misc:Direct station import / access from PLS / ASX / RAM / M3U files in the file system+; PLS / M3U import one by one (no mass loading) in All Stations / New / ImportMust be done on the server side; on the client; can’t be done; there, you can only synchronize your playlist with that of the server. Then, your stations become visible on the client.+ (Menu / Open / Open File)+- (you can, however, enter streams by their URL)+ (Menu / File / Open File)+ (Control / Open / Other path/Playlists; select the PLS / M3U file here; you can, later, semi-automatically add it to the station list at Control / Open / Streams)+ (Playlist / (Remove All+) Add Files or Folders)+ (Menu / Open Files; also crashes upon importing the Radio Peili ASX – while Born Again Radio ASX worked. Most probably because of Peili’s using MMS?)+ (File / Open File; an entire directory can be added to the playlist in one step)+ (Load File / Playlist works; no internal library)+ (able to load an entire set of PLS files from a given directory if you previously used the old Nokia Internet Radio as is described HERE. Otherwise, you can click the PLS files one my one from any file manager to have the radio app fire up)+ (works OK as M3U / PLS files; crashes upon trying to import the Peili ASX (WMA) file - as with the WinMo version)- (stations must be entered by hand, one-by-one – VERY bad!)
Recording streams+ (with MP3 and AAC only; not with OGG!!); doesn’t increase CPU usage at all – direct stream recording, VERY clever. Recordings can even be scheduled!-------------
Displaying currently played song info (when available – for example, with SKY.FM Top Hits, Radio Paradise or the WOXY.com AAC+ stream)?+ (even uses this info when naming saved files)+++++++++ (at the top; more info at File / Media Info...)-++n/t
Pros
  • Recording!!!
  • Easy-to-use interface
  • Large pre-defined station base
    		• -
  • is very good in many other respects (for example, library handling, plug-ins, equalizer, podcasts, DSP’s)
  • the best SHOUTcast station directory (Browse / Web Guide)
  • Currently the largest station directory
  • AAC+ support with comparatively low CPU usage
    		• Has a lot of additional functionality (pretty nice TV module, multiplayer games etc.)
  • Despite being free, excellent – and even natively handles AAC+!
  • Equalizer and some other goodies; for example, Midi support
  • Free
  • Well-suited for in-car usage
    		• -
  • Excellent video player in one
  • Library
  • Free
  • Even supports AAC+
  • HTTP RealAudio !!!
  • Large pre-defined station base; unlike with the other station databases (except for Mundu., but it only has Indian stuff), also has language-based categorization
  • Free
  • Lower power consumption than Nokia’s or LGC’s app
  • As with the WinMo version, also supports a lot of other goodies
  • Lyrics support – in this respect, it’s pretty unique on both platforms (not counting in WinVibe on WM)
    • Cons
  • Only AAC support (no AAC+)
  • No OGG recording
  • No built-in equalizer, unlike most (even free) titles
  • Isn’t really usable on VGA
  • Only plays back MP3 streams
  • Default station directory small
  • Not ANY goodies like built-in equalizer
  • Not free
  • somewhat more CPU usage
  • no AAC(+) - they're only played back locally, using the system-level codec
  • No OGG support (not that it'd be that important – stations using OGG also use MP3 at the same time, even if at about two times higher bitrate; that is, you won't miss anything)
  • the app being completely new, it has its share of (initial) problems like video playback inefficiency in Landscape, always scanning for new media upon restarts etc. Hope these problems will all be fixed in subsequent versions.
  • Doesn't at all support SHOUTcast (MP3 / AAC+ / OGG) streams
  • Far too expensive if you only want a radio player
    		• -
  • No AAC(+) support at all
  • No AAC support
  • Not free
  • Not free
  • No native AAC+, unlike with GSPlayer / TCPMP
    		• -
  • Really barebone interface
  • Due to being beta, prone to crashing, as is explained for example HERE
  • Currently, badly implemented networking code, resulting in really heavy skips in a lot of cases; this is promised to be fixed – you may end up having to wait for the next version
  • Pricy
  • Really-really awkward way of adding new radio stations (albeit it has some out of the box)
  • Pricy