Linux Journal publishes an interesting piece by Doc Searls on efforts to create dedicated Wi-Fi devices for listening to Internet radio (Bring on the WiFi Radios). Such devices would be simple to use, not much more complex than existing sound systems, and would permit users to listen to a virtually limitless number of stations. Of course, that assumes there will continue to be such a thing as Internet radio (see, LawMeme Internet Radio Not Dead Enough - RIAA).
Currently, dedicated Internet radio devices do exist, but remain rare and relatively expensive, frequently DIY home brew versions ... but then again, the same could be said of personal computers twenty years ago. Although there are still many techincal problems that need to be addressed (and Wi-Fi may not be the best approach), what the existing devices illustrate and Doc Searls points out, however, is the potential and possibility for these "smart receivers." There is little reason that radio receivers must remain dumb, merely capable of tuning and demodulating a broadcast frequency. Moving toward such dedicated devices as Wi-Fi radio has the potential to remake our broadcast media infrastructure, freeing spectrum from the control of wannabe monopolists (*cough*ClearChannel*cough*). Which, of course, is precisely why Hollywood is not strongly supporting development of this type of infrastructure.