This is a review of Version 1.0.5, not Version 2.0 which is not being well-received.

RadioSHARK is a hardware/software combo that record broadcast (AM/FM) radio.

The software is exactly the software Apple would write if they had an AM/FM radio tuner. It's simple and intuitive -- from the first time I launched it to my first scheduled recording couldn't have been more than a minute. It's also unobtrusive. Radio programs record without anything visibly launching or demanding your attention. Completed programs appear in your music folder and optionally add themselves to iTunes.

The software is 5 stars, easily. The hardware might be 4. It's wonderful with FM, but it needs some electrical buffering. With AM radio, you hear significant interface from things like hard drive activity and heavy processor use. When I record my AM talk radio, I have to change my EQ to the treble reducer in iTunes and on my iPod to get rid of the shrill pitch. (Anyone know if a powered hub might help isolate noise?)

If I could have my way, there are a few features I'd like added, but even without them this is five star software, as I said. Among the things I'd like to see are:

- Automatic time-based file splits (turn a 3 1 hour talk radio show into three files automatically - this is one of my favorite iRecordMusic features)
- The ability to specify chapter markers in iTunes files (For this radio program, always put markers at 6m, 21m, 33m and 55m after the hour. Talk radio has commercials in almost exactly the same places, and this would let me skip chapters to get close to the end of commercials)
- Lower recording rates and mono/stereo specification! 64kbit is as low as it records. 24kbit mono is great for voice with AAC/mp4.
- Podcast support. Maintain an Atom file with the last 10 shows recorded. Then we can make a web directory our recording directory and subscribe from other Macs and PCs with iTunes. :)