A dramatic redesign, featured content, internet radio, music services, audiobooks, and even more podcasts.  All available on your smartphone from a single, simple, interface.

Stay tuned for more updates, but in the meantime be sure to hit up either the iTunes App Store, the Android Market, and Amazon App Store.

-Ryan

Also, Kenwood will integrate Aha into its products joining Pioneer in the automotive aftermarket head unit category. Aha’s content selection on the Aha platform will soon expand to tens of thousands of stations thanks to partnerships we just announced with with CBS Radio, MOG, Rhapsody, Slacker, AOL Shoutcast and many others. We’ll also launch new apps for iPhone and Android soon.

We’ve come a long way since last year’s CES show, and are excited to be able to share all this news. There is lots of great stuff underway that we can’t talk about yet, so look forward to more news this spring. This week, we’ll be here in Vegas hanging out in a cool new BRZ and showing everyone what the future of connected infotainment looks like.

Robert Acker
General Manager, Aha

The most important update is for anyone out there who is connecting to a compatible Pioneer system.  Some of you out there have reported repeated pause issues when playing Aha content on Pioneer, and as it turns out it stems from a Pioneer bug with iOS5.

We were able to work with Pioneer to find a workaround and incorporate a tweak to our code that prevented them from having to release a full fledged head unit update … and that tweak went out with today’s update.  That won’t fix the Pioneer bug for all interaction with Apple apps, but it should fix it for Aha.

The other changes won’t be as noticeable, as they involve optimization for a variety of iOS5 things.  So for big whizbang excitement you will need to wait for the massive overhaul that is “coming soon”.

So get that phone out and make sure you check for updates!  And of course enjoy the holiday weekend!

-Ryan

Aha for Android

Since we first launched for iOS devices there have been Android users asking when they were going to be shown some love.

We acknowledged that we have been hard at work on an Android version as well, but with all of the work on the automotive front it has taken a while.

Then many of you noticed in the recent Slacker announcement that the screenshot of our app not only showed a massive redesign … but it was on an Android device!

So now I can happily say that while there is no official release date for our Android version (yet) we are looking for some enthusiastic Android users to round out our upcoming beta.

If you are interested, please send an email to beta@aharadio.com with the following details:

• Name
• Handset model
• Carrier
• Software version
• Location
• Approximate total daily drive time

This week we’ve been demoing Aha in Harman’s booth at the biannual Frankfurt Auto Show. We’ve been showing some of our upcoming content, including Slacker, radio stations, hundreds of new podcasts, and audio books, accessing them through a new Ferrari radio.

Harman, Aha (background), and Ferrari look good together

The show itself is amazing, dwarfing all other auto shows in size. BMW has one entire hall to itself with an elevated roadway built around the top of their booth with cars driving on it. Most car companies are showing at least one all electric or hybrid concept car and there are lots of very cool designs.

The first two days on Tuesday and Wednesday were only open to the press and exhibitors and Tuesday especially seemed to be the day that senior executives from the auto industry made the rounds. If was an amazing opportunity to demonstrate Aha to chairmen, heads of purchasing, top infotainment execs, and other senior people from major car companies world-wide.

I also learned that I’ve been buying inferior cars my entire life since they weren’t painted with squirrel hair brushes. (See the photo below.) I can’t figure out if they have squirrel shavers, find the squirrels on the road (in the English countryside of course), or raise them to make brushes…

Many squirrels died to bring us this car... (see sign above car)

Back on a serious note, we have come a long way in our first full year as part of Harman, and are very much looking forward to building on this momentum in year two.

Thanks to everyone who is joining us for the ride.

Robert
GM, Aha Radio – Harman

Later this year, Aha users will be able to access Slacker content from within Aha, and in doing so connect that content to a variety of different stereo interfaces.

So if you are keeping score at home, that’s Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Inrix Traffic, podcasts, and now Slacker Internet Radio.  We are getting dangerously close to something for everyone.

There has been a flood of coverage over the last day, and if you are interested in reviewing any of them I urge you to check out our Twitter feed (where we’ve been on quite a tweet spree).

-Ryan

Well the culprit of your latest badge update is most likely us.  Our newest version (1.5.5) was released into the wild today.  There aren’t any super obvious changes, but included are some bug fixes that should help overall performance.  Also, if you are a head-unit customer there should be some bug fixes for you as well.

So get on over to the App Store and get your update on!

-Ryan

Our new home (page)

If you have been with us for a long time you remember that our original app was named Aha Mobile.

That was also the name for the company, as well as the URL for the website.

Unfortunately, when we changed the name to Aha Radio we didn’t own the AhaRadio.com domain, and a long overdue website overhaul had to wait.

Well, I’m extremely excited to announce that the wait is over.

Say hello to our new website … www.aharadio.com!

You can also update your bookmarks, because the blog is available at www.aharadio.com/blog.

Take a look around the new digs, and let us know what you think.

-Ryan

Along with his Tech Talk podcast, we’ve also added his daily KCBS: Tech Reports podcast (from the Bay Area’s flagship CBS News station).  And in response to a request from a Michigan based listener, we are taking this opportunity to add acclaimed author Mitch Albom to the mix.

For step by step instructions on updating your presets check out this recent post.  If you would like to make a suggestion for a new station, please contact us at feedback@ahamobile.com.

Adding:

Podcasts

• CBS: Tech Talk – CBS and CNET Tech analyst, Larry Magid, brings you the latest on the tech news you need and the products you crave.
• KCBS: Tech Reports with Larry Magid – Our daily Q&A with KCBS Technology Analyst Larry Magid. Listen live M-F 3:50PM on KCBS All News 740AM and 106.9FM.
• Mitch Albom Podcast – Mitch Albom is an acclaimed author, sports writer, and radio host from Detroit, Michigan. Mitch is best known for his bestselling books, “Tuesdays with Morrie” and “The Five People You Meet in Heaven.”

Have a good weekend!

-Ryan

For this update we are rounding out our offerings from Adam Carolla’s ACE Broadcasting Network (including a mix station of all of his shows), adding something for our new friends north of the border, and even getting some sharp TV analysis.

If you would like to make a suggestion for a new station, please contact us at feedback@ahamobile.com.

Adding:

Podcasts

• Ace on the House – ACE Broadcasting brings you “Ace On The House”, a Home Improvement Q&A show hosted by Adam Carolla.
• CarCast – Adam Carolla’s CarCast, his podcast all about cars.
• CBC: As It Happens – From the complex headlines of the day to the weird and wacky, As It Happens brings you the story behind the story – and now we’re podcasting the whole show!
• FilmVault – Hosts Bryan Bishop and Anderson take a look back into the annals of film to comprise their top 5 films of a different genre each week.
• Firewall & Iceberg – TV critics Alan Sepinwall and Daniel Fienberg take the problems of television way too seriously and the problems of the world way too lightly.
• Joe Rogan Experiment – Conduit to the Gaian Mind.
• Life Lessions w/ Jim Carolla – Jim Carolla, certified psychologist, jazz musician, comedian, and patriarch of the Adam Carolla clan reflects on his life, explores life lessons, and adventures into classic jazz on his trumpet.
• On Digital Media – If it’s part of the digital media ecosystem, you’ll likely hear about it here. Your hosts are John Federico, Chia-Lin Simmons, Steve Hatch and Craig Calder.
• Parent Experiment – Not your typical parenting podcast, delivered with brutal honesty and biting humor… it definitely has an edge to it. Hosted by Lynette Carolla and Susanna Brisk.
• The Punch w/ Greg Carlisle – It’s kind of like the drunk, angry cousin of a variety show mated with a saucy, unrehearsed table read.
• This Week w/ Larry Miller – Larry Miller — actor, comedian, writer and sexual pioneer — unleashes a weekly barrage of humor about the absurdities of daily life.

Mix Station

• Adam Carolla Network – Get the latest episodes of all of the programs from Adam Carolla’s ACE Broadcasting Network, all in one place.

1) Tap the Manage Stations button located at the top right corner of the main screen.

2) Choose to view Current stations, or to Add more

3) to remove a station simply tap the minus symbol and then confirm the Delete

4) Switch to Add more and choose from Aha Stations, Podcasts, or Twitter lists

5) After adding/removing stations you can re-order them on the Current screen by holding your finger on the triple hash and dragging.