As I mentioned yesterday, an iOS4 specific update for Aha Radio was submitted to the App Store for approval, and I’m pleased to report that the updated version is NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD!

Just a quick reminder on what’s new.

• Background audio playback: keep listening to your favorite podcasts even after exiting the app (iOS 4.0 only). This release includes the fix for audio playback with iOS 4.0.
• For users without unlimited data plans, added a data usage tracker and the ability to reduce bandwidth consumption for podcast content within SETTINGS.
• App icon replaced with hi-res version.
• Other bug fixes and minor enhancements.

What all that means is that you can keep listening to your podcast stations, even after you exit the app.  Also, if you have opted for the lowest data plan (200MBs) and are worried about your data usage, you can now keep track of it from within the SETTINGS area.  There is also an optional setting to reduce consumption, but if you aren’t on the tiny plan we don’t recommend changing it.  You’ll find that some of the rewind/resume options won’t work.

And of course, for those of you enjoying the new Retina Display, we’ve updated the app icon with a hi-res version.

Hope you all enjoy!

-Ryan

Aha Mobile

As just about all iPhone owners are aware, Apple released a major iOS update to coincide with the release of the new iPhone4.  We tested against it with the SDK, but a playback issue snuck by us and some users have probably noticed that non-podcast content is getting cut off early.  If you are still on iOS 3, or only listen to podcast stations, you have not been impacted.

I’m excited to report that we’ve submitted an update to the App Store for review, and not only does it resolve the playback issue, but it makes Aha Radio fully compatible with iOS4.  Hello fast app switching and background audio!!!  Once the update hits you’ll be able to continue listening to your podcast stations even after you exit the app.  And don’t worry, we’ve made sure to streamline the background processes so that you don’t have to worry about it sapping your battery.

Stay tuned and be on the lookout for the little update badge on your App Store app.

-Ryan

Aha Mobile

Aha Radio features a constantly evolving selection of stations. We will frequently add new podcasts, twitter lists, and Aha stations to the lineup.

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

Adding:

Aha Stations

• World Cup – Hear scores, ESPN highlights, and select podcasts, as well as user comments on all things World Cup.

Podcasts

• Never Not Funny: Pardcast – “Never Not Funny” is a party conversation with one of the funniest men on the planet: comedian and TV personality Jimmy Pardo. Every week, he sits down with producer Matt Belknap and a guest from the world of comedy to shoot the breeze, share stories and laugh at life.
• TWiT: Tech News Today – Tom Merritt, former host of CNET’s “Buzz Out Loud,” joins the TWiT network to bring you “Tech News Today.” Tom and co-hosts Becky Worley (TechTV, Good Morning America), Sarah Lane (TechTV, Revision3) and others take you on a fun and friendly ride through the need-to-know tech news highlights of the day.

How to add/remove stations from Aha Radio –

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.

Aha Radio features a constantly evolving selection of stations. We will frequently add new podcasts, twitter lists, and Aha stations to the lineup. Announcements will typically be made the day (or day after) new stations become available.

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

Adding:

Aha Stations

• Stand-Up Comedy – Listen to material from some of the best local and nationally touring comics.  New content is added every few days, so you’ll always be able to get a good laugh.
• MLB Chat – An open forum to talk about all things baseball.  Get your rivalry on!

Podcasts

• Bootcamp: Gadgets & Gear – What’s the latest in gadgets & gear? Fred Fishkin talks to the people who are behind them all in his daily Boot Camp Report!
• BusinessWeek: Cover Story – The week’s top business and economic news. Hosted by Assistant Managing Editor Jim Ellis, and featuring BusinessWeek’s writers and editors.
• Car And Driver – Car and Driver Radio brings you all the latest automotive news, product reviews, celebrity guests and more.
• CNET: Buzz Out Loud – Buzz Out Loud features Tom Merritt, Molly Wood and producer Jason Howell, along with CNET’s top tech experts reviewing the day’s tech news.
• CNET: Car Tech Live – Every Friday, car nut and tech aficionado Brian Cooley runs down the latest news in the ever-evolving integration between cars and technology.
• Cranky Geeks – Hosted by PC Magazine editor John C. Dvorak.  Each week a group of panelists discuss the most controversial topics in tech.
• DiggNation – The Diggnation podcast by Kevin and Alex makes for a funny broadcast of the events at the social networking site digg.com.
• Engadget – ou know it, you love it… you subscribe to it. Now you’re able to get all that podcasty goodness in one place.
• MarketWatch: Take on Tech – MarketWatch tech reporters Rex Crum and John Letzing take you inside the business of technology.
• SlashDot Review – News and events in Technology, Business, and Regulation.
• TWIT: Daily Giz Wiz – Mad’s maddest writer and The Giz Wiz, Dick DeBartolo, digs into his massive gadget collection for the gadget of the day, co-hosted by Leo Laporte.
• TWIT: Home Theater Geeks – Scott Wilkinson, online editor of UltimateAVmag.com and HomeTheaterMag.com, interviews the leaders and pioneers behind today’s home theater technology.
• TWIT: Security Now – Steve Gibson, the man who coined the term spyware and created the first anti-spyware program, creator of Spinrite and ShieldsUP, discusses the hot topics in security today with Leo Laporte.
• TWIT: The Tech Guy – The complete aircheck of Leo Laporte’s technology call-in radio show minus commercials, news, and traffic.

How to add/remove stations from Aha Radio –

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.

Aha Radio features a constantly evolving selection of stations. We will frequently add new podcasts, twitter lists, and Aha stations to the lineup.

New stations should be available immediately.  If one of the stations being removed is already among your presets, it will still be visible but will no longer be updated with fresh content.

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

Adding:

Podcasts

• ABC News: Nightline – In-depth reporting on the major stories in the news and the events affecting our world.
• ABC World News Tonight – Latest news from around the world, brought to you by Diane Sawyer and the ABC News team.
• CBS News: Face the Nation – Bob Schieffer hosts the weekly political interview show.
• CBS World News Roundup – Complete coverage of the day’s news from the nation’s longest-running news broadcast.
• Chris Pirillo Show – Technology, Science, and Entertainment – that’s the Chris Pirillo Show!
• Dave Ramsey Show – All about real life and how it revolves around money. Dave teaches you to manage your money.
• FOX: Daily Dobson – You want to know what’s going on with your Favorite Celebrities. Jill Dobson’s has you covered.
• FOX: FOX & Food – Join Lillian Woo as she explores the world of food in this new podcast.
• FOX: The Early Scoop – Daily entertainment features covering box office results, music, tv, and movie releases.
• FOX: The FOX Light – Reviews of the latest music and movie releases every Tuesday.
• FOX: #twoppics – The stories behind the hottest topics on Twitter.

Removing:

Aha Stations

• NCAA March Madness

Twitter

• Olympic Tweets
  
• SXSW: Band Tweets
  
• SXSW: Buzz from Attendees
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• SXSW: Director Tweets
  
• SXSW: Film Tweets
  
• SXSW: Interactive Speakers – 2010
  
• SXSW: Official Updates
  

How to add/remove stations from Aha Radio -

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.

Quick note to report.  Some users may have noticed that custom road segmants within My Traffic were including the city names twice.

Our tech folks rooted out the cause of the issue, but if you were impacted you will need to remove and re-add the custom segments.

Sorry for the iconvenience.

Ryan

Aha Community Czar

Hi everyone. Quick heads up that we noticed some connection issues this afternoon. Apparently AT&T was unable to resolve the connection with us when users were booting the app.

Everything appears to be back in order now, so if you are still having problems please let us know (support@ahamobile.com) or twitter (twitter.com/ahamobile).

Thanks for your patience!

-Ryan

In case you haven’t heard (or checked your App Store app lately) our latest version of Aha has hit the App Store and is ready for download.

You won’t see any major visual changes in this release, but we did make some pretty significant speed and stability updates…so you’ll want to make sure you get it.

And now…on with the show!

Misc. & Awesome (do we have a love connection?)
guest_00V8DVR – You lookin’ good!
OcLove – Thanks, I’m flattered

Caraoke
jaybesauceda – Heavenly
TacoTruc – I’m a Barbie Girl

Traffic
trichdelish – A lot of traffic, so good luck – NY Tri-State Area
latinqueen – Going to Macy’s to see Santa – NY Tri-State Area
imi3usy – Exit ramp is clear… – NY Tri-State Area

#%& DRIVERS!
Nonny – Rubbernecking… – Atlanta Metro Area
OcLove – That’s all we need – Los Angeles / Inland Empire (EXPLICIT)

Ryan
Aha Community Czar

Some of the folks who have linked their Aha account to either Facebook or Twitter may have noticed recently that the speed we were attaching to your messages was sometimes a little off (in some cases it was even off by about half).

Well I have some good news to report, because we tracked down the issue and got it cleared up.

If you haven’t yet linked your Aha account to Facebook or Twitter (or both), you can get setup by visiting ahamobile.com/services.  Keep in mind that if you already have your Twitter updates being sent to Facebook, you may run into duplicates if you send your Aha shouts to both at the same time.  Check out the video to learn more!

Ryan
Aha Community Czar

UPDATED: Everything should be back to normal now.  Sorry for any inconvenience.

*************************************

We’ve had such an amazing response from users this weekend that our poor servers are struggling to keep up. We will be performing maintenance this afternoon, which may result in spotty performance for some users.

We are also aware that many users are now receiving error messages when attempting to register. We are working on the problem, but want everyone to know that they can still continue to leave shouts. When you are able to successfully register all of your previous shouts will be re-labeled with your new username.

Sorry for any frustration this is causing.

-Ryan