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

I’ve always been under the impression that an office isn’t really an office until the supreme overlords from corporate have paid a visit.  So I’m happy to say that our office is now official … thanks to this week’s visit from several members of the Harman exec staff.

Max explaining his strategy for serving in Ping-Pong

And the timing couldn’t have been better.  Not only had I recently finished setting up the SoundBar and PS3, but our design guru was able to put some additional touches on some of the office decor that he had put up over the last few months.

Not only that, but the blu-ray set of Star Wars came in a couple weeks ago, and my LEGO Hoth Playset arrived with just enough time to assemble.

All in all it was quite a successful day.

-Ryan

It has been a pretty busy week.  Last Thursday we announced a partnership with Slacker to bring their personalized radio service into cars via Aha (check out the coverage here).

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.

Read more…

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news the last day you have probably seen that we have ourselves a new content partner … Slacker Personal Radio!

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

Snack time

Time goes by so fast.  It seems like only yesterday (ok, a month ago) that we welcomed the very first Aha interns to our world.

Alas, school had to go and start again.  That means that Emily and Kyra are en route to the great Pacific Northwest (especially lovely this time of year) to return to the wonderful world of academia.

And since Friday’s before three day weekends are notoriously vacant days around most offices, we opted for a Thursday Sundae Bar Day (try saying that 10 times fast).

Mmmmmm

Thanks again to Emily and Kyra for all the great help!

-Ryan

The team here is constantly working on ways to bring more content into Aha, and we have a lot of stuff in the works, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t looking for suggestions.

Maybe you are interested in specific foreign language content, or more local sports podcasts, or some lesser known comedy programs.  Or maybe there is a custom mix of podcasts that you think would be perfect.  Whatever you like be sure to let us know.

You can post the suggestions in the comments here, on our facebook page, on twitter, or shoot us an email at feedback[at]aharadio.com.

If we use your suggestion I’ll put you on the list to potentially receive a free Aha t-shirt.

Have a great weekend!

-Ryan

The office additions are really starting to pile up these days.  Over the last few months we’ve added interns, a home theater, and a bunch of nifty decorations. We even have a special “Conference Table” that magically works great for ping-pong.

But something was still missing.  We needed MORE electronics devices and more speakers.  Fortunately Harman came through with the SB 16 wireless SoundBar.

Which is a fantastic add because the speaker and woofer are wireless and don’t take up a lot of space.  That is something that is critically important for our music or motion based games, like Guitar Hero.

Taking a break for some RAMMSTEIN! Me (Ryan) on guitar, with Viktor on the skins.

It is also important to make sure we have plenty of space around the “Conference Table”, seeing as how we are in the middle of a very important, rotating, double-elimination, set of 1:1 “meetings” called King Pong.

Don’t forget, we are hiring!

Have a good weekend,

Ryan

Whether you have plans that involve travelling, or just involve leisure…ing, Aha Radio is the right app for you.

So says the latest issue of Travel & Leisure (on newstands now), which included Aha on its list of 80 travel apps and websites as the best app to help “Stay Social While You Drive”! (click the image to see a larger view)

-Ryan

We had two very exciting additions to the Aha Radio workplace this week … our very first INTERNS!  Yep, we are totally official now.

Say hello to Emily and Kyra.  They will be here for another couple weeks helping us out with a few important projects.  And while I can assure you that isn’t code for “fetching Starbucks”, I can’t go into much more detail.

Emily and Kyra

Emily comes to us from University of Portland, and is currently leaning toward Secondary Education and History.  When not in class there is a good chance she could be found reading Harry Potter.

Kyra is in town from Western Washington University, where she is currently a Biology major who splits her free time between dancing and being obsessed with Disney stuff.

Stay tuned and I will try to shed more light on what exactly they are working on.

-Ryan

In case you haven’t been keeping an eye on HuffPost Tech recently, they have been doing a series of posts about Women in Tech.

In a recent post they highlighted several Women in Tech that readers should be following on Twitter.  And one of the featured women … our very own head of Marketing, Chia-Lin Simmons.

If following on Twitter isn’t enough, you can also check out the On Digital Media podcast she hosts with three of her technology/marketing geek friends.  Look for  it in the Manage Stations section.

-Ryan