Slacker Station Caching (updated 2/24/10)

Update 2/24/2010: I've been using Slacker 2.0 for about a day now and want to give a quick review of features.

• Cached radio stations are downloaded to your memory card so you can listen to slacker radio without a network connection. 
• Caching greatly increases battery performance. 
• Stations can automatically be refreshed overnight when phone plugged in.
• The interface is very smooth and responsive
• App comes with a nice widget with album art
• Share music your listening with friends via email, sms or twitter.

Slacker 2.0 Widget

Unfortunately, to enable slacker caching you need slacker radio plus which is $4.99/month but there is a 14-day free-trial period.  I personally don't mind paying the $5 a month since I can now use slacker while I'm at work with no cell service, at home though the web, and in the car via FM transmitter. Works as a nice satellite radio alternative.

Update 2/23/2010: Slacker 2.0 (v2.0.40) was released today with caching capabilities. I am downloading now and will post later with more info.  Enjoy!

Reader Jimmy S submitted a question asking:

Can you find me a way to continue using pandora at work.  My productivity has suffered since they blocked it.

I am not a pandora user so I don't know much about the android app. I do know that one feature that's missing is station caching.  I use slacker radio on both the desktop and android and before I switched to android, the blackberry slacker version had caching. Station caching ables you to listen without an internet connection; It works by saving the stations music to your internal memory card. It also saves battery life because its not using the network connection. Unfortunately, slacker 2.0, the version that supports caching, was announced at the 2010 CES and is not currently released. As soon as its released (hopefully 2-3 weeks) I will make sure to update the post.

Slacker 1.0.388 on Motorola Droid