Grace Digital's GDI-IR2550p Brings Pandora Controls To Desktop Radio

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Internet radio is a great alternative to traditional radio. While traditional radio is wholly dependent on geography, Internet radio goes all over the world to bring you the kind of genres you can’t get just anywhere. And thanks to devices like the GDI-IR2550p from Grace Digital Audio, it’s getting just a bit easier to get access to streaming music.

The Grace Digital Audio GDI-IR2550p offers onboard controls for Pandora, one of the biggest streaming music systems out there. This is actually a step up from previous incarnations, which included Pandora controls but only in an accompanying iPhone app. You’ll also get access to plenty of other streaming services, including your choice of Mac or PC, along with that iPhone app and a variety of alarm clock functions, which are pretty much standard for any streaming desktop radio any more. It connects by Wi-Fi, and it’ll even patch in to your home stereo system if you should want bigger sound from your streaming.

The unit itself doesn’t look the best, though–you can see it from the above picture–and in some homes aesthetics are especially important. And there is some controversy over whether or not onboard controls for Pandora are brand new for this device or for the industry, something of a small development, but considering that the back and forth is going on between reps of Grace Digital Audio and competitor Livia, it’s worth mentioning. The current consensus seems to be that the Livio was first with Pandora controls, but the Grace Digital Audio was first to have Pandora controls along with play / pause, the iPhone app and a remote control, which puts the Grace Digital Audio version a good distance ahead of the Livio in terms of function.

And if you want to get your hands on a Grace Digital Audio GDI-IR2550p, you’ll need to shell out $169.99.