Now that eMarker.com has launched its new Mac software and home page this week, Mac OS X support is planned, though there’s no timetable for X-cised drivers, eMarker.com CEO Woody Deguchi told MacCentral.
“The current driver doesn’t work under Mac OS X, but we’re working on that,” he said.
The combination eMarker software-Web site-gadget lets you use the Internet service to find favorite songs from the radio or TV. You push a button on the eMarker device — a small US $19.95 gadget that links to a key chain or fits within a pocket or purse — whenever you hear a song you want to “eMark.” You can use the doohickey wherever you are, whether at home, at the office, or in the car. Then you connect the eMarker to a computer through a USB connection, and the Web site is launched through your Internet browser. eMarker.com will then display the eMarked songs by matching the time the song was played and the station to which you were listening.
When you plug the eMarker into your Mac, the Web site will show you which songs were played on your favorite radio station. eMarker works on approximately 1,100 radio stations, covering over 80 percent of the radio listening population, Deguchi said. Still, support for more is planned.
You can eMark up to 10 songs. If your eMarker device becomes full, just upload the eMarks by plugging your eMarker into the cradle and upload your eMarks into your account. After that, your eMarker will be empty so that you can eMark 10 more of your new favorite tunes. You can save up to 500 songs in your personal eMarker page on the eMarker Web site.
eMarker.com was created last July as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Electronics. The eMarker service was launched last October to the general public and the eMarker device was one of the best-selling electronic device before Christmas.
“We’ve received many, many requests from Mac users for the service,” Deguchi said. “Plus, we have lots of people, including designers, in our office who use Macs so we’re happy to bring eMarker to the platform.”
Beyond the “minimal cost” of the terminal itself, the eMarker service is free. You can also listen to 30-second song clips, find out more about the artist or album, and even buy the album from an online retailer. It also provides a place to story a list of your favorite songs. Soon you’ll also be able to read the latest music news and search the eMarker music library for new songs and new artists free of charge, the company said.
You can order the eMarker device at the company’s Web site or at such sites as Amazon.com and sonystyle.com. It’s also available at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and a variety of electronic stores. The eMarker device is about the size of a lucky rabbit’s foot and runs an estimated six months on a lithium battery (that’s assuming you eMark 10 songs a day and do one upload).