Rarma Radio (Raimersoft) - Mini-Review

[IainB]

Originally posted:	2012-04-25
Last updated:	2013-01-04

Basic Info

App Name

[attach]

[mouser]

Looks nice -- thanks for posting this! 

[PhilB66]

Adware.

[tomos]

Sounds interesting, thanks Iain

Adware.

any more info there?

[IainB]

Oops, sorry. I forgot to mention that RarmaRadio has a pretty good Help document.
About to edit the OP with that note.

Adware.

Actually, I don't think I noticed any sign of adware in the install or the operation, but then I downloaded it from the raimersoft (author's) site. I don't recall that it had any of those annoying  and sneaky default opt-ins that you usually get with adware anyway.

It's a beautiful radio. I rather like it, and my daughter wants me to install it on her laptop now, after seeing it on mine. (She wants to record some of her fave pop songs.)

[PhilB66]

All the products on raimersoft download page are powered by BetterInstaller (an OpenCandy type installer) but without the users knowledge/consent. The installer also leaves BetterInstaller.exe behind.

Hint: launch the installer and check your AppData\Local\Temp folder

[IainB]

@PhilB66: That's interesting. I don't get that "Babylon" screen, and no adware has been installed on my laptop.
The install sets up two folders in Temp:

• is-4JF82.tmp
• is-3MQE4.tmp

- with nothing "bad" in them as far as I can see.
The install did try to phone home, but my Windows 7 Firewall Control trapped that and I did not enable it.

[PhilB66]

The install did try to phone home, but my Windows 7 Firewall Control trapped that and I did not enable it.

True, if you block the installer, you will not get the BetterInstaller adware, junk offers, Facebook script, etc. I still think you should include a warning about the installer in your review.

[Renegade]

The install did try to phone home, but my Windows 7 Firewall Control trapped that and I did not enable it.

True, if you block the installer, you will not get the BetterInstaller adware, junk offers, Facebook script, etc. I still think you should include a warning about the installer in your review.

Have a quick read at my blog post "Opening Up OpenCandy".

I go through web traffic in depth there and show exactly what it is doing.

You can then imagine that what IainB sees is very different from what you see.

Advertisers generally pay more/less for different markets.

e.g. The US market is the highest paying market, while you won't get/pay jack all for ads in other countries like India or Cambodia. Even Canada is MUCH cheaper than the US market. etc. etc.

So, this isn't a failing of IainB, unless you expect reviewers to spend several days for mini-reviews.

[iphigenie]

While we're on internet radio players, anyone knows one that can scrobble what the radio played (if the stream contains the information). It would make it so easy to find tracks later again

[IainB]

While we're on internet radio players, anyone knows one that can scrobble what the radio played (if the stream contains the information). It would make it so easy to find tracks later again

+1 for that! Maybe you could post it it as a request for a new DC app.?   

[PhilB66]

@Renegade

Listen, you can try to twist my words, put smiley faces all over the place, whatever, but let me tell you, neither IainB nor the mini-review is the issue (never was, and not going to be), so stop implying otherwise.

Fact is that Raimersoft (the developer) does not inform users about the ad-supported installer, there is no license agreement/consent for the BetterInstaller product/service, and the Installer's "opt-out" mechanism is tricky by design. Not everyone who will be reading this review / following its recommendation is behind a a two-way firewall, technically sophisticated, etc. etc., hence a warning should be added.

Search for BetterInstaller, Somoto, DealBulldog to see that it does way more than just recommend software.

@IainB The folders names in %Temp% are unique. The the third one (which you did not get) has these files in it:

_isetup (folder), check.xml, itdownload.dll, temp.html, BetterInstaller.exe, and bi.exe

temp.html is a script to 'Like' the application on Facebook and check.xml is for a pre-offering checks (registry scan) for the following:
- Babylon (and BabylonToolbar)
- Incredimail (and Incredibar)
- Somoto (and SomotoToolbar)
- SweetIM

[IainB]

Fact is that Raimersoft (the developer) does not inform users about the ad-supported installer

Yes, thanks. I abhor this OpenCandy practice.
I have re-run the install but allowed the "phone home" feature, and proven what you say about the OpenCandy (Babylon toolbar) stage.
I have added a WARNING and a screenshot (from my laptop) into the OP.

This is evidence of yet another good reason for having something like Windows 7 Firewall Controller installed, to control incoming/outgoing Internet access/traffic.
Interesting that I would have remained oblivious to the OpenCandy if you had not pointed it out.

[skwire]

While we're on internet radio players, anyone knows one that can scrobble what the radio played (if the stream contains the information). It would make it so easy to find tracks later again

+1 for that! Maybe you could post it it as a request for a new DC app.?   

My music player, Trout, has Last.FM and Libre.FM support but currently does not scrobble radio streams (only local files).  I don't recall why I did it this way.  I think the Last.FM API may have asked not to scrobble streams but I just checked again and there's no mention of it.  At any rate, it would be a simple option to add to Trout.

[appraisalist]

I've been happily using RadioSure for a few years now.  You can record as well, more basic interface and use as stand alone without install.  My favorite stations are limited to a certain number I don't know if that's a paid vs free version limitation or a software limitation.

[IainB]

I have just updated the OP and made some minor changes:
EDIT 2012-07-03 re new/current latest version, as released May 23rd 2012.
Release notes:

Minor Update 2.68.3
    Fixed: No longer resets manual settings when changing equalizer preset
    Fixed: Minor bugs

Currently listening to Voice of Russia news broadcast in English. Just heard something like this:

Ground-breaking news. Hear the news from the first station to broadcast the news ... that Russia was taking steps to prevent the risk of a world war crisis over Cuba.

Now that is arguably leagues ahead of the kind of spin you get out of Downing Street or the WH. Pretty impressive.

[IainB]

2012-11-01: made an update to the OP (Minor updates and rearrangement of layout.)
Worth noting also that the sound from this radio player generally sounds better in stereo than in 7.1 surround sound - on my Logitech G930 headphones, at any rate.

[IainB]

Made a minor update to the review in the opening post. No real changes. No newer current version of the software.