Last year in September, it happened: The ten year old website of SHOUTcast.com had been relaunched.  And today? Today it happened again! Since today’s night, the website of SHOUTcast has a new design with several new functions.

Like it had been announced a few days ago, SHOUTcast had announced a couple of changes for the future. In addition to the announced topics, now there is following a bit more information:

The problems with genres are solved

Since today, the problem with genres has been a thing of the past! The problems, particularly in reference to “Elec tronic OR Techno/Dance, seem to be a thing of the past. Can you confirm that? At our stations, it is convenient again…

New design

The design changed pretty much. At present, you can compare the old website in German with the latest website in English. The older version was quite dark, but that finally changed. I like the site in white more than in black. Additionally there is not as much advertisement on the site as before. The genres are taking place  on the left site again and are extended, if you choose a main genre. The navigation for listeners is easier now. Moreover there are some new menu items on top.

Toolbar player

Another novelty is the toolbar player, which can be loaded at the bottom of the site. Until now you were only able to open the link via Winamp or any other web player. Nowadays you can load the player immediately on the page.

Settings

Among other things, you get the opportunity to choose the way of tuning in via changing your own settings. Whether you like to use a toolbar player, Winamp or the web player, which is new, too – everything can be set. Just take a look! In addition to that you are able to set your own speed in order to get the most suitable bitrate!

Wiki

Like already said before, there will be a Wiki coming soon. The site can already be reached, but there is not much content right now.

Download SHOUTcast 2.0

From this day forward, the older version of sc_serv and sc_trans cannot be downloaded anymore, only the current BETA versions.  You can still find the download for sc_serv 2 BETA 1 and sc_trans BETA 6.

Authorization hashes

In a few days, you can register as a broadcaster in order to get an own authorization hash for SHOUTcast 2.0, which protects you from server hijacking. I think, I am going to make an article about that public.

We come to an end now. By the way, there are just a few days left for you to take part in our raffle, to win a Squeezebox Touch from Logitech.

It’s going to change! Some of you might have noticed that during the last days, in reference to SHOUTcast.

A week and some days ago, the eleven year old software of YP Directory changed over to a completely new system. Eleven years? That’s definitely ancient…fore sure! And according to that, many web radio carriers are wondering about not being listed on SHOUTcast anymore. Moreover there are several changes, which I have compiled for you.

Current listing problems

For web radio carriers, who are not listed anymore: The team of SHOUTcast is paying attention and the problem is going to resolve itself, thus, you don’t have to go in for that because the software engineers are informed.

New rules for genres

Maybe some of you noticed that the chosen genres are not identical to the established ones, in reference to the SHOUTcast server. Yes, there is some change here. For a few days now, only some genres have been allowed to be listed in the SHOUTcast register. In the past, many unknown genres had been used and the register became confusing. We aim for an easy way for listeners to find their own, suitable web radio. In the past you had been able to list five different genres for being listed in five different registers, to get a lot of listeners. Now there is only the possibility to choose three genres for each radio, to make it easier for listeners to know, what is hiding behind the name of the radio. In the future, you have to decide, whether you want to list one main genre or three sub genres. Some web radio carriers are not happy about that solution, I know. But if you think about the comfortable feeling for listeners, you see that it was the right decision. Here you get a list about every possible genre.

Real-time search & coming soon

Soon there will be the possibility to find currently played tracks and to tune them in directly at the radio stations (not with a delay because of the directory tester anymore). Additionally, it should be possible in future to announce tracks, which are going to be played the next time via coming soon lists. Let’s give an example: If I want to listen to a song of Michael Jackson, I can switch to a radio, which is going to play a song of Michael Jackson during the next minutes. Using sc_serv and sc_trans 2.0 is required.

Bottom bar player

While surfing SHOUTcast.com, you will be able to listen to web radios and to search for other radio stations or genres. Everything while working with only one window.

Popup player for your own website

In the near future, you will be able to include the SHOUTcast Flash Player on your website. Therefore, you do not have to program your own player necessarily.

Suggestions and featured stations

Now there will be other radio stations suggested, which are conform to whatever your music taste is like. Moreover there will be editorially emphasized radio stations, which are advertised by the team of SHOUTcast.

Better sorting

In future, you will not only sort on the basis of one thing, but additionally on the basis of many different things at the same time. For instance by means of genres, figure of listeners or bitrate. Now you are able to filter <128kbps out, as an example.

SHOUTcast Wiki for radio carriers

The often criticized readme data file of sc_serv and sc_trans are going to be a thing of the past.  There are still going to exist readme data files but in general, the support for radio carriers shall be enlarged, with help of a Wiki, in which everything is going to be explained.

Port 80 streaming

Many times requested and soon possible: In the near future you will be able to stream via port 80 and that with several channels at the same time. It is becoming true because of the new Mountpoints!

Improved security

Not many of you know about the lacks in security, which are existing. I don’t want to define that any further. But with our new version, these problems should be a thing of the past. In addition to that, SHOUTcast was fixing the problem of fakes. Since the new YP has been used, it is more difficult for radios to induct their untrue figure of listeners in our register. Thanks for that!

UTF-8 and other letters

One problem in the past was letters like “äöü”. This has to end and soon everyone will see what there should be and no cryptic signs anymore.

Following you will see a screenshot of the latest website of SHOUTcast after their relaunch. Soon this will be on your screen, too!

We come to an end for now, but I will keep you informed, because there is some change finally!