| If you own a smart phone, then you probably love | | | | clear. |
| finding great apps to play. But if you purchased an | | | | The biggest weakness of 5-0 Radio has nothing to |
| iPhone or iPod touch, then you probably don't have a | | | | do with the app. It's the subject. After a while, most |
| lot of money left over to buy apps. | | | | police calls are just boring. This isn't an episode of |
| Luckily, there are few feelings better than | | | | "COPS." It's raw, unedited police feeds. For small |
| discovering something that is fun, easy to use and | | | | towns this means, a lot of waiting around for |
| free. 5-0 Radio is a free app that comes pretty darn | | | | something to happen, a few cats stuck in a tree, and |
| close to offering this sought-after trifecta. Developed | | | | maybe a call about some "punk kids" from the |
| by New & Popular, the app turns your iPhone or iPod | | | | grumpy old neighbor down the road. Most listeners |
| touch into a police scanner. Depending on your | | | | will probably lose interest rather quickly. |
| personality, this will lead to hours or minutes of good | | | | Police scanner aficionados will love 5-0 Radio and |
| times. | | | | listen for hours. (If this is you, remember to plug your |
| The 5-0 Radio user interface is clean and simple. A list | | | | device in to a power source so you don't kill the |
| of menus provide the option to browse through | | | | battery.) |
| scanner feeds from police stations nationwide. Users | | | | Listeners that don't find enough action in their home |
| can browse the top 100 police feeds (most of which | | | | town, can also tune in to a selection of police feeds |
| come from big cities), add your own feed, or even | | | | from across the United States. |
| search the web if you can't find a feed from a police | | | | The other drawback of 5-0 Radio is it requires a WiFi |
| department near you. | | | | connection. Since the iPhone and iPod touch don't |
| After a station is selected, 5-0 Radio offers another | | | | have a radio transmitter built in, the app works by |
| set of options to help users eavesdrop on the fuzz. | | | | accessing available Internet feeds from police stations |
| The most useful item on the menu is a glossary of | | | | that broadcast over the 'net. 5-0 Radio doesn't work |
| codes and jargon used by emergency responders | | | | with the 3G network. |
| and police officers. This small addition is really helpful | | | | There is also a paid version of 5-0 Radio for $0.99. |
| because it helps the average user to keep up with | | | | The premium version adds a music scanner so users |
| what's happening on the police scanner even if they | | | | can to listen to Internet radio between police calls. |
| don't know the lingo. | | | | Whether you get the lite version for free or shell out |
| The quality of the police scanner feeds are another | | | | the $0.99 to go premium, 5-0 Radio is an interesting |
| area in which 5-0 Radio excels. When I tested it on | | | | app that offers something new to listen to while |
| my local station, the audio feed came through crystal | | | | you're waiting in line at the grocery store. |