The real-time guide shows what's playing currently as well as the schedule for future programming--sometimes weeks ahead, depending on the station. It also uses mapping technology to suggest other stations the listener might like, based on format preferences. It's compatible with Yahoo Music Jukebox and Windows, and provides software that allows PC users to timeshift online radio.

In addition to time-shifting radio play, the RadioTime system allows the user to record programs with RedButton, store them on a desktop PC, add them to iTunes, and transfer them to iPods and other MP3 players. Using another program called Audacity, listeners can then edit these recordings.

Although RadioTime advises against using RedButton to record music--asserting that "the service is designed for recording spoken-word programming and we don't endorse replacing a music collection from the radio"--it nonetheless offers that capability.

While popular with listeners, similar systems have raised the wrath of the recording industry, which is currently locked in a battle with radio broadcasters over royalties for online music. In 2006, the Recording Industry Association of America sued XM Satellite Radio for introducing portable players that could download and store songs for later re-listening.

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