Pandora or Slacker?

**classact** · 05-21-2012, 01:21 AM

I'd appreciate opinions on Pandora vs Slacker, please.

I'm using a 9930 with BES. I'm a business user and there's no way I can justify even one iota of compromise in the tight usability of my BB because of a music app.

I say that because I recently had the Rhapsody BB app installed and within no time it froze up on me. It didn't freeze the phone per se, but I could stop it from playing without a reset. Not cool!

So, here's what I'm after:

- Not ever messing up the stability of the phone, no matter what, EVER!

- Mostly or entirely cloud-based playing of preferred artists, tracks, playlists and genres in that order. (I rarely if ever am unable to use streaming, and I pay for unlimited data.)

- I'd actually prefer not needing a local app unless it really just makes life easier without compromising the universal sync nature of seeing the same things on my computer and PB as on my phone.

- Did I mention... Not ever messing up the stability of the phone, no matter what, EVER!

I don't mind paying $10/mo or more for what I want.

I use BES and am quite spoiled with universal sync and minimal nursing of the phone (even if I replace the phone for any reason, like a repair replacement).

I have seen a number of reviews saying Slacker did in fact mess up on a BB phone in one way or another, whether just complications in upgrading, in keeping the cache while upgrading, etc. But those were about a year ago and that's a whole era ago these days.

I like that Slacker is automatically showing up on my PB screen. I assume that means something. (I rarely use my PB, by the way, and won't until BB10 is running on it and I can run BES or whatever the new version is called that will of course finally have universal sync.)

For what it's worth, I do not like the Slacker name (I work my tail off, thank-you-very-much), and I could live without that ridiculous logo (I don't drink beer or ride a motorcycle). I can live with the name and logo if it's a better service (and app), though, and if it has really become totally trouble-free on BB phones.

I don't “think” I want to look past the two: Pandora and Slacker. I don’t do a lot with music. I work a lot!

Thanks very much!

**captainbdsc** · 05-21-2012, 02:34 AM

I like Pandora better. I am not for certain now, but the last time I used Slacker it required that I look at the screen (wake the screen) every 3 songs or it would stop playing. Pandora doesn't do that in my experience. As for stability... I haven't got a clue which is better...

**SaMaster14** · 05-21-2012, 03:13 AM

I personally like Pandora. Works perfectly for me. I've barely used Slacker, but when I did I found that it drained my battery more and I just didn't like the interface.

I like how Pandora works and how I can sync my account with my computer, iPad, and BlackBerry.

**nweinstock** · 05-21-2012, 07:47 AM

Pandora! A++

**Chaddface** · 05-21-2012, 09:41 AM

I stream music almost every night at work. It's either slacker app with the 9900 or Sirius radio through the PB browser bridged to 9900. I don't have trouble with either service.
Keeping the music apps on your PB would ensure no trouble with the phone. You can use just about any service with the browser.

**pr1nce** · 05-21-2012, 10:09 AM

I like Pandora. Works perfectly and I like that it syncs with my pc.

**dcgore** · 05-21-2012, 10:41 AM

Slacker crashes all the time so Pandora. I use spotify and that's a reason i don't have a berry anymore. There was a beta version i could run on a 9900 only, doen't work on the 9930. At any rate, hoping BB10 changes all that.

**Chrisy** · 05-21-2012, 10:43 AM

I'm down with Slacker. I don't like building a station and just find Slacker pre programmed selection to be very good.

At times, I've paid to go ad free.

I don't have any issue with it locking up, and I couldn't care less what they name it.

**ldsmaf** · 05-21-2012, 11:58 AM

SLAKER def. Tried both but for me, Slaker works best and seems more intuitive.

**joeye333** · 05-21-2012, 02:13 PM

Slacker works best for me too.

**iwashmycar** · 05-22-2012, 08:48 AM

I've had Pandora since I got my 9930 a while back and have rarely had any issues. Definitely none that have affected the phone itself, just a few versions ago it was a little slow.... now it seems fine!

**spencerdl** · 05-22-2012, 09:12 AM

I haven't had any issues with Pandora or Slacker on my Bold 9930, but I prefer Pandora

**classact** · 05-22-2012, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by Chaddface

I stream music almost every night at work. It's either slacker app with the 9900 or Sirius radio through the PB browser bridged to 9900. I don't have trouble with either service.
Keeping the music apps on your PB would ensure no trouble with the phone. You can use just about any service with the browser.

But you don't have any issues with the Slacker app on your 9900, right?

And why do you use Sirius bridged from the PB? Just for the larger/easier input interface?

And I assume you're saying that in either case the bridging doesn't affect performance at all, right?

Thanks very much!

**classact** · 05-22-2012, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by dcgore

Slacker crashes all the time so Pandora. I use spotify and that's a reason i don't have a berry anymore. There was a beta version i could run on a 9900 only, doen't work on the 9930. At any rate, hoping BB10 changes all that.

Crashes on your BB?

Thanks!

**classact** · 05-22-2012, 11:21 PM

Wow. I've been trying Pandora on the desktop and now I see one huge advantage Slacker has over it -- choosing to play a particular track isn't possible on Pandora. Bummer.

And so far with briefly trying Slacker, it is more intuitive for my personal taste... so far.

Thanks!.

**Chaddface** · 05-23-2012, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by classact

But you don't have any issues with the Slacker app on your 9900, right?

And why do you use Sirius bridged from the PB? Just for the larger/easier input interface?

And I assume you're saying that in either case the bridging doesn't affect performance at all, right?

Thanks very much!

No issues with Slacker app on my 9900.

I have to use Sirius on the PB because they have no app for OS6 or OS7 phones.

I have not noticed any performance issues with the phone while bridged. I'm using the PB most of the time while bridged. I'll pick up the phone if it's closer. I don't remember seeing any lag or crashes.

**cdskidso** · 05-23-2012, 11:45 PM

I like both, no problems on Verizon Bold 9930. On the free versions, if you listen to a particular station for a long enough period of time, you start to hear songs repeated. The song databases are different so switching between slacker and pandora gives a little more variety in the genre that you are currently listening to. Honorable mention goes to I heart radio because there are several Rock and Roll radio stations that play the very funny Bob and Tom show during morning drive time.

**stackberry369** · 05-24-2012, 12:09 AM

Get the paid version of slacker.

**Existence_Inc** · 05-24-2012, 09:26 AM

I prefer Slacker over Pandora, but I am bias. Back in my Android days, Pandora started requesting more and more unnecessary access to information. Slacker has been trouble free on my Verizon 9930 and I use it for 20+ hours each week.

NOTE: I don't pay for a Slacker sub, so I get occasional commercials. It will pause occasionally if there is no interaction, but it takes 45mins to 1 hour before that happens. I consider it a battery saving feature.

~Ex

**Zidentia** · 05-24-2012, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Chaddface

No issues with Slacker app on my 9900.

I have to use Sirius on the PB because they have no app for OS6 or OS7 phones.

I have not noticed any performance issues with the phone while bridged. I'm using the PB most of the time while bridged. I'll pick up the phone if it's closer. I don't remember seeing any lag or crashes.

Slacker on my two phones running OS6 on different networks causes them to reboot especially using BT
Pandora works fairly well so I use as well as InTune, Nobex and MiRoamer

At home I use Spotify pay which I like best. There is a Sirius\XM app for Os5 and 6 but it is buggy and it became too expensive.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

**Chaddface** · 05-24-2012, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by Zidentia

Slacker on my two phones running OS6 on different networks causes them to reboot especially using BT
Pandora works fairly well so I use as well as InTune, Nobex and MiRoamer

At home I use Spotify pay which I like best. There is a Sirius\XM app for Os5 and 6 but it is buggy and it became too expensive.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9650 using Tapatalk

I have spent hundreds of hours on the Slacker app for OS6 and approaching 100 hours on OS7 always listening via BT. I never experienced re-boots.
That's my experience.

**emkay47** · 05-24-2012, 12:36 PM

Slacker for me.

**sjefferson21** · 05-24-2012, 01:45 PM

I like Pandora better for their music selection. But, slacker (on the website at least, not sure if the bb app does it), allows you to cancel certain artists from your stations. Also, slacker shows you the artist that is coming up next. But, hands down pandora plays better music... and plays a lot of new and unknown artists. Go for pandora!