Digital radio vs computers: the better music hub?

While digital radios aren't exactly cheap, they are boasting an increasing array of fancy features that make them more than just better-quality radios.

The latest development is built-in music download stores. Pure has launched something called FlowSongs, which can identify music tracks you're listening to (as does the Shazam iPhone app). Like a song, and you can buy it directly from the radio. Purchased tracks can be streamed, or also downloaded to a PC or Mac.

Pricing (Pure says there will be a yearly subscription, or pay-per-track option) is yet to be announced, and the compatible radios (eight in all) and FlowSongs service will be up and running from May 11.

While it depends on how easy it is to use, and the price, it means that another music feature is now being taken care of by the humble radio without any booting up of Windows involved (though you'll need to setup an account on the site first).

The more expensive digital radios also have Internet radio built in, giving you access to hundreds of extra stations. And in DAB+ radios equipped with SD card slots, you can make your own recordings of scheduled shows. This Grundig Replay lets you set the recordings on a timer.

Pure describe their Contour as a "complete entertainment hub", as it can stream your iTunes library to a TV, though it's more about a WiFi connection to a library on your PC, rather than a standalone hub.

The cheaper of the compatible Pure FlowSongs radios starts at $249 (for the Fiesta Flow), with the Evoke Flow listed online for $449.