I’ve gotten several communiques from various sources about XM having a big announcement on Monday. What the news is I’m certain of. I have a hunch, but I’m not sure. Could we be possibly seeing some new stations ? Its long overdue in my opinion, but this is merely rumor and I cant verify anything at the moment.

The only thing I do know is that there are alot of rumors flying around about a big announcement on Monday beyond that I know nothing, but it sure is fun to speculate

The last XM2Go2 device I waited to talk about because it was such a big hit @ CES. It won The Peoples Choice Award @ CES. This is really big news and will add alot of exposure to the satellite radio market as a whole as well as XM Satellite Radio. Here’s the skinny on the Pionner Inno:

XM Press Release is here

XM Product Page is here

Features:

- Full-color, 180 X 180 pixels TFT display
- 50 hours of recordable programming
- Flash memory storage for MP3/WMA files and XM content
- User Friendly Interface
- Personal playlists using a mix of XM content and tracks from their own digital music collection
- Memory buffer to make it easy to store an entire track heard in XM, even if the user starts storing it in the middle of a song
- Ticker and Tune Select

MSRP for all you early adopters out there is $399, but WOW….this thing looks amazing and winning the people’s choice is no small feat. There were some excellent products this year @ CES. This device is sooooo cool. The only thing I think they really missed is not integrating XM Passport with the device, but with a device like this what else do you really need. This device will no doubt this will be very hot commodity when its released and for quite sometime. The CES has really shown the world what a great product line XM has come out with as well as showing everything XM has to offer. I think that 9 million subscriptions by years end is not out of the question at all.

Once again congrats to everyone @ XM Satellite Radio for everything they’ve shown us the past week I cant even fathom the amount of work that has gone into all the work they’ve done and also for making the XM Nation a better place.

Another addition to XM2Go second generation receivers. Here’s the skinny:

XM Press Release is here

XM Product Page is here

Features:

- Live XM Satellite Radio when docked in a home or car docking station
- Memory storage for XM content, MP3s, and .wmas for portable listening; NEXUS 25 stores up to 25 hours of XM content, and NEXUS 50 stores up to 50 hours of XM content
- XM + Napster feature that allows users to bookmark the names of songs heard on XM, connect the Helix player to the PC, and purchase the bookmarked tracks instantly from the XM + Napster online service.
- Easy-to-use interface, which lets users save and delete content, create personal playlists, and find and play back their favorite songs
- The ability to store XM content by song, by channel, or by scheduled session
- Ability to create unique playlists with a mix of XM content and personal music collection
- Category list for saving and accessing favorite channels
- TuneSelect, which alerts the listener to a favorite artist or song whenever it is played on any XM channel
- Integrated, wireless FM transmitter for beaming XM to any FM radio frequency.

Dimensions are approximately 4.5 ounces and measures approximately 3.7 inches high, 2.2 inches wide, and 0.6 inch deep. The unit will also include the new XM Passport mini-receiver so with one subscription you can play on multiple units. It will retail for $249 if you want to gold 50 hours of content or 25 hours will run $199. Car kit sold separately.

The Nexus looks like a pretty cool unit. My only complaint about what I’ve seen thus far is that the Nexus does not include TuneSelect or the tickers. It’s still a very impressive feature set as well as being very economical. The thing this is perfect for is someone who wants a portable unit as well as a nice receiver desktop receiver @ home that pull from one subscription. I can totally see myself doing this. I’m absoultely drooling over the new Crosley Receiver I think this may be the unit for me but let’s see what else comes down the pike !!!!

Here’s some more info yet another XM2Go2 unit. This one is by Samsung called Helix.

XM Press Release is here

XM Product Page is here

Features:

- Stores your favorite XM channels at home, in the car or on the go
- Mix stored XM with your MP3s and CDs
- Compatible with XMNapster Service
- Color and larger screen
- 50 Hours of storage !!!
-Price $399

All I gotta say is WOW !!!! (again) This unit is has everything one could ever want in a portable Satellite Radio and more. The big question I have that I guess can’t sufficiently be answered until this is out there (which will be by Spring) is what will the reception be like on the go. With the size of the antenna I would think it would be pretty darn good and the dimensions of the unit are like cell phone size as well. This unit doesnt seem to be lacking too much. I’m sure these will be flying off the shelves. Very very impressive !!!!

The XM Sportscaster was announced. What’s so good about it? Well the Sportcaster is aimed @ Sports fans on the go at a price point that is just amazing….$60.

XM PR Release is here
Advanced GT Site is here

Here’s a rundown of the feature set:

- 30 channel presets including preprogrammed sports stations
- Slim sleek rugged design
- 2 line display
- Optional wearable kit

It doesnt sport any of the recordable features, but hey for $60 that’s just a steal. There is definitely an audience for this type of unit. Perfect for a secondary radio.

Today was certainly a huge day for XM Radio. Talk about unloading some great news on the XM Nation. I was wowed by all the announcments coming out of CES today.

There were big announcements on 2 fronts. One was related to the next generation of XM2Go units and the other was a subscriber update:

The new receivers:

The Pioneer Inno - sports mp3 playback as well as recording capabilities that will store 50 hours of XM content as well as being compatible with XM + Napster

The Samsung Helix - formerly called Nexus sports mp3 playback as well as recording capabilities that will store 50 hours of XM content as well as being compatible with XM + Napster

I’ll post more info on the receivers later. I’m reading some conflicting information on the units and I want to make sure and report what I’m hearing as accurately as possible as well as detailed info the XM Passport which is essentially a mini tuner that will allow you to have one subscription and broadcast to several devices.

The 2nd announcement was that XM Radio now has 6 million subscribers…w00t !!!! That’s huge and Hugh Panero also stated that XM will be @ 9 million subscriptions by year end.

This was a very big day for XM and the Satellite Radio industry as a whole. I want to hit the highlights in separate posts and sort through the facts, but I just wanted to quickly outline this amazing day. Once again XM has really earned my respect and really proved what an amazing company they are and what incredible technology is possible

Its been a while since I’ve seen a new XM commerical, but thats all changed now. There is a new commercial here. This is one of the better commericals in my opinion…a little short, but I like it and I’m not the biggest Snoop Dogg fan in the world …..I’m hoping to see Tom Petty in some of the other new commericials that will come out during the Living Large Campaign which XM Radio is deeming as their biggest campiagn ever….exciting stuff !!!!!

Another 1st XM Radio…XM will be temporarily be broadcasting on FM Radio. The story is here. XM is doing this for WYNE so there will at least be a Country Music station in New York during the CMA Awards. XM will be broadcasting Highway 16 during this time.

I personally think this is awesome. I’m not a huge conutry music fan, but I think this is great…possibly another vertical market for XM?Interesting nevertheless and a great move…way to go once again XM.

For anyone that ever had any doubt about XM’s marketing moves should check this out. XM is giving out coupons for a free Roady XT with the purchase of 3 months of service at Game 1 of the World Series at US Cellular field, if the series goes to a Game 5 they will offer the same deal to the fans @ Minute Maid Park.

What can you say about that besides wow. I always hear people saying how great Sirius’ marketing is but I think this is huge. What better way to put people in XM Radios than give them away. Way to go XM !!!!

For those who didnt know the XM radio 90’s on 9 team also has a blog. It’s located @ here. It looks like it hasnt been updated in a little while, but I imagine with IT heading their way soon they’ll be touting it soon….if they aren’t…well shame on them !!!!!