A few of you out there have been asking and pointing out Pioneer Inno reviews. I’ve posted a few of these in the past, but here some new/updated links to a few of them:

- Pioneer Inno XM2go - Orbitcast Review
- Pioneer Inno (XM)
- Pioneer Inno

Thanks Michael !!!

For those who are ready for the Pionner Inno. I know I sure am. XM has posted some stuff here The more I hear and see about this unit the more excited I get. I can’t help but think of the potential this unit has to be a revolutionary piece of hardware. Actually its more than potential. I had the opportunity to see one of these up close and personal back a few months ago and with all the hype surrounded around it I really haven’t heard too many negatives.

This is going to be very exciting to see these XM2GO2 units hit the market….very exciting !!!!!

I often teeter back and forth between XM Radio Online and my Airware, there are various reasons why, but I find it interesting what draws to which. When I’m working I like to listen to my receiver, but there are times when I prefer to listen online. For example, if I want to listen to The Bob Edwards Show. I can hear that anytime online. Or if I want to listen to something like On The Rocks (which I wish XM would put back on the air).

The only time I tend to stay away from XMRO is when I feel adventurous and I know I’m going to be making trips up and down the dial. I’ve recently started listening to more syndicated content than I used to. It really depends though tastes change and all that. So let me throw this out there…what possesses each of you to listen to XMRO or your receiver and do you bee bop between them often?

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

This has been a phenominal year for the Satellite Radio, especially for XM. XM will have eclipsed 6 million users (that’s speculation but I’ll be very shocked if that doesn’t happen). Here’s my list of things I would love to see XM Radio make happen.

- More BBC Concerts on Deep Tracks
- Bring back On The Rocks, Liquid Metal, and Special X
- Bring DJs to Top Tracks
- XM2G02 Units
- Broadcast IT again
- Get some DJs on XM 8
- Get a Chill Channel
- More new guests on Opie and Anthony
- Better online interface @ XMRO
- xmradio.com to provide RSS content feeds

Those are the things @ the top of my list. Like I said its been a great year for XM Satellite Radio and I really think things will be more exciting in 2006. Happy New Year everyone !!!!

There’s been alot of talk lately about how XM is falling behind because they wont be first to market with the new Satellite Radio/mp3 player combos. Sirius’ S50 will be coming out on Tuesday and many people in the XM Nation and elsewhere have been upset about the delay. This may be the Software Developer in me talking, but I don’t have a problem with the delay in any way at all. I’d rather the time be taken to give us solid products opposed to shoving crap out the door because a possibly too aggressive deadline ws looming over thye developers head. The biggest downside to all this is that XM will be missing out on the Xmas season, but its really a small price to pay when you think about it. I’m glad to see they are taking the time to knock out those bugs. Sure I would like to see the devices out there…and possibly purchase one myself…ok definitely…hehe