Samsung's Helix portable XM DAP available for preorder
By Evan Blass 
posted Feb 20th 2006 10:00PM
posted Feb 20th 2006 10:00PM
Ever since CES, when we heard XM announce a duo
of flash memory-sportin' portable receivers, we've been waiting to see the public reaction to these supposed
iPod-killers. Well we won't have to wait much longer it seems, because Samsung has announced that its half of the duo,
the Helix, is finally
available for preorder from Amazon and Crutchfield (estimated shipping: April). As you'll recall, like the Pioneer Inno, the Helix rocks a color screen, FM transmitter, and
flash memory for storing tracks and recording either 25 or 50 hours of OTA XM content. Being one of the few, the proud,
the Engadget "Best in Show," the Helix has
a lot of hype to live up to, and we'll keep you posted on hands-ons and reviews of these $200 and $400 devices as soon
as they hit the streets.[Via SamsungHQ]
Nice Looking Radio. Too bad XM sucks so bad !
Sirius is just so much better.
Sirius has actual people in the studios entertaining whereas XM has canned comments
I had XM, listened to Sirius for a free week trial . . Even before Howard Stern . . and switched
sirius is a joke man, i'm sick of listening howard stern talk about the stinking government interfering with his show because sirius doesnt have the technology to channel block... here's an idea sirius....INSTEAD OF PAYING SOME HAS BEEN $500 MILLION FOR A SINGLE TALK SHOW INVEST IN R&D AND GET A UNIT THAT PLAYS LIVE SATELITTE RADIO WITHOUT BEING HOOKED UP TO A RECEIVER
Oh and did you see the commercial for the sirius receivers during the SuperbowL???
-the one where the Clydesdale was trying to pull it and the two older horses had to help by pushing it.
Keep your sirius-car-tumor receivers, i'll take one that receives live radio when I'm out walking around.
Heh this is pretty nice, a great alternative to the gay ipods.
It's too bad that these things have to debut markedly overpriced to make cost. These devices are really nice, to be sure, as was the MyFi, but really only at the $250 range, in my opinion.
Hrmm, for some reason I had been thinking these new portables were larger and bulkier........ but seeing this photo with the earbuds make it look like it must be smaller. Are there any good shots of someone holding this in their hands?
Re the whole XM/Sirius thing, I think they are both pretty solid. I ended up going with XM, but there are things I do like about Sirius (particularly in the area of classic rock).
I got the MyFi for $99.00 and it gives me all I need.
The new units are great but the small display, high price-tag and extra $70.00 for the car kit is too much.
Many Sirius listeners must be drooling over these truly portable XM units. Now it's time to watch curling. Yeah!!!
I got to see one of these up close and personal recently and man, they're amazing! About the size of a flip-phone, but less thick. (except for super thin ones like a razr.) Great device. I'd love to get one for myself, but the price will probably be too steep, my Pioneer airware will suffice in the mean time.
As for the XM/Sirius thing, they're both okay, the Sirius djs annoy the piss out of me, and XM does have live djs on alot of the channels, they just don't gab as frequently or as loud or OVER THE MUSIC. Sirius music is a lot more like a FM format than XM is. It depends on what you are into, but I'd say unless you LOVE howard stern and only listen to metal, go with Sirius. Otherwise, XM is really great. Best hardware, better sound quality, etc. Also, once you discover channel 202, you probably won't listen to much else, ever.
Do the Mobile XM recievers get hot like the ones in the store? You feel those recievers in BB or Circuit City and they're usually almost scaldingly hot.
i am a comment spammer: drinamdars@hotmail.com
Are you sure the RIAA hasn't made a "hard drive for storing tracks and recording OTA XM content" illegal yet?
umm, #2
"Oh and did you see the commercial for the sirius receivers during the SuperbowL???
-the one where the Clydesdale was trying to pull it and the two older horses had to help by pushing it."
That commercial was for Budweiser, not Sirius. Just pointing it out. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4258794138972547179
The helix looks pretty nice, but because of stupid RIAA with all its rules I don't know if I want one.
where can I buy this?
to #9, the XM units don't get very hot at all. My Pioneer Airware doesn't even get warm, ever. Also, I leave my roady2 on for weeks at a time and gets slightly warm at best. Most of the Sirius units, on the other hand, could be used as a hand warmer or a portable stove. They run rediculously hot. Most of them even have heat vents on them. Our display S50 at work has overheated itself/deleted all of its memory in the process 3 times since we got them in. I've yet to see any XM unit to run much warmer than any other electrical device. I say this with no bias even though I am an XM fan, I work with both services at work and can say without a doubt that I have never encountered a scalding hot XM unit.
to #1. You have absolutely no fucking clue what you're talking about.
Sirius is run closer to an FM station. There's a multitude of commercials. I've actually listened to a ten minute commercial break on sirius. I can understand 3 or 4 commercials an hour on the talk channels, but jesus. Ten minutes of commercials on a music channel? Does a board op need a ten minute pee break?
Then there's the whole throwing money at stuff hoping for success problem. Howard switched over to sirius for half a billion dollars, and with 3.5 million subs paying 12.95 a month (there's actually also a rate increase of 2 dollars coming in a couple weeks!) how do you expect them to be able to pay it other than with commercials? Never mind that they have to pay eminem, bam margera, martha stewart, etc etc etc. Do you honestly think that those people aren't going to put their hand out and ask for money for their work?
Then there's the no real portable unit. It's basically a tape recorder. Congrats Sirius, you re-invented the tape recorder while XM is able to get live streaming, a buffer, live recording, and they're working on video for their portable units. Way to go!
Then there's the programming choices, sirius tries to get more and more non-DJs for their programming (remember the pamela anderson radioshow? yuck) whereas the DC based XM tends to hire radio professionals such as erick logan and tends to put more money into research and developement than sirius does.
All in all, this is what sirius is hoping for, hardware that both XM and sirius can co-exist on. I've got news for you sirius, it's not happening.
Another plus for xm. They've created the passport system. They've done away with having to pay six bucks for each additional unit by giving you a passport you can switch in and out with units so you can go from your car to your portable to your home unit without having to pay that extra 12 bucks a month. Needless to say, sirius doesn't have any plans for this.
XM is a more mature company than Sirius. They have better equipment. Everybody with a Sirius account wishes that they could have one of these.
Now, stop whining like babies and enjoy your chosen service... one will buy the other out soon enough and there won't be anything left to troll about.
I agree XM has much better equipment. But to me content is king, no one on XM can match Howard Stern. It just won't happen, he has been the most consistently popular radio personality of the last 15 years (at the very least). I do like the Snoop program on XM, however his show is only on once a week. The Hip-Hop on Sirius I think is better because they have DJ's that I care about doing shows like Felli Fel and DJ Skee
I have had both. They both suck. They are overpriced for what you get. I mean come on 13 bucks a month AND commercials?. I am now happy with my ipod, since I can listen to what I want, when I want, how I want.
#6 - Pictures exist at xm411.com in their CES forum.
Also, these receivers are not hard drive-based, they're all flash. And they can be set up to hold 50% XM content and 50% MP3/WMA or 100% XM content.
I'm personally waiting for the Inno. I prefer the brushed metal look to the silver/black combo in the Helix.
#17 Howard Stern stinks. I have both XM and a Sirius and I much prefer Opie and Anthony. Stern really needs to work on his channel. It is his ego that is killing 100 and 101. Do I really need to hear a show about what just happened on the show? Just replay the show. The news is an egotistical nightmare and needs to be cancelled quickly.
#12, Yes I realize that. It was meant to be a joke due to sirius' crappy technology
#12 Way to steal your joke....how about adding a
, said Jim Norton.
#11 - Time-Shifting / Recording for personal use is not illegal, there is no threat from the RIAA. This was established by Betamax in the courts many years ago. (TiVo still exists.)
202! o and a virus---kils howard stern
Raaaamone, Sirius' portable unit has AIDS.
I'm pretty sure that XM channel 202 HighVoltageXL Blows away any radio station that Sirius has. XM is going to continue to kick the liiiiiiiil doggie company until they are no more.....OPIE AND ANTHONY!
RAAAAAMONE, Give that bitch Robin AIDS
Hey #12
If you weren't such a moron you'd know that #2's comment about the bud horses pulling the sirius unit is a crack at theit radio's because they're so big and heavy. Idiot.
Great... Now to have a true all-in-one device you have to include xm. So really, how long before someone adds this to a cell phone?
Hey #12
If you weren't such a moron you'd know that #2's comment about the bud horses pulling the sirius unit is a crack at theit radio's because they're so big and heavy. Idiot.
i want to win!
I remember when you could post on this site & people made regular comments . . . now its just people acting like kids with name calling, etc.
Ill just stick to reading the headlines and let this community eat itself
hoo hoo hoo......
tell'em fred.
Seriously cant wait for this thing to arrive. Looks like such an awesome device..
I have a RoadyXT that I love, but these look amazing. Between the Pioneer Inno and the Samsung Helix, I would choose the Samsung only because I have had great luck with other Samsung products.
As for the XM/Sirius battle, I have had XM for about 18 months. I love it. I have several friends who got Sirius for Howard. A few have complained about reception issues. I don't know if that's common or just an anomaly for them. The music stations are fine from what I heard.
It all comes down to personal preference. After a year-and-a-half, I am loyal to XM service and content. I do prefer O&A on XM202 over Howard as others have said. I listened to Howard for 19 years, but I believe that Opie and Anthony are light years ahead of his show now. Again, the content is debatable based on your preference, but Sirius has some serious catching up to do with technology.
A long post to say I think the Samsung Helix looks great.
Word has it this will be definitely available by the end of March, even earlier perhaps.
SPRINT HAS streaming sirius content...
get yourself an A920 or some other multi-media phone and pay the small 4.99 per month sub.
bought the INNO, doesn't receive well while walking. It FADES in and out like the myFi does. Also the built in FM MODULATOR is very weak. Works great in the CAR CRADEL but not stand alone. If you don't believe me, take a fm walkman to the store and try it yourself. The stand alone INNO won't broadcast well but in the car cradel it works great. Plan on buying and using the CAR CRADEL($70) and HEADPHONE/ANTENNA($40) units. At $400 I expected more. I'm trading it for the less expensive NEXUS when it comes out. If it's going to require a cradel to receive well might as well save money and get 16hr battery life (INNO gets 5hrs).