Samsung releasing Helix and Nexus this month?

Well, looks like 25th of April will see the official release of Samsung's Helix and Nexus XM sat rads at the Samsung Experience in the Time Warner Center in our fair city of New York. We've been kind of expecting the release of the Helix (which was announced at CES) any day now, but the Nexus is way overdue, having been announced last September. For those thinking of swooping in to make a purchase, the Helix is Samsung's portable with live streaming XM and an FM transmitter. The Nexus doesn't have the same live sat capability, but does have 512MB and 1GB versions for playing back pre-recorded XM streams; both feature MP3 and WMA playback, and can use the XM / Napster service. You can already pre-order the Nexus for $219 / 270, but don't forget that you can pre-order that Pioneer Inno for $399, too.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 12th 2006 1:51PM]

Can anyone compare these with the Pioneer's Inno XM2GO?

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 12th 2006 1:55PM]

XM is by far my favorite form of entertainment.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 12th 2006 2:06PM]

I really liked the form factor then I saw that it was satelite radio and I hit the snooze button. I may be the loan holdout but I don't get sat radio. I don't just mean I don't get it but that I just don't get it (you know what I mean).

Maybe if there was some really great content (none that I've heard of) and I was planning a really long road trip (gad does anybody do that any more and if so why) and I could rent the service for just that period of time (which I don't think you can unless maybe it's a rental car).

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 12th 2006 2:35PM]

@4 - There are some great channels of content you've probably never heard. If you're into modern music, XMU and Unsigned are great places to hear up-and-coming bands and artists that would never get airplay on the ClearChannel/RadioOne terrestrial stations. Into 80's alternative, check out Fred, bet you can't find a radio station that just plays that. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I listened to local radio. Of course, I typically only listen in the car, but nearly everytime I do, I find some new artist and have to point the car in the direction of a music store to pick up the album to load up the iPod to continue the experience when on in the car. It may not be for everyone, but it certainly is a neat concept. :D

[GeneMack Posted Apr 12th 2006 2:37PM]

Glacia00:

This is not totally directed at you, but at comments like your's that seem to be the majority on this site...

Not all products are made for all people. If you don't "get it", it means you weren't the target audience for "it".

Sat. radio is perfect for those of us who travel extensively, both in our cars and in the air. As a person who listens only to talk radio, driving 6 hours one way (which I do several times a week for work) seems much shorter when you aren't flipping the station 18 times a minute, trying to lock onto that one weak AM signal to catch some news.

And getting off the plane on the opposite coast (which I do for work often) and tuning into the same station you were listening to when you took off is great.

But my main point is - if you don't "get it", it wasn't meant for you. At least you didn't go as far as most posters on this site, making the statement how useless and stupid a product is, because you personally have no use for it. You at least gave it the possiblity of a market for some of us.

So for the rest - stop slamming products because you happen to not be their target audience. Think outside yourself for a minute, before you start your typing.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 12th 2006 3:36PM]

I love this new XM radio!!!

Check out this video of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ykKN_0ornA&search=inno

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 12th 2006 5:12PM]

GeneMack

I�d say it�s difficult to claim you�re not directing it at me when you start off with my screen -name. ;) I did say I like the form factor of the device and wasn't slamming it.

Even if I'm not the target hopefully I can still comment since most everything here is just opinions and one is no more valuable than another.

I think people are so accustomed to websites having a certain leaning or even hard bias they believe all comments should also lean that way. Comments about particular products or services shouldn't be expected to be limited to only positive ones otherwise it simply becomes advertising.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 13th 2006 2:56AM]

#1
Both units (Pioneer Inno and Samsung Helix) are identical , sharing even the same accessories.

XM designs these units, other companies build them. Been that way since Delphi.
They will kick ass. Sirius sucks.

[GeneMack Posted Apr 13th 2006 9:35AM]

Glacia

Again, I do apologize. I really wasn't directing those comments directly at you. If anything, I picked the wrong post to throw my rant at. Yours was reasonable. There are many more examples around here that are not that I could have picked, so it looks bad on me to go off on a reasonable post.

I really don't mind bias, or think most posts should slant one way or another. I actually enjoy reading the fanboy comments on each side. People's passion about brands intrigues and amuses me.

My problem comes from the total dismissal of a product by certain people, because they personal see no use for it in their lives. That happens too often around here. People seem not not think outside themselves and look where a product might be useful to other people.

I guess it is the condescension that really gets me.

Again, your post was reasonable and I should have picked another example to go off on. For that I apologize.

[(Unverified) Posted Apr 13th 2006 10:09AM]

So that's what they did with all those unused SPH-i550 cases.