Sirius XM itself may not be dropping many hints just yet (unless you count that
iPhone app), but rumors are building that the company is set to make a big push into iPhone / iPod touch territory at an event next week, where it's reportedly set to introduce a slew of new hardware. The standout piece is a so-called "XM SkyDock," which
XMFan.com describes as a dock for your iPhone or iPod touch that effectively turns it into a full-fledged satellite radio. Details on it are otherwise still fairly light, as you might expect, but the dock will apparently make use of a new type of power cord that uses your vehicle's wiring as an FM transmitter wire, and will reportedly sell for less than $100. Other new devices supposedly on tap include a new color-screen XM Radio with that same new power cord that'll sell for $80, and a new XM signal repeater that operates in the 900MHz spectrum and will apparently replace the current Delphi repeater.
[Thanks, Kevin]
posted August 21st 2009 12:06PM
iTouch? What's that?
Sirius-ly though, Sirius sucks. My wife has Sirius radio in her car so she downloaded the iPhone app to listen while working. Turns out they want additional $10/month or something to stream to her iPhone... ghey
Without Howard, who freaking cares?
I do. Howard Stern is a hack, but it looks like this accessory will allow you to listen to him on your iPhone in your car.
are you fakin Sirius?
get it? serious "Sirius"?
AHAHAH
@ meat
we get it. we aren't laughing, but we get it
Then blame Howard. It's his fault.
Meanwhile you can listen to Opie & Anthony and Ron & Fez.
Why the hell is Sirius relying on Apple? Why can't Sirius figure out a way to get a constant signal for home reception.
yeah, i was hoping this item promised a solution for a typical problem: I'm driving, listening to a baseball game or CNN or a comedy riff, and i get home and really need to go in, but i linger in the car listening on the car radio because i can't find a suitably effective and inexpensive home receiver.
I'd like them to intro an economical solution to that problem, incorporating the iPhone. Does the new iPhone app achieve that? It was unclear to me exactly how it functioned--is it for those who already have xm (in my case) contracts? is there an added charge? etc.
Whenever I buy something by apple or for apple, someone releases a new and better version of the product I just bought (third party or apple respectivley)
Not a flame, but a serious question: aside from Howard Stern and/or other talk-show personalities, what does satellite radio bring to the table that's worth paying for over Slacker/Pandora/etc.?
Since I have had it in my new car I cant even stand normal radio anymore. For one its not the same damn songs over and over, they have a huge selection being played and their alternative station plays all new stuff which is awesome to discover new music. I hear things months before they become hits. It is the best form of radio out there.
i eagerly await the day where i have built-in internet radio in my car. i long ago migrated my home to internet radio, which is far, far better than xm was even before the sirius merger. (only gone downhill since then)
Really terrible bitrates for all but a few music stations?
The unique privilege of paying for advertising?
Censored music that can't be found on any other paid radio service?
they offer some good exclusive talk radio.
and on the music side, it's convenient and commercial free.
the indie station plays songs i like to hear.
70's, 80's, and 90's stations are fun.
i have a built in receiver in my car, so it's easy.
it's a "luxury", so it isn't for everyone.
i enjoy it.
if i didn't know better, i'd think unixsystemengineer was being sarcastic.
I'm not very familiar with the services cited, but i can't use them conveniently and reliably for service on cross-country drives, can I? With xm i listen to all my home team's games, to cnn whenever and wherever, to a mix of music and to good comedy channels. If you've driven in the south, especially, on weekends, especially, it can be hard to find a channel with decent reception that's not selling redemption. That's good for some people, but it's not what i'm looking for. I've been real pleased with my xm.
For a short time I had both Sirius and XM. I used Sirius in the car and XM in the house. They were fine. Especially for talk radio. I've also used internet radio at home. I still have my Audiotron that was part of my rack at home. I listened to what would now fit very well into a podcast, though I forgot the name of the program.
I had to cut back on expenses and listening to a few hours of talk radio when driving just didn't fit into the new budget. Plus I found myself listening to more and more podcasts that were focused on my interests instead of talk radio that would be over tons of different subjects. Since I was never much for calling into a talk radio show it didn't matter much if I listened to it live or not. And there are apps out there that I can use to search for pretty much any host with the exception of the handful of Sirius exclusives.
So the bottom line is. Sirius and XM is good. But I've moved on to other things and don't really need them any more.
en12,
Both are a paid service if you don't want to be limited by song skips with Slacker. Another reason, sports talk radio(me). Another reason, XM/Sirius has built in radio in Cars, its easier than Slacker. Some people like some DJ interaction. Some people might like Elvis radio(not me) or Margaritiville for example. This is just a few examples.
Personally, I have both Slacker and Sat. radio
Sirius doesn't need to pump out new hardware, they need to take a serious look at their pricing model. Go look at the ratings for the iPhone app, you'll see a ton of people complaining about the cost.
I'm a subscriber with 3 radios. I'm on the Sirius side, so if I want Opie and Anthony I have to pay for the Best of XM pack. However, the iPhone app said that O&A were included, so I downloaded the app and actually added the $10 a month charge for the access. One thing to mention is that it's $10 PER RADIO, so only one person at a time can stream to their iPhone or via the web.
I signed up and, lo and behold, no O&A. They still want me to pay more money! Sirius is out of their minds if they think people are willing to shell out this much cash. Look, you want to charge me a $10 fee to stream over my PC or iPod touch, fine. But a) Make the charge cover ALL my radios, not just one and B) Don't ask me to pay EVEN more for another channel!
i already stream Sirius to my iPhone using usirius and orb on my pc.. and then using orb on my iphone to stream sirius. No problems here!
Howard Stern is a hack? He's the only reason this is news. Both of these companies would have disapeared by now if it wasn't for him.
A bit of a waste...
If the iPhone app were written correctly, a lot more people would buy the service. Without ALL of the content, it's not a GREAT product. The iPhone app should of contained everything, and could of gone a bit further.
Also, Apple needs to open it's device a bit more so that more apps can run in the background (not just Apple apps). Even Pandora/Slacker/whatever, suffer from the inability to continue to operate if interrupted by a call. Yeah, yeah, battery life is the excuse for not allowing it, but why is the iPod function any different, why is it allowed to operate in the background? Give the choice to the user... in most cases we'd probably be streaming from a car, or at home near a power source.
I think it's an unfair advantage that Apple holds over it's devices, but who can blame them?
LOL.
Unless you loooooove talk radio or sports, there's absolutely no reason not to get a paid music subscription service over this.
I just don't get how they're charging $100 for a cord and dock, while they're only charging $80 for the whole device, including color screen and everything?!?!
These manufacturers need to seriously rethink their pricing strategies. Most people aren't looking forward to paying MORE just for an iphone ACCESSORY, when the standalone device is significantly cheaper, AND won't interfere with the other functions people use their iPhone for, since the OS doesn't support background processes1!!!!!! It's not exactly a huuuge privelege, worth paying a premium for, in order to be able to plug in the iPhone.
I'm also looking at you, Garmin! Seriously WTF.
I installed satellite radio in my car 4 years ago, no more commercials, large selection of music, no matter what you like right at your fingertips, HITS, JAZZ, 80s, 90s, ROCK, R&B, HIP HOP, RAP, TALK NEWS, CNN, CNBC, LOCAL WEATHER, etc. LIVE SPORTS, NHL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR. Live traffic updates to your GPS if your car allows it. TV channels for Kids if you need them.
If you use few of those services you will like it, I love it and I am very happy with it. (keep in mind I find value in paying 12.95$ a month for it, and if you don't then don't buy it, but also don't complain about it, because no matter what they offer if you are not willing to pay you will never be happy with it doh)
NO COMMERCIALS, if I get in a car for a short drive 5-10, I do not have to listen to commercials for 5 of them.
And no Howard Stern was not the reason I got Sirius/XM while many people enjoy listening to him, its not my cup of tea.
I understand that many people will say if I can get it for free while should I pay for it. Well if you buy your car like I just did few weeks ago and you will keep it for at least 3 years just buy a lifetime subscription, it is recommended and will add value to your car and will last you as long as you own that car.
A previous poster hit the nail on the head... XM/Sirius is not for everyone. Me personally, i listen to CNBC on my way to work. I've been able to pay for the service many times over by trading stocks using information from CNBC....then i still have get to listen to all the other music i like rather than the same 20 songs and crappy DJ on terrestrial radio.
I think is pretty obvious that if lowering the cost makes them more money they would do it. They are in business to make money...just buy SIRI stock wait for it to double or triple AGAIN then go buy your lifetime sub to the service and shut up.
Can't beat em, join em.
If all you want to do is listen to music in your house there are better options. If you need a mobile solution that is clear and has news/comedy/talk/music etc... Then SiriusXM is for you. For me I drive about an hour a day to and from work, the cost is pretty trivial when you figure the entertainment you get when you would otherwise have to listen to bad shows and mostly commercials on AM/FM.
I had Sirius for five years, and I tell you their service really started to go downhill after they got XM. First they took of the NBA and College ball off of Sirius and it went to XM, then they start charging for stuff that use to be free, like the internet radio. The big blow was when they started to increase their fees.
Ron & Fez, 11 to 3.
This is great! Now I can use my TomTom app for navigation and my Sirius app for music while I'm driving. I can use them both at the same time right??? :)
WunderRadio for the win!
I am soooo close to canceling my XM in the car. I really can't justify its existence anymore. I can get everything it offers (and much more) for free, and without all their mishegais.
To hell with them! (plus they killed my favorite stations after the merger and replaced them with mediocrity [e.g. FRED =/= FirstWave!!!!!! Not even remotely!])
Anyone else noticed the new $8 "music royalty fee" tacked onto their latest bill, incidentally?
Stern is God.
This is different than the Sirius|XM app and different in that it only turns your iPhone/iTouch into a sat. radio interface. It doesn't actually turn your iDevice into a sat radio. This is an excellent idea for a company with issues in the past of products that fail too quickly and developing an application is likely much less expensive than developing new hardware.
If this product goes over well there is likely going to be a home kit and maybe even speaker docks with this function built it. jk asked why Sirius was relying on Apple... I see it as a way to use a proven platform that a lot of people already have and adding functionality. For people that have an iPhone and XM, I think this is going to be really great way to use them both.