Sirius XM announces SkyDock for iPhone and iPod touch
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted Aug 26th 2009 3:46PM
posted Aug 26th 2009 3:46PM
Read - Pics: New XM SkyDock satellite radio controller for iPhone
Read - Stern Fans Rejoice: Sirius XM SkyDock for iPhone
SIRIUS XM RADIO INTRODUCES THE FIRST DEVICE TO RECEIVE LIVE SATELLITE RADIO CONTROLLED BY THE iPOD TOUCH AND iPHONE
XM SkyDock allows customers to enjoy live XM and "The Best of SIRIUS" in their vehicles using the iPod touch or iPhone
NEW YORK–August 26, 2009–SIRIUS XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today introduced XM SkyDock, the first satellite radio controlled by an iPod touch or iPhone. The XM SkyDock is also one of the first products to take advantage of the new hardware control capabilities of iPhone OS 3.0.
Designed for easy use through the existing vehicle audio system, SkyDock has a built-in XM tuner controlled by a free App that users download from the App Store. The App allows control of the XM tuner using the capabilities of the iPod touch or iPhone Multi-Touch user interface. SkyDock will also charge iPod touch and iPhone devices while listening to live satellite radio.
"XM SkyDock will allow millions of users to add live SIRIUS XM Radio capability to their iPod touch or iPhone while in their vehicle," said Bob Law, Group Vice President and General Manager, After Market Division, SIRIUS XM Radio. "XM SkyDock makes their favorite programming from XM and 'The Best of SIRIUS' available to iPod touch and iPhone users anywhere they drive, coast to coast."
Listeners can use their iPod touch and iPhone to listen to all their favorite sports, talk, news, entertainment and commercial-free music programming, including Oprah Radio, MLB Home Plate, the PGA TOUR Network, Opie & Anthony, Bob Edwards, Jamie Foxx and Blue Collar Comedy. For the first time, subscribers can also listen to the complete "Best of SIRIUS" package, including Howard Stern and his two 24/7 channels, Martha Stewart Living Radio, SIRIUS NASCAR Radio, sports play-by-play and the Playboy Radio channel, all controlled by the iPod touch and iPhone.
Listeners can also tag songs they hear on XM's music channels for later purchase from the iTunes Store–including songs on XM's 24/7 artist branded commercial-free channels such as Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville, Elvis Radio, Eminem's Shade 45, The Grateful Dead Channel, B.B. King's Bluesville, Willie Nelson's Willie's Place, Siriusly Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen's E Street Radio. Other features include game alerts and sports ticker, artist and song alerts as well as a stock ticker.
The XM SkyDock is a perfect companion to the SIRIUS XM Premium Online App, which allows subscribers to receive SIRIUS XM's Premium Internet service on their iPhone and iPod touch when they are out of the vehicle and on-the-go, at home, or at the office.
XM SkyDock comes with SIRIUS XM's patent-pending PowerConnect technology, which simplifies Do-It-Yourself vehicle installation, working through the existing vehicle radio and making it easy to move from vehicle to vehicle. An Aux In Cable is a standard in-box accessory to facilitate Aux In connections in vehicles with Aux In capability. SkyDock's flexible stalk optimizes the iPod touch or iPhone placement in the vehicle. Customers can view the touch-screen interface in portrait or landscape modes. Accessories include Magnetic Mount Antenna and spacers to accommodate the various iPod touch and iPhone product generations.
XM SkyDock is compatible with iPod touch (1st generation), iPod touch (2nd generation), iPhone, iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS. All models require iPhone OS 3.0 or later.
XM SkyDock will be sold in stores and will also be available at www.shop.xmradio.com with an MSRP $119.99 in fall 2009. The XM SkyDock App will be available at the same time.
This device has been granted preliminary approval by the Federal Communications Commission but is still undergoing evaluation by the Commission.
For more information on XM, please visit www.xmradio.com
Why so sirius?!
At first I was like: -.-
But then I was like: :)
But don't say it in social gatherings, just don't.
Because that's the only way to stay XMplary.
The power adapter is very short. This could create some problems for some users.
bababooey!
We have heard "There is an app for that". Now "There is a dock for that".
If we needed radio Steve Jobs would not only include it with the iPhone but also with all iPods, but he knows no one needs a radio these days.
Spoken like a true idiot. I for one actually live in a market with a few great radio stations, so I still listen to terrestrial radio. Also, you must not have ever had XM or Sirius, because it is actually a pretty cool service (although a little expensive for me).
Don't fear something because it might expand your little world.
Wow mikey don't get your panties in a bunch. He was just making a highly sarcastic remark about Steve Job's philosphy of which he feels that Apple truly knows whats best for its users and what they want.
They are showing Howard 100 on the faceplate, arent those channels being blocked from the Sirius application?
My guess (no time for research) is that Howard's deal had a specific clause that excluded hardware not licensed by Sirius. Because this new device is a Sirius-supplied dongle, they will probably have all the same channels as a regular radio. That may also mean you end up getting charged the same fees as a regular radio, as opposed to being included in the blanket $3/month streaming fee you pay on top of your regular fees.
Beacuse it's a satellite radio, NOT in internet-delivered radio. It's not using the SIRIUS|XM App, it's using an XM chipset in the dock.
It's not an internet stream issue, it's a money issue. Sirius/XM is charging for the iPhone app and Howard wanted a piece of it. If the app was free to subscribers, I don't think there would have been an issue
So apparently this thing uses the iPhone app itself for everything. So one of three things is happening.
A. This device is only an FM transmitter with a charger, and Sirius is using it as a way of getting around licensing fees for Howard and the NFL. So it's free for users assuming you have a streaming plan.
B. It's still an FM transmitter and charger, but they are going to try to charge you the full fee of an extra radio each month.
C. The app itself is going to be made smart enough to communicate with a receiver inside the dongle. So the app would need to be able to stream music from a line-in of sorts, while also talking to the dongle to tell it to change stations and such. Plus reading in data for the display of what's playing. Between Apples draconian security, and the antenna size/reception issues, I don't see this one happening.
I am hoping option A is the outcome, but knowing Sirius I would go with B.
OQ: None of the above - its a Satellite radio receiver. It has the same chipset you would get in one of those boxes you plug into a prewired head unit. The iPhone/Pod tells it which station to tune, and I imagine it then chucks the line out into either a jack or its FM transmitter.
I still don't get the appeal of this. Why would people pay more than it costs for a standalone sat radio receiver for an attachment that turns their iPhone into one? Especially when it seems to only be usable in the car..
More importantly....Why would someone pay for sat radio?
It is really simple Mark: Most iPhone users are tools.
I was scared of being one when I bought the iPhone lately, but it turned out to be all about the user himself. I would never pay for this crap, but many iPhone users will buy it or at least praise it!
I definitely not liking the trend these iPhone accessories are taking. Between this and the rumored price of the TomTom car kit, it seems like these companies don't actually want to sell any of these things. As neat as it may be to have a single device control so much, and as much random crap I buy just because, I can't even see myself paying the premium just to have it talk to my iPhone. Let alone anyone who actually tries to make reasonable purchases.
If I needed something more than the Navigon (or TomTom) app, I would've just bought a TomTom on sale. If I actually ever decided burning $13 bucks a month for satellite radio, I'll buy a dedicated, cheaper receiver.
OK, good. I thought I had to be missing something but it looks like a lot of other people are just as confused as to how this actually gives anything over a normal/cheaper sat radio receiver. I was kinda expecting to get flamed by people who can't wait for this thing and down-ranked into oblivion.
x2. It just doesn't make sense, all these overpriced-to-hell new iPhone accessories. WTF!
This thing should be no more than $29.99.
Sirius charges $169 for their head unit which includes color LCD and all that jazz. This iPhone accessory is little more than an antenna, some buttons, and some firmware.
Not to mention that due to the iPhone's awesome inability to multitask, you can forget about simultaneously using your iPhone as a GPS, or checking your email (of course assuming you're not actually driving).
Why would someone with a 3G data plan pay extra for satellite radio when they could just stream Pandora, or any other type of internet radio? You'd have to be a pretty hardcore Howard fan.
Nope, I agree with you. Maybe it *could* be worth it if you could connect it to your car stereo AND could unplug it and use it as a handheld sat. radio reciever. Notice I say "maybe." For me this would be particularly useless, since my car stereo is already pre-wired as a sat. radio receiver, so if I want XM in my car, all I have to do is order it.
Did Steve Lankford take that picture? He may have a topless Lisa G pic too ... did he send that one, Engadget?
Its Langford you dumb fuck.
Wow - there are still people who listen to Stern? Even though he works a four day week, takes endless vacations, has zero enthusiasm, endlessly plugs his own lame pay-per-view channel, never takes real phone calls, employs drug-addled hacks, and turned his show into "The View" for middle-aged men?
The only part that confuses me...how exactly is someone going to use an ipod touch in a car w/o wifi access? Seems like that part would only apply to a very select few!
You're kidding, right?
Please tell me you're not sirius? (see what I did there?)
Lemme be clear,
IT HAS A GODDAMNED XM RADIO BUILT IN TO THE DEVICE.
This is why it's price is over $100. :)
HEY! I did "that" first! >:(
@loocas: Ha! Nobody stole mine :D
* crawls to a dark corner of the room and cries *
Sweet!
Don't hate just because they don't make one for your phone! Hehe
$119 for a connector??? Why would you buy something that cuts out every time you get a phone call.
Crap Gadget of the year!
No, I'm fairly sure that honor is still reserved for the 3rd gen iPod shuffle.
Unfortunately that'll never happen. Not on the Engadget site...
Does the Skydock require a monthly fee, if so, that's great for Sirius bottom line. If not, that's great for the end users, I can cancel my accounts and just use the Skydock and iPhone.
Pretty sure it's intended to be used with a subscription to their satellite radio service....
All because of the zune hd
I don't think SiriusXM is worried about the ZuneHD
@Kurt: Pretty sure they're at least considering it as a danger. The only real reason people haven't caught on with HD radio is because the equipment has been so damn expensive. When you have it packed in a PMP that's receiving a fairly good amount of hype and doesn't cost too much relative to the competition, you have to at least see some possibility of danger there to satellite radio.
nobody is buying Sat Radio for the sound quality....it's more about the exclusive content and the coast to coast coverage. Any MP3 player can challenge them on some level as far as music goes but HD Radio is by no means any more of a competitor than standard radio.
What the heck, man, where's the competition for the iPhone monopoly?
And no, it's not the Pre or BlackBerry or any Google phone.
iPhone apps and accessories are growing too fast.
Bring on a ZuneHD phone or something...
there are a couple flaws in this unit. The lighter adapter requirement limits locations you can mount it. It should have a power cord and several different mounting options. This would be great mounted on my dash up higher where it could receive better satellite signal for GPS purposes.
EVEN better...
They should have went all out and sold it for like $150. Include a single cable that runs outside the car and works as a booster for GPS (think TomTom Dock) and Satellite Radio antenna. Then offerred the XM NavTraffic options as well as a good speaker phone and Satellite radio. As it sits now it is hard to replace my XpressRC and TomTom for this when it falls just short of what I want.
What sort of an idiot PAYS for radio? LOL
When I turn on my DAB radio I get about 30 stations all for free :D no DAB on iPhone tho
Maybe Microsoft will throw one in the Zune HD if/when it comes to your country?
Some of us don't live in metro areas. I used to drive truck on the Alaska Highway where there was NO terrestrial radio at all. Sirius helped make that a genuinely fun job.
Anyone who travels by road for any significant distance on a regular basis will tell you that there is something very reassuring in being able to find all the content you want, at the times you expect it, no matter where you are.
There isn't anything else QUITE like sat radio.
This thing is basically a SiriusXM radio that uses your iPhone or iPod touch as the screen of the device. It's an interesting idea, but what happens when you get a phone call? I guess you would have to use speakerphone or a headset.
Oh boy I really wanna give up my direct iphone connection to my radio in order to over pay for XM! I cancelled for a reason. Since the merger there has not been many other companies as full as fail as XM/Sirius.
Are you sure there is a receiver in the device? I really couldn't gather that from the original post or the comments - not definitively, anyway. If they're expecting you to just use the iPod touch's WiFi - then this is INSANE to buy. If it turns your device into an actual satellite radio receiver - well, that's different.