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Liberty Media rescues Sirius XM from bankruptcy

by Darren Murph posted Feb 17th 2009 at 10:05AM

We guess those bailout talks with DirecTV weren't so futile after all, huh? The satcaster's parent company, Liberty Media, has just stepped in to rescue Sirius XM from the clutches of bankruptcy, providing a $530 million life raft that it will use to pay off looming debt payments and keep operations humming. Liberty will write a $280 million check immediately, of which $171 million will go straight to debtors. Another round of funding (to the tune of $250 million) will be available to Sirius XM in order to "help it pay its debts and ward off a potential takeover of Sirius by Charlie Ergen's DISH Network." In return for this mighty appreciated favor, Liberty Media will own 12.5 million shares of preferred stock in Sirius XM, which it can convert into common stock should it so choose. Also of note, founder John Malone and Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei are likely to join Sirius XM's board of directors. Is that a collective sign of relief we just heard, or what?

[Via Denver Business Journal, thanks Michael]

Sirius XM plans official rate hike for March 11th

by Darren Murph posted Jan 27th 2009 at 10:54PM

Yep, the deed's done. Er, it will be come March 11th, and there's no avoiding it. Unless, of course, you lock in a lower rate now, but we suppose that's the point of Sirius XM coming out with this information over a month in advance. As of now, both XM and Sirius' separate websites have "lockin" pages hosted up, with XM's noting that after March 11th, subscriptions will no longer include internet listening gratis. For those who renew their existing contract now, you'll be grandfathered in and continue to listen for free; after that deadline, it'll be $2.99 per month for the premium (and only) stream. Over at Sirius, we're told that the SIRIUS Everything plan will rise from $6.99 per month to $8.99 per month unless you lock yourself in prior to the eleventh day of March. So, should you stay or should you go?

[Via The Wolf Web]

Read - XM's page
Read - Sirius' page

Gallery: Sirius XM plans official rate hike for March 11th

Sirius XM reportedly seeing rate increase this March

by Darren Murph posted Jan 21st 2009 at 10:59AM

Sirius XM hasn't even been one for long, and yet we're already staring an impending price increase in the face. According to Sirius Buzz, company support representatives are now confirming to the general public that a rate hike will go into effect starting March 11, 2009. They're encouraging current subscribers to lock in their current rates for three years in order to be grandfathered in, but should you choose not to, you'll likely be paying $2 more for additional subscriptions and a $2.99 fee for the online internet radio service. If there's any good news here, it's that the latter fee will give you access to that oh-so-amazing 128k "premium" feed, though we're still left in the dark about any future channel expansions stemming from the increase.

Pioneer Inno XMp3 reviewed: great, save for reception hiccups

by Darren Murph posted Nov 8th 2008 at 12:09PM

You've gotten a face full of the Pioneer-built Inno XMp3, but aren't you eager to find out how the bugger performs? Knowing that your head is wildly bobbing up and down as if to say "yes," we present to you CNET's take on the latest portable XM Radio. Overall, the compact unit fared pretty well in testing, as it proved to be easy to operate, easy on the eyes and just downright easy to live with. The only knocks came from the lack of photo / video viewing (yes, that includes album art for library music) and the occasional reception issue. It should be noted, however, that this "reception issue" is kind of a big deal given the nature of the device, and that quirk alone knocked it from the ranks of the elite. Still, critics felt the unit was a worthwhile purchase if you're willing to deal with a few drops, and the way we see it, those just give you ample opportunities to hone your freestyle skills. Word?

Video: XM Radio's XMp3 interface shown off

by Darren Murph posted Oct 13th 2008 at 6:43PM

We knew XM Radio's XMp3 handheld was on sale and shipping, but if you've been holding back and patiently waiting for some live video action of the UI before biting, have a gander at this. One xzitony managed to acquire the new Pioneer-built device and take it for a spin, but rather than just keeping it all to himself, he decided to host up a six minute clip walking us through the user interface. There are just no words to express our gratitude, but you can leave your thanks on his YouTube page after peeping the vid just past the break.

[Thanks, Anthony]

Continue reading Video: XM Radio's XMp3 interface shown off

Garmin GPSMAP 600 series runs afoul of the law on land and sea

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 3rd 2008 at 4:43PM

We get plenty of emails from big-time drug smugglers in Miami who want to know: "When will Garmin provide a comprehensive, affordable GPS solution, at home both on the road and the water?" Looks like we're one step closer to an answer with the GPSMAP 600 series. These rugged, portable touchscreen nav units feature a 5.2-inch display (800 x 480) and come with two mounts: when placed in either the marine or auto mount, the device will start up in the appropriate mode. On the road, the domestic GPSMAP 640 ($1,199 MSRP) provides the maps, turn-by-turn directions, custom POIs and proximity alerts you expect. On the water you get aerial POI views and optional BlueChart g2 Vision for underwater 3D perspective. Rounding things out, XM WX Satellite Weather data, XM Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic are available with the optional GXM 40 antenna and subscription. The international GPSMAP 620 ($999 MSRP) is a bit scaled down, with street maps and marine chart data available through the SD card slot. There you have it, kids -- and keep an eye out for Crockett and Tubbs!

[Thanks, Rich]

Pioneer-built XMp3 gets specced, shows up for sale

by Darren Murph posted Sep 15th 2008 at 5:19PM

Ah, ha! So that XMp3 XM Radio player we spotted the other day in Popular Science was more than just a trick played by our eyes. PopSci has come forth with a few more details on the unit, but still doesn't do it nearly as good as Best Buy's product page. From the latter, we learn that the Pioneer-built unit plays back MP3 / WMA files stored on your microSD card, records up to 100 hours of XM Radio or digital audio, and comes bundled with a home dock, power adapter, home antenna, remote and assorted cables for $279.99. We're also hearing that the device alone will go for around two bills when it arrives in under a fortnight, but we wouldn't bet the farm on that just yet.

Read - PopSci writeup
Read - Best Buy product page

XM's upcoming XMp3 sneaks into latest issue of Popular Science

by Paul Miller posted Sep 14th 2008 at 11:10AM

Little is known about this new portable XM player, which recently made an early appearance in Popular Science, but we're not sure we care to know a whole lot more. The "standout" feature is recording five XM stations at once -- which sounds great for satellite radio junkies, but we don't think it'll have people rushing to sign up for the service or anything. We bet it plays MP3s, though, so that's cool...

Details emerge on XM Phoenix handheld satellite radio

by Darren Murph posted Jun 24th 2008 at 9:08AM

Sirius' Starmate 5 stopped by the FCC last month, so it's only fair to see a portable player from the "other side" mentioned as this month draws to a close. Orbitcast has it that a new handheld satellite radio is floating around the labs with a codename Phoenix. Early word suggests that it is "slightly smaller than the existing Inno with a much slicker interface and a rotating wheel that functions similar to the SkyFi 2." There's also a microSD slot for external music (and external music alone), a screen size larger than that of the Inno and a small possibility for WiFi. The unit should be loosed on the general public this fall, but we'll be sure to keep an ear out for more details as the run-up continues.

Sirius Starmate 5 stops by FCC, XM gets a mention

by Darren Murph posted Apr 26th 2008 at 11:01PM

We'll cut straight to the chase: on the surface, there's nothing all that enthralling about the Sirius Starmate 5. In most every respect, it looks, smells and likely acts much like its predecessor. Granted, the color schemes have been updated a bit and you'll still find that delicious Sirius Replay support included, but the humdrum 5-line display, obligatory FM transmitter and bundled remote don't do much to get our saliva glands workin' overtime. As Orbitcast points out, however, there is one thing about the FCC filing that piques our interest more than anything else, and it's a simple phrase from a posted correspondence letter: "We used the satellite radio signal coming from either XM or Sirius." Whether or not this actually means anything is yet to be seen, but it makes for some decent fodder at the very least, yeah?

[Via Orbitcast]

NAB pleads for FCC delay, looks for ways to subvert XM / Sirius merger

by Darren Murph posted Oct 13th 2007 at 3:39PM

As the constant battle between the National Association of Broadcasters and nearly everyone else continues on over the potential XM / Sirius merger, the entity is now asking the FCC to put a stop on the 180-day clock for considering the junction. Reportedly, all the NAB wants is "time to go through documents it said it is getting through a Freedom of Information Request filed in March," and it seemingly feels that some of the articles it's still waiting for contain proof of "serious apparent wrongdoing by XM and Sirius executive and senior-level employees regarding the operation of FM modulators / translators and / or terrestrial repeaters." Of note, both of the aforementioned sat radio providers shot back by stating that the NAB's "allegations are unfounded and its recent filing is just an attempt to stall the process." From the outside looking in, we'd say that sounds just about right. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via BroadcastingCable]

XM XpressRC gets evaluated

by Darren Murph posted Oct 1st 2007 at 7:41PM

We'll admit, the XM XpressRC sure looked mighty nice from a distance, and judging by CNETs take on it, it's equally fine up close. Quite frankly, this device was hailed as a notch above the alternatives, boasting a full-color display "that not only jumped out at you with its beauty, but could be easily read and understood while driving." Granted, not everything was entirely peachy, as the reviewer took issue with the knob's design and the small power button -- both grumbles that could certainly be overlooked. Additionally, the unit's ability to pause / rewind up to an hour of programming was very appreciated, and the other small bonuses (i.e. SongSaver) filled out the feature set quite nicely. All in all, this little gizmo was seen as "the way to go" if you've been scouting a device of this nature, but the $170 pricetag could still be a hindrance.

XM announces split-screen XpressRC radio

by Donald Melanson posted Aug 13th 2007 at 12:57PM

While we're a bit skeptical of the company's claims to "redefine the listening experience," XM's new XpressRC radio does indeed look to be fairly impressive as far as satellite radios go, with it boasting a full-color split-screen display among other notable new features. That screen will let you view information for your current channel on the left side, while letting you browse up to three other channels on the right side. Apart from that, the radio will give you a 60-minute buffer to let you pause and replay programming, and you'll be able to store up to ten of your favorite songs with the new "Songsaver" feature. As with other satellite radios, you'll also be able to move it between vehicles, and make use of various docks and speaker systems for a little out-of-vehicle listening. Look for this one to set you back $170 when it rolls out this fall.

Read - XM Press Release
Read - XM Product Page

XM's CommanderMT receiver finally launches

by Darren Murph posted Jul 10th 2007 at 9:37PM

It won't go down as the timeliest of launches, but the Audiovox-built CommanderMT that we peeked back at CES is finally up for grabs. The in-dash receiver was designed to operate with any AM / FM radio and sports a four-line display, jog dial, and the ability to "alert you whenever your favorite songs, artists, or sports teams are being played on another channel." Additionally, the Mini-Tuner compatibility ensures that you can take your XM subscription with you when you exit the vehicle, and while it may have lost some of its luster during the six months you've been anxiously waiting, interested consumers can snag one of their own "later this month" for $179.99. Continue on for a few in-car snapshots.

[Via Orbitcast]

Continue reading XM's CommanderMT receiver finally launches

XM Radio outages continue on, software to blame

by Darren Murph posted May 22nd 2007 at 12:41PM

For the XM Radio subscribers who haven't patiently waited to hastily cancel your subscription just yet, we're sure you're well aware that the outages from yesterday are still lingering on. Reportedly, "software problems resulted in the loss of one of the network's four satellite signals," and while it expected to have everything back to normal by last night, sometime today is looking more likely. The company stated that "the problem occurred during the loading of software to a critical component of the satellite broadcast system," and while XM has urged listeners to tune in online if possible, we all know this doesn't solve much. Notably, analysts are already pondering just how much loyalty (and cashflow) XM will lose from such an outage, and while we won't bother to guess, each passing minute of dead air won't do the customer satisfaction surveys any favors.

Update: XM is claiming service is back to normal.