Dueling unboxings: Delphi SkyFi3 vs. Pentax K10D

Read - Orbitcast, Delphi SkyFi3 - Unboxed
Read - Flickr, Pentax K10D
[Thanks, A. Parker]
Posts with tag skyfi3

Now that the SkyFi3 is finally on the market and presumably safe from the RIAA / FCC, Delphi's jack-of-all-trades has been deemed a success -- at least mostly, anyway. The folks over at CNET were able to give the portable XM recorder / DAP hybrid a thorough once over, and they were fairly impressed with its functionality, but less than thrilled with its build quality and lack of an integrated receiver. Reviewers admired the "expansive and bright 2.8-inch display," 30 minutes of XM recording capacity, and the ability to playback your own MP3 / WMA files via the built-in microSD slot. It was noted, however, that the "budget build quality" left a lot to be desired, and the inability to listen to XM on the go without purchasing the "optional goofy headphones" was certainly not a strong point. The player, while not perfect, did perform as advertised, and was deemed a "flexible solution for home, car, and on the go for those who don't want to spend big bucks." But if you're looking to spend more time tuning in to XM Live on your daily run than in your daily commute, you may want to consider the lackluster "90 minute" battery life (when utilizing that oh-so-draining headphone receiver) before throwing down.
We've been tossed around a bit with this new SkyFi3 player from Delphi, but they've finally gotten one of those fancy press releases out for the thing, so hopefully this will stick. At least all the specs are the same: 2.8-inch monochrome display, microSD slot, external card-dock or Live Wearable Kit for live XM radio, 30 minutes of pause-replay, 10 hours of XM recording, etc. What's new is that the player's price has been jacked up to $230, and the release date has been pushed back to December 1st. Luckily, the Live Wearable Kit ($50) should come free with most retail purchases, but we're not exactly stoked about the price hike and new launch date all the same.
It's sure been a while, but Delphi is finally getting around to updating their SkyFi series with the new SkyFi 3 portable player, and the folks at xm411.com managed to get their hands on one for a little bit of alone time. They definitely like what they see, and while the bigger screen makes the device a decent bit larger than the Inno and Helix players, the unit should make for a good roadtrip companion, while still managing some portable action in a pinch. The 30-minute pause buffer is great for when you need to make a call or talk to your fellow car-riding companions, and the 8 hour battery isn't terrible for some pre-recorded XM action on the go. Unfortunately, the SkyFi 3 doesn't include a built-in antenna, so you'll have to strap on a dorky Wearable Kit (not included) to get live XM radio, and the battery can only handle 90 minutes of that. Luckily, the car kit is included, and the $200-ish price isn't too bad for what you're getting, so if it suits your purposes, it at least shouldn't break the bank.









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