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Lucille Ball's radio show is now a 'podcast' on SiriusXM
Lucille Ball has a podcast thanks to SiriusXM, which is bringing 'Let's Talk To Lucky' back decades after it aired on the radio.
SiriusXM's student plan only costs $4 per month
SiriusXM thinks it has a simple way to get the back-to-school crowd listening to radio: offer it at an extremely steep discount. The satellite radio pioneer has introduced a Student Premier subscription that offers all the 200-plus music channels (plus talk) of the usual Premiere Streaming package for $4 per month, or less than a third of the $13 you'd normally pay. You could wind down with Kevin Hart's comedy channel or psych yourself up with BPM for about the price of nice coffee.
Pandora Now highlights trending music as a playlist and SiriusXM station
It's been several months since SiriusXM purchased Pandora for $3.5 billion, and now we're finally getting a glimpse of how the satellite radio company plans to use its new toy. SiriusXM and Pandora announced Pandora Now, a new feature that will highlight popular and trending music for listeners on both platforms. Available starting today, Pandora Now will have a dedicated channel on SiriusXM for subscribers. Pandora Premium members will get to listen to Pandora Now as an interactive station, complete with song skippings and thumbs up and down ratings, or as a curated playlist.
FCC chairman green-lights AT&T's use of WCS spectrum for LTE with proposed order
AT&T is close to securing a major victory in its battle against the spectrum crunch. While it's not quite a done deal, FCC chairman Genachowski has submitted a proposed order to FCC commissioners that would authorize AT&T's deployment of its LTE service within a 20MHz portion of the 2.3GHz (WCS) band. The deal is unique in that the spectrum is currently reserved for satellite radio, and the reallocation would mark the first of its kind within the WCS band. As you may recall, AT&T previously conceded to a 5MHz dead zone on both ends of Sirius XM's operating frequency in order to mitigate interference concerns, and it seems the move was sufficient to gain the chairman's support. Also looming on the FCC's to-do list is the decision of whether to approve AT&T's purchase NextWave and its unused WCS spectrum. If it's any indication, however, Chairman Genachowski seems bullish on the reallocation and has suggested that the agency may authorize another 30MHz of the WCS band for mobile broadband use. AT&T has previously said that it could feasibly deploy LTE over the 2.3GHz spectrum within the next three years. One group fighting the deal is the Competitive Carrier Association, which posits that AT&T's purchase of such a significant chunk of spectrum on the secondary market is anti-competitive in nature. It'll no doubt be interesting to see if the argument gains any traction with the FCC. In the meantime, you can view remarks from the agency's spokesperson after the break.
SiriusXM for Android update brings On Demand and offline listening
If you're an Android-toting SiriusXM fan, you've probably spent the last month wondering when your smartphone would get the newfound flexibility to tune in beyond live radio. As of Sirius XM's version 2.2 update, Android is back on equal footing. The upgrade supplies On Demand streaming, both for catch-up and the occasional classic, as well as downloadable copies to keep the music and talk flowing offline. As before, the access is considered a free perk of a SiriusXM subscription; if you enjoy Howard Stern's cynicism enough to want it at odd hours of the day, your angsty fix awaits at the source.
SiriusXM launches On Demand radio, gives offline access to iOS apps
It's finally here! SiriusXM On Demand has launched, ushering the satellite radio service into the 21st century. The company's promised library of 200 shows and 2,000 hours of programming are online and available for subscribers to stream at their leisure. Access is free for existing subscribers, and available through the web or the SiriusXM apps on iOS. App users can even download shows for offline playback (which we believe makes them podcasts). Now you'll never need to miss another allegedly hilarious episode of Opie & Anthony again. Though, you might be a better person if you did. Check out the PR after the break for a few more details.
AT&T agrees to acquire NextWave for $600 million, gobbles up WCS and AWS spectrum
AT&T's making no secret of the fact it wants to snatch up as much spectrum as it possibly can, so news of the company's proposed acquisition of NextWave Wireless doesn't result in much of a shock. AT&T has agreed to purchase the company -- and all of its WCS (Wireless Communication Service) and AWS spectrum licenses and equity along with it -- for $25 million, pending FCC approval. If you count $25 million in contingency costs and the outstanding debt the big blue globe has also picked up, however, the total bill climbs to $600 million. The deal comes shortly after AT&T partnered with Sirius XM to petition the FCC in the hopes that it would allow WCS (2.3GHz) spectrum to be opened up for LTE use -- mobile data is currently restricted by the federal body to prevent any interference with satellite radio. The government hasn't given the green light for this proposal yet (additionally, the NextWave deal isn't likely to be approved until later this year), but that's not stopping AT&T from its preparations just in case -- it plans to have WCS LTE ready for deployment in three years if everything works out in the carrier's favor.
Sirius XM details GoogleTV app ahead of the I/O party
The fine folks at Sirius XM just couldn't wait for Google I/O to kick off. Yesterday the satellite radio giant tipped off Reuters (not that it was the only one "spilling the beans," mind you), and today it's offering up even more information on its upcoming Google TV offering. The app, still slated for a broad 2012 release, will be available as a free download for US subscribers via the Google Play store. The list of features includes Start Now, which lets users listen to programming from up to five hours prior, pausing / fast forwarding / rewinding and Tune Start, which brings up the beginning of an already played song. Also on-board is the Show Finder, a program guide that lets subscribers set show alerts. The company will be demoing the product later this evening at I/O. In the meantime, check out the press release after the break.
Sirius XM gives Google TV a Stern look, plans radio app for this summer
Sirius XM has long had a love affair with Android, going so far as to build an Android-powered satellite radio just a few months ago. That flame is burning for at least a little while longer with plans for a Google TV app launching this summer. Much in line with Sirius XM's more recent internet options, subscribers can soon tune into virtually anything from the satellite radio lineup, including the obligatory Howard Stern, as well as online-only bonuses like ESPN SportsCenter. The radio provider tells Reuters that it worked "closely" with Google to build the app, but what secret sauce that adds (if any) is left to the imagination: the live pausing and five-hour content storage don't exactly break the mold of what we've seen so far. We'll find out very soon just how category-busting Sirius XM can get when we get a full reveal of the Google TV app in sync with the start of Google I/O.
AT&T strikes a deal with Sirius XM to make 2.3GHz LTE a reality, pitches it to the FCC
AT&T has been a little more eager than usual to get spectrum after a certain big deal fell through, and we now know that Big Blue has been willing to bury a few outstanding hatchets to make that happen. The carrier has filed with the FCC to propose a deal with Sirius XM that would get its LTE-based 4G running on the 2.3GHz Wireless Communications Service (WCS) that, normally, satellite radio intersects. Rather than stay at an impasse, AT&T has agreed to a 5MHz dead zone on either end of Sirius XM's frequencies that would mitigate the risk of that Internet video stream colliding with Howard Stern. The provider still needs clearance to go ahead, and might not exactly get a resounding thumbs-up from WCS holder NextWave, which stands to lose more than a small piece of its airwave pie. An FCC all-clear would nonetheless raise the chances that AT&T keeps LTE flowing freely as subscribers pile on the network, even after the telecom behemoth conceded spectrum to T-Mobile.
SiriusXM Lynx satellite radio receiver hands-on
It's been a few months since we first caught wind of Sirius XM's $250 Lynx satellite radio receiver, and today at CES we finally got to see it in person. It's a solidly-built device that's about the same size as a 5th generation iPod, has an 1150 mAh battery with a microSD slot underneath a soft touch plastic back cover. The Lynx runs a heavily modified version of Android, but when we inquired about the possibility of Android Market access or non-Sirius XM apps making their way onto the Lynx, we were told that there were no such plans -- so sorry folks, no Angry Birds or Gmail to be had here. Unfortunately, Sirius XM was coy about what silicon lies beneath its touchscreen, so full specs remain a mystery. We also had a chance to see the Lynx's Bluetooth-equipped home dock and remote and a speaker dock (with remote) that works with both the Lynx SiriusXM's other sat radio units.The interface is fairly simple. There's a pair of home screens with six self-explanatory options: Satellite, Internet, My Library, Show Finder, Bluetooth Connect and Settings options. Because of all the wireless interference on the show floor, we weren't able to fully test its functionality, but we did get a tour of some of the radio's musical features. Users can have up to 25 preset stations and set up alerts attuned to recurring shows, songs and artists to receive notifications when the content you want next plays. When the Lynx has satellite signal, it can record up to 200 hours of content from your favorite stations. Additionally, your presets have a rolling buffer so that you can always start songs streaming from the beginning no matter when you tune in. Want to know more? Check out the Lynx in action in the video after the break.
Sirius XM releases Lynx radio, ensures that you never miss the beginning of another Jimmy Buffett song
Need a shiny new way to enjoy SiriusXM's revamped channel lineup? For $250, you can pick up the Lynx Portable Radio, which lets you start shows and songs (Jimmy Buffett or otherwise) from the beginning and pause, fast forward and rewind programming. The wildcat radio also stores up to 200 hours of programming and features "dynamic" presets and a show finder, which offers up a programming schedule for the next seven days. It's currently available online for $250 and will be hitting retail shops in the near future. More info on the radio can be read from the beginning in the press release and video trailer after the break. Still no word on that whereabouts of that shaker of salt.
Sirius XM Lynx strips down for the FCC, flaunts new screws
If you were wondering when you could pick up Sirius XM's latest touchscreen touting receiver, you can scoot just a little closer to the edge of your seat -- the Lynx just made its way through the FCC. An accidental Best Buy listing in October outed the satellite radio as a possible Android device. The FCC teardown didn't betray what version of the dessert themed OS the receiver might be running, but a tidy Immersion logo suggests that the radio's touchscreen might support some of the outfit's haptic feedback tricks. Rumors and scuttlebutt aside, the Lynx passed through its federal inspection with flying colors. We'll let you know if we ever get a bead on its release date.
Sirius XM rolls out Edge satellite radio with expanded channel lineup
We're still waiting for some official word on Sirius XM's seemingly imminent Android-based Lynx radio, but the company has now announced another first. That would be the Edge Dock and Play Radio pictured above, which is the company's first radio to support the so-called "Xtra Channels" that are a part of Sirius XM 2.0. As for the radio itself, it can of course be used either at home in a dock or in your car, and it'll give you ten pre-sets for your favorite radio stations, along with a fairly large (non-touchscreen) color display that shows the usual song and station information. Those interested can grab this one right now for $140 -- press release is after the break.
Sirius XM Lynx receiver leaks out courtesy of Best Buy
It's since been removed, but a listing for the tidy little package you see above was on Best Buy's website long enough this week to provide most of the details on Sirius XM's still-unannounced Lynx satellite radio receiver. As you can see, it relies on a touchscreen interface for the most part and, even more interestingly, it apparently runs some sort of custom version of Android -- although we wouldn't recommend getting your hopes up about Android Marketplace access or the like. You'll also get a microSD card slot to load it up with your own music, and it can be used in conjunction with your choice of a car kit, home kit or portable speaker dock (not included). Assuming nothing's changed, you can expect this one to set you back $250, although there's unfortunately no indication of a release date.
Sirius XM 2.0 launching later this year, bringing on-demand Howard Stern to your car in 2013
During its quarterly earnings call, Sirius finally gave the world some info about its upcoming Sirius XM Satellite 2.0 service. For those of you who can't get enough Underground Garage and Howard Stern, version 2.0 will pack more programing and you'll be able to pause and rewind broadcasts. Starting next year, the company will offer personalized music stations, similar to Pandora, and on-demand listening, in case you missed a particularly juvenile funny Opie & Anthony bit. The first two pieces of hardware will be landing before the end of the year, but don't expect to find a Sirius XM 2.0 option at your car dealership for a while -- vehicles won't be getting the upgraded hardware until 2013.
Sirius Satellite 2.0 to include DVR-like features, personalized stations?
The problem with Sirius Satellite Radio? You can listen to hundreds of stations, but only if you tune in live. As it stands, licensing restrictions make it impossible to record Howard Stern asking intrusive questions about people's sex lives. But that could change with version 2.0 of the platform, which is rumored to be on track for a fall release. According to a CNET report citing the good ole' "source close to the company," select programs will be available for on-demand listening for a limited period after their original airing. And, this source says, the new platform could take a cue from Pandora and Slacker with personalized stations that let you skip songs, flag your favorites, and ban the ones that drive you insane. If true, listeners would get a whole lot more value out of that $13 monthly subscription -- and SiriusXM might have a greater chance of beating Pandora in the battle for your in-car attention. Until then, you'll just have to keep listening to Tiger Blood Radio live.
Sirius XM to debut Tiger Blood Radio: all Charlie Sheen, all day long
Charlie Sheen has a pretty impressive track record: in addition to a twenty-five-plus year movie career, he's brought tacky bowling shirts to the forefront of American consciousness, earned a Golden Globe Icon award, and shot his onetime fiance Kelly Preston. Is this enough to warrant an entire radio channel dedicated to the man who describes himself as having a "10,000-year-old brain and the boogers of a 7-year-old"? Apparently Sirius XM certainly thinks so. That's right: the company has announced that Tiger Blood Radio will air for twenty-four hours beginning tomorrow at 6:00 am ET on Sirius channel 108 and XM channel 139. "[C]reated in response to the national conversation sparked by the recent events surrounding actor Charlie Sheen," the company said in a statement, the station "will take listeners behind the headlines, exploring the media frenzy/media reaction, as well as the medical, psychological, psychiatric and pop culture and celebrity angles." This definitely sounds like award winning journalism, and not a cynical way to make a few bucks off someone who's clearly spinning out of control -- Adonis DNA or not. PR after the break.
Teleca working on Android platform for SiriusXM, enabling more Stern on more devices
The details are unfortunately slim on this one, but we have word that satellite radio powerhouse SiriusXM is going Android for at least some of its future mobile offerings. Teleca, a company that works largely behind the scenes developing software for major companies in the mobile and automotive spaces, is peeking its head out from around the edge of the curtain to announce a new platform for SiriusXM based on Android. It will enable support for devices intended for pockets, car dashboards, and home entertainment centers. Sadly, we couldn't get anyone to tell us anything more about those devices, including whether SiriusXM is itself looking to release new hardware or just support more existing solutions, things like Ford's AppLink and Mini Connected. Given the success Pandora has found on that front we'd probably put our money on the latter, but maybe we'll find out which is the safer bet at Mobile World Congress next week.
Sonos nabs streaming support for XM Radio, Lithium listeners start a minor mosh pit
Look, we get it. You sunk $87,342.12 into a Sonos whole-home streaming solution, and your buds won't stop pestering you about its inability to stream XM Radio. Thankfully, the stars have aligned just in time for your impending Super Bowl bash, and it's just about time for you to start fantasizing about what their faces will look like when they're ushered into your adobe by Heart-Shaped Box. Thanks to the eagle-eyed Dave Zatz, it looks as if some sort of final blending has gone down between Sirius and XM, with a merging of accounts (presumably) making it possible for Sonos to now stream XM Radio; if you'll recall, the system has had the ability to stream dedicated Sirius channels for a good while now, but particular XM stations have been left out of the mix prior to this weekend. Hit the source link to find out what password changes are needed to get things in sync, and be sure to try it all out before bragging to said buds -- wouldn't want to eat crow after taking all of that flack, now would you?
