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SiriusXM will pay $210 million to use songs recorded before 1972
Before now, satellite radio company SiriusXM wasn't paying royalties on the catalog recorded before 1972 that it beamed to customers. Today, the company agreed to pay $210 million for those songs, compensating both independent and major record labels for using their material. The settlement comes after ABKCO Music & Records, Capitol Records, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings and Warner Music Group filed a lawsuit against SiriusXM in 2013. Under the terms of the agreement, the satellite radio service can "to reproduce, perform and broadcast" the library of tunes until December 31, 2017 without further payments. This means that tracks from the likes of the Rolling Stones, Gloria Gaynor and many more will be subject to agreements. Why weren't they protected before? Material recorded prior to February 15, 1972 isn't subject to the same protections as songs released after, so streaming services and radio stations weren't required to pay licensing fees.
Nissan and AT&T are connecting more cars, new or old
The New York Auto Show wraps up this weekend, where using technology to keep cars (and the people in them) both safer and more connected is receiving much of the attention. The 2016 Nissan Maxima is launching with new SiriusXM-powered NissanConnect Services that link your car to the network by satellite, paired cellphone or its built-in cellphone connection. In 2013 Nissan announced it's working with AT&T on the package, and AT&T is independently launching a new Car Connection 2.0 plug-in that will put some similar features into anyone's car. It's the same link that keeps Tesla's Model S connected to the cloud and downloading performance-enhancing OTA updates, but now it's coming to more vehicles. Read on to find out exactly what's included, plus a drones-eye view of the NYIAS floor.
YouTube and SiriusXM bring internet hits to satellite radio
Heads up, internet crooners: your tunes just might make the leap from the web to the radio... sort of. YouTube announced earlier this morning that it inked a deal with SiriusXM to bring the streaming video service's new and trending tracks to a new weekly show called the YouTube 15. The show -- which'll air on Sirius' Hits 1 pop station -- will be helmed by YouTube personality Jenna Marbles when it premieres on July 11, but it's only one part of Google's big new music push. Don't forget, it's also preparing to launch subscription-based music features on YouTube, though exactly when that'll happen (or how they'll work) is anyone's guess. The timing is pretty curious though: with a subscription service waiting in the wings, this SiriusXM deal seems well-equipped to get people thinking about YouTube as more than just a repository for cat videos and viral hits. No, it's a place where people actually discover and consume music; Google's going to make sure all of us know that soon enough.
Pure delves deeper into multi-room audio with higher-end Jongo and Evoke systems
Pure first set foot into the multi-room audio space at last year's CES with its frugal Jongo line; in 2014, it's targeting slightly more affluent listeners who would otherwise go for Sonos gear. Its $299 Jongo T4 speaker (above) is reaching the US for the first time, and carries enough oomph at 50W to fill a living room. The $229 Evoke F4 (below), meanwhile, is the company's first internet-savvy radio with Jongo support built-in. There's also a pair of big software upgrades on the way, including SiriusXM streaming (for subscribers) and a developer kit for third-party app support. Both the T4 and F4 reach the US this later this month, while the software should arrive during the first quarter of the year.
Sirius XM and AT&T team up to deliver online services for Nissan cars
AT&T wants every car to be connected, but it needs help; thankfully, Sirius XM is on the same wavelength. The two have reached a deal that will have AT&T supply mobile data for Sirius XM telematics systems in Nissan's North American vehicle lineup. So far, the partnership includes OnStar-like basics such as emergency assistance and theft tracking, although there are hints of "additional services" that'll be unveiled later. We don't yet know when this technology will reach shipping cars, but don't be surprised if the next Altima or Leaf is a little bit smarter in the not-so-distant future.
New Sirius XM CEO considering infotainment, in-car safety offerings
Satellite-based streaming is a successful enough enterprise for the time being, but even the most naive of executives must know that the momentum isn't sure to last. In-car LTE and cheap web-based solutions provide access to millions of tracks on demand, making other options less relevant. Doom and gloom aside, there's still an opportunity to remain afloat, and Sirius XM's new CEO, Jim Meyer, has a plan to diversify his company's portfolio of products. The music would continue to flow, but OnStar-like options would become available as well, according to a Reuters interview with Meyer. Other services, such as weather, realtime gas prices, roadside assistance and stolen car tracking could be implemented with the company's existing satellite infrastructure, and might be offered on a subscription basis down the line. "This is going to take a while," according to the new chief executive, who said that the new products might be implemented in certain 2017 and 2018 vehicles, but likely not sooner. Sadly, he's not talking details just yet, but there may be more to share before the end of next year.
Alpine introduces INE-W927-HD AV and navigation system, Pandora, Sirius and more on a 7-inch touchscreen
Got car, need entertainment. Enter Alpine's INE-W927HD mouthful of a new audio, video and navigation system. The device comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, built-in HD Radio receiver plus Bluetooth. There's also access to the popular Pandora and SiriusXM services, as well as playlist support for iOS and Android audio streaming. Alpine's heritage in this space comes through in the form of an "iPersonalize" system that tunes the sound up based on various factors including vehicle type, number of speakers and even upholstery material. How much for such options? that's $1,200 when it launches sometime this month.
Sirius XM Onyx EZ satellite radio pops up at the FCC
Sirius XM's first Onyx radio showed its face three years ago. For the technology world, that might as well have been eons; that makes it something of a relief to see an update, the Onyx EZ, going through the FCC for approval. The differences that justify the 1950's-era model suffix are tougher to identify, however. Both the current and future Onyx models revolve around superficially identical feature sets that include a PowerConnect FM transmitter to streamline in-car setup, station preset controls and quick access to both traffic and weather. If there's more lurking underneath the EZ, we'll have to wait for an official launch, whether it's at a Las Vegas trade show or later into the year.
Mobile Miscellany: week of October 15th, 2012
If you didn't get enough in mobile news during the week, not to worry, because we've opened the firehose for the truly hardcore. This past week, we received further evidence of an imminent replacement for the Galaxy Nexus and the Optimus 4X HD found a new home in Canada. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride as we explore the "best of the rest" for this week of October 15th, 2012.
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.
Garmin does new in-dash navigation tricks, steers 2013 Dodge and Chrysler models
You won't be able to leap tall structures in one of Chrysler's new cars with Garmin in-dash GPS hardware, but at least you'll be able to see them. 3D buildings and terrain are among the fresh features in the navigators, along with a new UI, trip planner, improved junction view (by a factor of 25), and enhanced routing. The nav company is one of the cogs in Chrysler's Uconnect service, which will roll out in four models next year: the Dodge Journey, Charger and Dart along with Chrysler's 300. Other players in the service are SiriusXM, which provides weather info and entertainment; and Sprint, which shoulders the in-car data workload through its cellular service. Lest you think that all this infotainment will distract you right into the ditch, worry not -- most of the controls are voice activated. If you want a beaming dealer to getcha into one of the new models, the PR is after the break.
Sony unveils in-car receivers with App Remote, taps into your smartphone music from October
Sony has been big on smartphone integration for car audio lately, having already launched its MirrorLink receivers earlier in the year for the more well-heeled drivers among us. The company is bringing that mobile tie-in down to Earth through a new quartet of in-car CD receivers. The MEX-GS600BT, MEX-BT4100P, MEX-BT3100P and CDX-GS500R all bring in App Remote, which lets the faceplate buttons steer local music or Pandora streaming radio coming from Android, BlackBerry, iOS and Walkman devices paired through a Bluetooth wireless link. The old-fashioned USB connection is still on offer for these and the HD Radio-toting CDX-GT710HD, while the whole collection can graft on the optional SXV200V1 tuner to carry the full Sirius XM satellite radio lineup. Differences across the line aren't completely clear from Sony's wording, although both the MEX-GS600BT and CDX-GS500R carry two USB ports as well as 5-volt RCA preamp outputs. You'll be waiting awhile to slip any of these receivers into a DIN slot, regardless of which one you pick: the GS500R ships in October for $199, and the rest hit the shops in November for between $149 to $249. %Gallery-162517%
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.
Pioneer adds two new Elite receivers to its 2012 lineup
Pioneer's 2012 AV receiver lineup is growing by two with the new VSX-42, priced at $450, and the $650 VSX-60. Both feature six HDMI inputs on the back, Ethernet, video scaling, optional Bluetooth ($99) with A2DP, AirPlay, DLNA, Pandora and iOS or Android apps. The VSX-60 sets itself apart with 10 more watts per channel, 7.2 instead of 7.1, optional WiFi and a superior video processor. As if that wasn't enough, the VSX-60 also has an HDMI input up front, is SiriusXM ready and adds a number of video and audio enhancement like Stream Smoother, Advanced Video Adjust and a few others worth reading about in the press release after the jump. With a trend placing the AV receiver at the center of your home theater universe, these Pioneer units have just enough useful features to make us ponder upgrading (still-functional) existing gear.
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.