XM Satellite Radio:
The new XM/MP3 players garnering the most interest at the Consumer Electronics Show were the Pioneer Inno ($399.99) and Samsung Helix ($399.99), both of which should be available in the first quarter of this year. Each of these players has a built-in satellite antenna which will generally require no external connection to pick up a satellite signal, measures 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches and weighs approximately 4.5 ounces.
The Inno and Helix share the same feature set, which includes the ability to listen to any of XM’s over 160 channels of digital programming, record and store up to 50 hours of XM programming for later enjoyment, “tag” songs heard on XM and purchase them later online as downloadable digital audio files from online service XM + Napster, play MP3 and WMA music files transferred over from a PC and a color display.
Other features of the Inno and Helix will include creating playlists of songs which mix recorded XM music and MP3/WMA files, a built-in FM transmitter for broadcasting music stored on the player over a FM radio, on screen stock and sports tickers and “presets” for quickly accessing favorite XM channels.
Also announced in the realm of portable satellite radio players were two new models from Samsung which can play as well as record XM programming, when placed in a special docking station, for later on the go enjoyment. The Helix players offer up either 25 hours ($199.99) or 50 hours ($249.99) of recorded XM material playback. Features on the Helix players, which will be available around the same time as the previously mentioned devices, include playback of MP3 and WMA music files, FM transmission of stored programming for playback on a FM radio, “tagging” of songs heard on XM for later purchase through the online XM + Napster music service and the ability to create playlists which mix XM recorded content and MP3/WMA music files.