What Products Can We Expect from XM?

Manco · 08-03-2003, 03:38 PM

I like to know what the competition is doing, so can anyone that is following XM more closely than I fill me in on what products we can expect to see an when. Speculation is ok, so long as you label it as such. Concrete info is preferred. For instance, any word on Walkman's, 2nd Gen SKYFi, or improvements in the boombox?

TulaneJeff · 08-03-2003, 03:45 PM

I have no confirmation, but I hear it will be wearable.

The question is when will it be out. This October? Early next year?

Jeff

**DAB** · 08-03-2003, 04:26 PM

There is also rumors of a digital home unit coming out very soon... but nothing cocrete and the person I got that from may not be reliable, so take it with a grain of salt. But you can bet they are working on this and want to get it to market before SIRIUS. I was sure hoping SIRIUS would beat them on the Digital Home Units...

Manco · 08-03-2003, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TulaneJeff

I have no confirmation, but I hear it will be wearable.

The question is when will it be out. This October? Early next year?

Well I guess Sirius would then be behind again. Given the size the the power consumption of these PNP radio's, I'm wondering if they can really get the Gen2 chipset in a wearable radio, or do they need a Gen3.

I've heard rumors that Sirius was going to have a walkman type radio around the end of the year, so is it safe to assume they are working hard on one?

BenDee · 08-03-2003, 04:59 PM

I haven't heard anything about a walkman radio, but I have heard that Sirius is keeping new products under wraps. All that is really known is that they are working on a boombox of some sort, a JVC PNP, and possibly still working on a Sanyo version. The home units are coming out later this year(in 2 months hopefully). No pictures(JVC has had major changes, different from the old pics), and nothing else really let out, unlike the Kenwood/Audiovox PNPs.

TulaneJeff · 08-03-2003, 05:08 PM

XM clearly has perfected the innovation cycle. They announce a new design and it's usually on the shelf within one month.

Sirius' biggest challege going forward will be to debut smaller, more stylish hardware. They could have the next big thing under wraps, but that remains to be seen.

I long for they day when Sirius actually breaks new ground, rather than reacting to and cloning XM's products.

Jeff

Manco · 08-03-2003, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TulaneJeff

I long for they day when Sirius actually breaks new ground, rather than reacting to and cloning XM's products.

Do you think that Sirius's more complex system using S-Plex and possibly moving satellites, makes it more difficult for them to shrink the size? XM's system is based upon a simpler multiplexing scheme, and so may be easier to make smaller and run with less power. Just a thought.

TulaneJeff · 08-03-2003, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manco_lives

Do you think that Sirius's more complex system using S-Plex and possibly moving satellites, makes it more difficult for them to shrink the size? XM's system is based upon a simpler multiplexing scheme, and so may be easier to make smaller and run with less power. Just a thought.

We all know that the Gen1 chips were problematic. They worked, but they were huge and costly.

Gen2 basicly reinvented the chip from the ground up, reducing the size by 100%, as well as power consumption and heat output. The Sirius chips are more complex than XM due to the satellite configuration, S>PLEX, and the huge built-in text capabilities.

The next step would be to do a die-shrink...call it Gen2A or Gen2B. This should be nowhere near as complex as the Gen2 development. It was a huge effort, expensive, but worth it. Definitely not something they would want to do again right away.

We just need to see if the Gen2 chips are flexible and small enough to use them in walkman type devices.

Jeff

Jeff Cobner · 08-04-2003, 12:05 PM

I look forward to the wearable, but wonder how they will work the antenna. Would have to be a dual antenna, one in the head set and one in the top of the box.

Ive tried to spread the work, but both my sirius and sony looks too complicated for most people. Have they considered single channel recievers or a very simple "boom Box" that has a power plug, antenna a power button, channel up and down, and a volume up and down??? Something someone could take out of the box, plug in and use? What about preactivated units on top of that so the person isnt left with needing a credit card, phone or computer?

TulaneJeff · 08-07-2003, 10:42 AM

Well we didn't have to wait long. At first sight, it seems the only advantage it has it size and style. Feature wise it looks pretty close to the Audiovox with the built in FM transmitter and song search, except a cradle is not required.

However size does mean everything; this may be another SkyFi.

Quote:

New, Low Cost "XM Roady" to be Unveiled Mid-September; New Micro Antenna will Also be Available on All XM Radio Products in Third Quarter

This fall, XM and Delphi will unveil the newest product for the car, the Delphi XM Roady. With an MSRP below $120, the device will be the lowest-cost satellite radio product in the industry. Roady is designed to appeal to a younger market segment (18-26 year olds) and features a compact design, ease of installation without professional help, ability to customize the receiver with seven different back-lit color displays and three interchangeable faceplates. Roady also includes "Tune Select" -- built in software that alerts the listener to favorite songs playing on any XM channel.

The new XM Micro Antenna, the smallest satellite radio antenna on the market today, will be included with all new XM products (including Roady) in the third quarter. The fully integrated, low cost antenna with its low profile will make car installations easier and appeal to both retailers and consumers.

Jeff

BenDee · 08-07-2003, 11:03 AM

There is one problem XM could have with the Roady: if they try to market it as a do-it-yourself install, then don't expect to see BB/CC happy to carry it if they are going to get the same margins they do with Skifi and H2A. The way they make their money on Sat Radio right now is in the install, and not in selling the units themselves.

Manco · 08-07-2003, 11:06 AM

Interesting sounding product, but it isn't a PNP from what I understand. I wonder if Sirius can get the small antenna's anytime soon?

**roscoryan** · 08-07-2003, 01:40 PM

Sirius already has a smaller, low-profile antenna with the 2nd gen equipment.

In fact, I find it interesting that after XM fans charge that Sirius clones their products, now they brag because their new "Roady" (a god-awful name IMHO) copies many of the new features Sirius introduced, especially:

Song-seek
Smaller antenna

I think it will be a successful product at that price. Still, it's not ground-breaking as many people expected. They are planning on a Walkman for early 2004. Let's hope Sirius can beat them to it...

BenDee · 08-07-2003, 01:43 PM

Here's what I want to know: did they FINALLY make the antenna one wire?

**DAB** · 08-07-2003, 02:25 PM

All this big news about this secret hardware that is going to blow SIRIUS away and it turns out to be a unit a tad bit smaller than the Skifi with a smaller antenna with all the features that the Audiovox already has. WHOOPIE DOO... The Audiovox maybe larger... but offers SIRIUS subscribers a better display and sound with features over anything they have available to date. The unit is only going to bring them up to snuff. The only advantage is its size and size isn't everything if it sounds like crap and has a poor display. It will be interesting to see.