Galaxy NationExplore the other side of the universe. Discuss AM/FM, XM, DISH, DirecTV, HD Radio, and all mp3 players. Here you can also discuss the ins and outs of tomorrow's radio technology...where music and satellites collide. Who said it's not rocket science?!?
And XM has it's own R&D team in-house, which is a huge advantage.
I still don't see the huge deal about the Roady and the Commander. Sure, they'll have their nitch for the low-priced market. I don't find either unit particularily attractive, and to me they are just copying the features Sirius has already introduced on the Audiovox Shuttle.
They'll give XM even more of an advantage in hardware, but they are NOT killer apps. Sirius can overcome them, if they have the will.
__________________
Visit the NEW community for all things Digital Radio, including SIRIUS:
Neither of them are killer....but it is just another example of XM getting more products to the marketplace.
The more products out there, the more shelf space they will take up. They will appear to be the more established company.
They will give people more choice between products!
The problem is they are copying the features of the Shuttle, but when you walk into the store and XM's products are in one small box while the Audiovox is in 2 big boxes, the shuttle just doesn't look as desirable.
Unfortunately I have to agree with you. XM is more established.
That is true that those products are only for the car.
The big question is how far away is a new PNP unit for XM? Delphi proves they can get products out there fast! It may not be far behind.
Sirius announced that they made a deal with JVC on their 2nd Quarter CC.
I thought we might see some good new products from them.
I e-mailed JVC last week and this was the response I got.
RESPONSE FROM JVC:
We would like to thank you for your recent e-mail inquiry to JVC.
We are sorry but we have no information on when and if JVC will be manufacturing Mobile Audio products with Satellite radio.
If you require further assistance please contact the JVC Customer Relations department directly at 1-800-252-5722.
An agent will be available to take your call from 9AM to 10PM Eastern Time 7 days a week.
I don't think that XM will have a new PNP anytime soon. They are too focused on the "Walkman" product.
Which begs me to ask, what is the big deal about a Walkman? Sure, it would be small, but what practicality would such a product have? What person would sign up for satellite radio, just so they could listen to it during their 45-minute evening jog?
As far as JVC goes, they've given some specs on their PNP, and they also had a prototype at the 2003 CES Show. I would not expect an entry-level customer service person to know much about it. Here is a past topic with some info:
do you remember when cars didn't have cd players, and people would hook up a portable discman with a car adaptor in the tape deck?
they could make something like that. it could have recharable batteries that charge through the cigarette lighter and you can pull it in and out of the car.
it would basically be a more portable pnp unit with its own power supply and some different kind of antenna. then you have a walkman that also works in the car!
While I agree that the Roady and Commander will not be SIRIUS killer hardware, they will give XM a big advantage in many ways. One is size as most of us know the common complaint with the Audiovox Shuttle is its size. These smaller units make putting XM in your vehicle much less an eye soar (in some folks view of them), plus the installation will be a snap, not to mention the low cost and no need to buy cradles etc.
There is little doubt in my mind that SIRIUS needs to do more in regards to hardware if they are going to continue to compete with XM on that front. The Kenwood H2A and Shuttle are nice, but both were long overdue and simple gave SIRIUS hardware to be able to get in the game, then XM brings it to the next level. Where is SIRIUS? More than likely several, several months behind with anything even close to this size equipment and totally dependent on Kenwood, Audiovox, Clarion and JVC. Its truly not a good place to be in my estimation.
All of this can be overcome, but with current SIRIUS management, I really have my concerns. They seem more interested in Video and selling out. I don't like Joe Clayton and I think he is killing SIRIUS. JM2C
Which begs me to ask, what is the big deal about a Walkman?
That is exactly how I feel. I have zero interest in a satellite walkman product, but apparently there are people that feel quite strongly about it... (shrug)
All of this can be overcome, but with current SIRIUS management, I really have my concerns. They seem more interested in Video and selling out. I don't like Joe Clayton and I think he is killing SIRIUS. JM2C
I feel the same way. When I saw the hype (at CES?) that Sirius had for video I was like, WHY? At this early stage, why not focus on providing AUDIO. Don't waste bandwidth proving video or any other crap, focus on improving audio quality and/or audio streams. It goes back to my mantra, "just because you can, doesn't mean you should."
My father works for the post office and said he would buy on a Sirius walkman. He loves Sirius He always listens to my Kenwood H2A during my weekend cookout.
XM Hurting us with Roady/Commander
Linear Mode
