This is by no means a complete report but here are more interesting things to note....
The unit itself is VERY nice!! The screen is awesome, the graphics for the channels are great. The unit is very light and portable!
With respect to recording content....
1) The maximum time you can set to schedule a program is 2 hours. I did try to set two shows back to back for 2 hours each just to make sure it lets you do it...and it does.
2) When you hit the "love" button it does start recording the song that you are on, but if you just changed to that channel it prompts you as to whether you want to record a partial song or not. If you have been on that channel and are in the middle of the song when you hit the "love" button it picks up the recording from the beginning of the song.
3) It will NOT let you schedule a recording on the music channels.(MOD EDIT - This feature has been fixed, and recording of music channels is allowed) I tried to set a 2 hour recording on Hits 1 and the prompt came up to say that it was not allowed. I tried this with other music channels as well, and it would not allow it.
4) There is a nice woman's voice that reads out every channel you turn to (this can be turned off). But I did have the unit on next to my Sirius Starbase and noticed that the S50 was a second or two behind the other unit. When I turned off the woman's voice I noticed that it does cover up a bit of the lag when switching between channels. I'm not sure why there is more lag time when changing the channels, but it may have to do with being able to record content.
These are my quick observations...I'm happy to answer questions if people have any.
That can't be right about not be able to schedule recording on a music channel - that would defeat the purpose of the unit - how will people record mix shows or interviews or special shows/countdowns. And the PC software is supposedly designed to let you pick songs from a scheduled block of music that you have recorded so you can remove the songs you don't want and keep the ones you do? I am very confused - why on earth would you not be able to schedule a recording on a music channel??? And also - the scheduled recording was to supposed to be in 4 hour blocks for Howard. What gives?? Maybe you need the Home Dock to do some of these things??? This can't be the way it's supposed to be.
Also - because I was so excited to get this unit - just ordered today from Crutchfield, that it would be extremely misleading if you cannot schedule recordings on a muisc channel because nowhere at any time did anyone from Sirius or anyone else ever say that it could only schedule recordings on non-music channels. Please let us know what you find out.
With the S50 Manual came a 1 pg. sheet titled "S50 Manual Update"
Among other typos and changes....
The recording features for the unit were updated after the manual was printed....
Here is the updated language...
Quote:
Page 63, Saving Songs and Shows with a Scheduled Recording
"Only shows may be saved with a scheduled recording. Scheduled recordings are limited to a maximum of 20, with a maximum of 2 hours per each recording session."
It looks like the software was changed to prevent scheduled recording of the music channels and adjusted to only allow 2 hours of recording per session. Like I said a workaround for the 2 hour limit is to set two recordings back to back...but not being able to schedule a recording on the music channels is a VERY disappointing development.
That's dissapointing about the scheduled shows not allowing music programs to be recorded. Many a First-Waver here will agree that "Party Out of Bounds" on Friday nights is worth listening to all week.
"Only shows may be saved with a scheduled recording. Scheduled recordings are limited to a maximum of 20, with a maximum of 2 hours per each recording session."
It looks like the software was changed to prevent scheduled recording of the music channels.
Based on what you are reading it does appear that the firmware was changed only to allow the recording of shows. But what if that show happens to be on a music channel? You can only record on talk, sports and entertainment channels?
This sounds like something they did to please RIAA, but I thought there big deal was recording individual songs?
Say you record several songs, can you fast forward and rewind within the song or does it only fast forward or rewind between songs? In other words if I hit fast forward does it go to the next song or does it just forward some through the song or maybe you can do both?
This not allowing you to record on music channels is REALLY bumming me out!
That's dissapointing about the scheduled shows not allowing music programs to be recorded. Many a First-Waver here will agree that "Party Out of Bounds" on Friday nights is worth listening to all week.
I was hoping to schedule a recording of some of the weekend countdown shows (Alt. Nation, Hits 1 etc.) to listen to.
Based on what you are reading it does appaear that the firmware was changed only to allow the recording of shows. But what if that show happens to be on a music channel? You can only record on talk, sports and entertainment channels?
This sounds like something they did to please RIAA, but I thought there big deal was recording individual songs?
Say you record several songs, can you fast forward and rewind within the song or does it only fast forward or rewind between songs? In other words if I hit fast forward does it go to the next song or does it just forward some through the song or maybe you can do both?
What they have done is prevented SCHEDULED recording on the music channels. You can still record individual songs, and fast forward and rewind through the songs, but you will have to be there to hit the "love" button for each song to record.
I would also assume that if you are listening to a special show or concert on one of the music channels and the on-screen name stays the same throughout the show you will be able to record the whole thing...but you will have to manually start the recording...and according to the updated S50 Manual it will only record for 1 hour.
I would also assume that if you are listening to a special show or concert on one of the music channels and the on-screen name stays the same throughout the show you will be able to record the whole thing...but you will have to manually start the recording.
When you hit the love button does it just record that one song and stop, or do you manually have to stop it? I assume it automatically stops.
What about this thing about is continously recording your 3 favorite channels? Where does that come into play?
I am wondering if you can fast forward and rewind withing a recorded block or not?
Technically - Invasion on Area 33 for example is a show and says Invasion on the display the whole time - there are no individual song names. Same for BBC1 mix shows like Dance Anthems, can these be recorded??? And if not, they should be. Also, doesn't the MyFi allowed scheduled recording on music channels?? I know its only 5 hours but how come that is OK???
When you hit the love button does it just record that one song and stop, or do you manually have to stop it? I assume it automatically stops.
It records just that song and stops.
Quote:
What about this thing about is continously recording your 3 favorite channels? Where does that come into play?
My unit has not done it yet...but according to the manual...
"My Sirius Channels consists of three playlists which are automatically created and contain songs or comedy from the three music and/or comedy channels to which you listen the most. Content from these channels are stored in playlists named after the channel names, for example, My Octane, My Bluegrass, My Hip-Hop Nation, etc. You may save any content by using the "love" button while you are listening to the content. Content in the My Sirius Channels cannot be browsed as a list.
Quote:
I am wondering if you can fast forward and rewind withing a recorded block or not?
I believe you will be able to fast forward and rewind within a recorded block.
Technically - Invasion on Area 33 for example is a show and says Invasion on the display the whole time - there are no individual song names. Same for BBC1 mix shows like Dance Anthems, can these be recorded??? And if not, they should be. Also, doesn't the MyFi allowed scheduled recording on music channels?? I know its only 5 hours but how come that is OK???
I believe those can be recorded...but only manually...you can't schedule a recording for those. I don't know about the MyFi.
Also on the S50 Manual Update Page it states...
Quote:
Page 54, Saving a Show
The first sentence in the Notes section should read, "Recordings are limited to a maximum of 1 hour each."
This was updated from previously allowing it to record 4 hours.
So, even if you manually begin a recording, it will only record for 1 hour.
That makes no sense. Basically - the unit can schedule itself to record blocks from your three favorite muisc channels - but you personally cannot. Someone please tell me I am going insane??
This is by no means a complete report but here are more interesting things to note....
The unit itself is VERY nice!! The screen is awesome, the graphics for the channels are great. The unit is very light and portable!
With respect to recording content....
1) The maximum time you can set to schedule a program is 2 hours. I did try to set two shows back to back for 2 hours each just to make sure it lets you do it...and it does.
2) When you hit the "love" button it does start recording the song that you are on, but if you just changed to that channel it prompts you as to whether you want to record a partial song or not. If you have been on that channel and are in the middle of the song when you hit the "love" button it picks up the recording from the beginning of the song.
3) It will NOT let you schedule a recording on the music channels. I tried to set a 2 hour recording on Hits 1 and the prompt came up to say that it was not allowed. I tried this with other music channels as well, and it would not allow it.
4) There is a nice woman's voice that reads out every channel you turn to (this can be turned off). But I did have the unit on next to my Sirius Starbase and noticed that the S50 was a second or two behind the other unit. When I turned off the woman's voice I noticed that it does cover up a bit of the lag when switching between channels. I'm not sure why there is more lag time when changing the channels, but it may have to do with being able to record content.
These are my quick observations...I'm happy to answer questions if people have any.
Is there any chance that you can post any working pictures...?
S50 Reviews and Comments Vol I (Read Only)
Linear Mode
