Slashdot Mirror
XM Radio Pulls PC Hardware
Didion Sprague writes "News.com is reporting that XM has decided to "quietly discontinue" the XMPCR -- a tiny USB satellite radio receiver for XM radio. Slashdot readers may remember last week's story about TimeTrax -- homebrewed software that allows XMPCR users to automatically record and tag each song. Now, XMPCR receivers are going for almost $400 on ebay. The RIAA, it should be noted, claims that they weren't "behind the discontinuation of the PCR"."
If enough people over a period of time asked if they could hook it up to their computer and decided not to buy when they say no, maybe they would rethink their decision.
But here's the part that gets me... from the Product Information Page http://www.xmradio.com/xmpcr...
"XM PCR Developer Communities:
The XM PCR revolution is in full effect. Across the XM Nation, we're excited to see independent developers creating fantastic new versions of the XM PCR software for a wide range of platforms including Mac OS X, Linux, and Windows. Windows: XtreMe PCR
Macintosh OS X: MacXM
Unix: XMPCR perl scripts
Linux: xmd-xmfe
Did we miss a developer? Let us know if you're developing any PCR software."
Heh. Looks like they missed TimeTrax.
Who else thinks that the seller of that ebay item *may* have had something to do with this post?
I always assumed this was why DJ's talked over the intro to tunes, to mess up anyone recording, lord knows they could save their breath because who cares what DJ's have to say when your tune starts to play (you actually want them to shut the fsck up!)
A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
Can you really call it "going for almost $400" if nobody has actually bid on the item? Sounds more like "profiteers are trying get ridiculous prices like $400"
I'm canceling my XM account.
And um... It had nothing to do with this, or any other screw-ups with XM programming.
I don't get what the fuss is all about... So, it let you download songs? Who's in it's right mind is gonna pay 400$ for a crappy radio that let me download songs? Hello? P2P? If you want to get (illegally) free songs, at least do it for FREE? :)
Eureka Science News - automatically updated
How much will it cost me to have my ebay link posted on the front page? Sure, you can find just about any sucker to buy a product if you show it to enough people; while it may take time, eventually you'll find either a person with too much money, or a person who lacks the ability to comprehend the value of money.
It's "going" for $400 right now, yet there isn't a single bid.
An effective signature identifies a particular user amongst a base of thousands.
Isn't this kinda pointless, customers are paying for this service, it's like hooking up a vcr or tivo to your cable/satellite box and recording your shows (except the software tags the songs for you) I would think this would be a good thing for their service, that is, unless the RIAA asked them too (yea, yea I read the article)
The RIAA, it should be noted, claims that they weren't "behind the discontinuation of the PCR"
Well, maybe not directly, but from XM's perpective, the possible threat of the RIAA coming to get them sure did.
It would be cool if it didn't suck.
First of all, XM are complete pieces of shit for doing this. The XMPCR was the only reason I even bought into satellite radio service in the first place. I use the XM-PCR on my Car PC and listen to it for hours every day.
It's worth noting, though, that the XMPCR is a pretty simple device. It would be incredibly easy to build a DIY one out of any XM radio. Here's why:
XM sells a receiver module to radio manufacturers. Essentially the satellite part of the radio hardware is made by XM and is the same on all units. This module exposes a serial interface (9600 baud TTL level) for control and it outputs digital audio (I forget what format). It's powered on 5V (or 3.3V -- i forget)
Anyway, all the XMPCR has in it is a simple power supply circuit, a USB/Serial converter, a DAC and an antenna jack. All you would have to do to make your own is take the tuner module out of an existing radio and wire it up the same way. You could even use the same USB/Serial converter to make it 100% identical to the regular XMPCR. The serial number (used for activation and whatnot) can be queried out of the module with a command (or taken off the donor radio's label of course).
IMHO the RIAA made XM discontinue the XMPCR ASAP because it didn't have any DRM, IIRC. Now everything's AOK because it's DOA, too bad though, if you want XM'S XMPCR USB thing you SOL.
This could be an opportunity for sirius to get into the game and become actual competition. Sometimes its amazing how a niche product can create a halo over an entire product line.
"Kittens give Morbo gas!"
"In other news, /. editors buy 100,000 XMPCR receivers, publishes story their now worth $400 each and sells them on ebay, retiring as millionaires and outsources /. to India."
my karma will be here long after I'm gone
It looks like they pulled the hardware because of the presumed potential for piracy and they might not have had any legal remedies against. However, if the INDUCE Act had been in force, there would have been a law they could have used to outlaw the software. See, Hatch's Hit List #30 - XM Radio to MP3.
More than likely, they'll announce that existing subscribers will be able to listen to XM via Windows Media Player/Real Player/etc., as Sirius does. Right now, you need another piece of hardware, and another XM subscription.
With my Sirius username/password, I can listen to the music channels on my home PC, and the actual receiver is in my pickup. No comedy or sports, but no extra fee, either. My wife can use it simultaneously, as well.
No, I don't work for Sirius. Honest. I like both XM and Sirius - just speculating on reason ATM.
Now if only I could pick stocks that quintupled in value in 5 days....
The canceling of the PCR is more likely related to the rumored inclusion of a USB port on the soon to be released Skyfi 2. They're not going to shout from the rooftops that they're discontinuing it any more than they advertised the demise of the Roady in favor of the Roady 2. There is no conspiracy here.
Think about it. So-called "time shifting" is (for the moment) legal. They never minded people taping things off the radio. They're mad as hell about people not paying for their music - but radio airplay makes money for them through compulsory fees, not to mention publicity (at least in theory, IANA broadcaster...)
Enter Sirius / XM; the industry still gets money and still gets publicity (perhaps more than before; with all the niche stations and lack of commercials & inane banter, I've been tempted to subscribe...) And more people are willing to PAY FOR MUSIC because of this service - just not the $18 or so they want 'em to pay.
So if the RIAA is behind the move to get rid of the XMPCR, what do they expect? That a lot of the people who subscribe will continue to pay for XM, AND pay for a copy of the CD, AND pay another couple of bucks for a "legal" version for their portable player once it becomes illegal or impossible to rip it yourself ... And of course piracy is a perfect excuse^H^H^H^Hplanation for why XM will lose subscribers from this.
Screw this XMPCR crap. I want that little silver car that the XM office geek drives into his high-rise office building. Who needs a chic, cheap computer-based XM receiver when you can friggin' drive your cool little car right up to your cubicle?
Did I mention that NO ONE from this guy's office bitched about him driving that little car through the hall and cutting them off at the elevator?
What about the hot chick in the left of the elevator that's eyeing his little silver car? Schwing! With the XMPCR, chicks'll just give you looks like, "That's gadget geek from the mail room or accounting, right? So sad -- look how he cradles his laptop and that weird mouse." No -- she'd be asking for a lift down to cubicle area 37 on the 11th floor -- chauffeur style.
And damn -- talk about being able to take a break. You don't have to walk the three blocks at 12:30pm for your half hour lunch/nap in the car just to listen to the XM radio and justify the cost of the service. And remember -- it'd be THAT radio you'd be carrying those three blocks along with a laptop if you had the XMPCR. Hell no! With the silver XM car, you'd just walk out of your cubicle, open up the cooler in the trunk, grab your ham sandwich and chips, and lay down in the back seat.
Hell -- if your boss DOES bitch about you blocking the aisles betweens cubes 45 and 46, you can just "accidentally" back over him and drag his body under your cubicle desk before anyone notices. The XM radio in the car can be turned up to drown out his dying scream. And, if he's still alive, you can beat him over the head with that XM jukebox that they show in the commercial -- you know you'd have one if you had the cool XM car!
If you had that piddly XMPCR and your boss bitched about the music, what would you do? Strangle him with the USB cord? Hell no. He may be your lame ass boss, but he does get to the company gym for the executives while you ride on the shitty subway home with your XMPCR that gets looks from thieves on the train. What exercise have you had while he's been at the gym, eh? He's take that USB cord and strangle YOUR ass!
Yeah -- screw that overpriced XMPCR -- I want the silver XM car!
IronChefMorimoto
Netpliance and the iOpener
The original hack required someone to fabricate a hard-drive bracket and cable, plus solder a 40-pin IDE header to the board. Then they tried to stop it and the real fun began.
Netpliance locked out the BIOS. So people started sharing old BIOS images, then somebody had to open up their unit, pull the flash, reflash it in a programmer, then reassemble.
Netpliance then started epoxying the BIOS into the socket. So then people wrote a QNX flash program.
Netpliance then started sending the Cease and Desist letters. Somebody wrote a webpage with an embedded QNX flash applet. No screwdriver required... just point it's built in web-browser at a URL.
--Rob
...so it's available to everyone who doesn't scroll down to read everything.
. html
Has everyone forgotten the other two members of the triumvirate for finding things geek?
(eBay, PriceWatch, Froogle).
As I note in a later message, there are completed eBay auctions in the previous five days or so via Buy It Now! for $29.99, $29.99, $40. That's less than what everyone's discussing.
PriceWatch has nothing listed - just remember it for future use.
Froogle, which everyone seems to overlook, seems to have an interesting outlook on XMPCR.
Just remember:
________________________________________
My Trunk Monkey can beat up your Trunk Monkey.
http://www.suburbanautogroup.com/ford/trunkmonkey
Everyone's been assuming that this is in response to TimeTrax. People seem to be forgetting that this has been available for some time (along with other, similar software). Also note that the XMPCR was on super-duper clearance in some places ($15 at XMFan.com a few weeks back, though w/out antenna).
The general buzz on the XM message boards is that XM Radio was planning to discontinue the XMPCR for some time, and it just became evident (clearance sales, retail channels drying up, etc.) right about the same time as the software concerns hit the radar.
I mean, really -- could a big company like XM really decide to pull a piece of hardware from the market on only a day's notice? (the TimeTrax software and initial rumors of XMPCR being pulled happened on the same day). There's also been talk of a USB port on new cradles (which may or may not have been recently nixed, depending on your paranoia settings).
And anyway, the XMPCR was never a big seller for them. Only available from online merchants, it was originally a cheap way for someone to get XM (since they didn't need to sell any controls or displays). Now, the prices have come down (my SkiFi with cradle cost $200, a Roady2 with free home cradle is $100), so they don't need the bottom-end as much any longer.
So, yes, it's possible there was some RIAA pressure, and it's possible XM decided on their own to avoid the RIAA, but if so, that was probably only the last straw -- I would not be surprised if they'd made this decision 6 months ago.