XM to Launch Satellite Radio Handheld?

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XM to Launch Satellite Radio Handheld?

Posted by michael on Friday October 22, 2004 @04:52AM from the jogging-to-the-beat-of-a-different-drummer dept.

g00set writes "Reuters is reporting 'XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc next week is expected to unveil a "wearable" device, marking the satellite radio industry leader's latest effort to woo audiences to the nascent format, analysts said.' In adddition, 'A radio industry executive said the device was believed to be a satellite-radio receiver with headphones that also had a hard drive enabling users to download XM content.'" There have been other rumors of this as well.

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here are some pictures!!! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-10-22 05:00 · Score: 4, Informative

http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=3164

This does not look dorky, there really doesn't appear to be room for a harddrive (ignorant industry exec!), the antenna is integrated in the headphones, and it's actually just an accessory for the Roady2 XM receiver.
*yawn* by Misch · 2004-10-22 05:04 · Score: 5, Informative

Sirius already has a handheld unit, the XACT receiver.

How small?
This small.

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--You will rephrase your request for me to go to hell. Goto statements are not acceptable programming constructs
1. Re:*yawn* by Misch · 2004-10-22 05:38 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  There's no reason to be such an ass when pointing out an error.
  
  There is a handheld power unit that goes with it.
  
  It looks something like this.
  
  And if I get modded to -1, you're going the same way, as it is not a "farking car module". Troll.
  
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  --You will rephrase your request for me to go to hell. Goto statements are not acceptable programming constructs
Re:As an FM guy and XM subscriber... by SirDaShadow · 2004-10-22 05:13 · Score: 4, Informative

Actually, after a few minutes of googling, I stand corrected. XM uses AAC with SBR at 64kbps. The "SBR" part is what makes it "mp3pro-like".
Re:Wearable != handheld. by aelbric · 2004-10-22 05:22 · Score: 4, Informative

This is not entirely incorrect.

I have logged 40000 miles in my car with XM and have noticed the following:

Bridges: no problem
Parking deks: no problem
Tunnels: problem, but how long do you spend in tunnels

As far as indoors:
Home, Brick(portable device): no problem
Office: Can be iffy if mobile and dead spots can be encountered. But where it works I would not want to be without it.

The service is fantastic I would recommend it to anyone. Small price to pay to get real music choice and almost no commercial interruption.

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nos laetus epulor qui would domito nos
Re:As an FM guy and XM subscriber... by DAldredge · 2004-10-22 05:23 · Score: 4, Informative

You do know this is a one way service and the bandwidth issue comes from the adding of channels, not the adding of subscribers. Don't you?
Re:Why? by skydude_20 · 2004-10-22 05:29 · Score: 4, Informative

No, none, zip, zilch commercials, just music (at least with Sirus, they're getting there with XM). And your favorite station is the same station no-matter where you are in the country.

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