- Related Stories
-
Apple to return 'piracy tax' to iPod buyers
August 9, 2005 -
Ford vehicles about to get Sirius radios
August 1, 2005 -
Digital music is going mobile
July 26, 2005
The S50 is designed to let people record, store and play up to 50 hours of satellite radio programming and music files, the company said Thursday. A home dock or a car dock--the latter is bundled with the player--is needed to record the programming or play live shows. Measuring 1.9 inches by 3.9 inches by 0.7 inches, the player features a color display and voice-assisted channel navigation.
Sirius is one of the numerous companies trying to make a dent in the digital music market, which is currently dominated by Apple Computer's iPod.
The S50 is set to start shipping in October for $359. The price includes a car dock.
Content can be recorded and stored in different sections such as "My Sirius channels," which automatically gathers programming from a person's three most-listened-to channels.
"My Sirius songs" lets people save their favorite music, while the "scheduled record" feature can be used to capture favorite shows on a one-time or recurring basis. Playlists can also be created with MP3/WMA files by connecting the home dock to a PC.
See more CNET content tagged:
Sirius,
Sirius Satellite Radio Inc.,
satellite radio,
portable music player,
programming
waiting for a wearable device from Sirius for a while now. This
thing just costs too much money. I get way too nervous carrying
something around with me that I can't afford to replace if I break it
accidentally.
waiting for a wearable device from Sirius for a while now. This
thing just costs too much money. I get way too nervous carrying
something around with me that I can't afford to replace if I break it
accidentally.
The "wearable" antenna that is required is ridiculous. Also, how
is one supposed to listen on the subway, or in a building unless
you have recorded a god deal of content?
As it is, I can record on my MiFi, plug into my Mac and download
onto my iPod.
Not much here to give the iPod a run for the money. But these
devices are a good first step toward a product that will be truly
desirable in about 5-7 years.
The "wearable" antenna that is required is ridiculous. Also, how
is one supposed to listen on the subway, or in a building unless
you have recorded a god deal of content?
As it is, I can record on my MiFi, plug into my Mac and download
onto my iPod.
Not much here to give the iPod a run for the money. But these
devices are a good first step toward a product that will be truly
desirable in about 5-7 years.
Motorola's readying another new cellphone to pick up whatever website you want to listen/stream from - about 25,000+ radio sites available worldwide. More choices coming soon, for lots less money.
Motorola's readying another new cellphone to pick up whatever website you want to listen/stream from - about 25,000+ radio sites available worldwide. More choices coming soon, for lots less money.
Also, being forced to leave it at home in order to get content while I am out and about defeats the entire purpose of having a PORTABLE receiver!!! This is nothing more than an MP3 recorder with an enormous price tag. And a weak one, at that. You may think that fifty hours is a lot of recording time, but that is where you are fooled. They just lower the bitrate. Weak.
Here is what you should do. Get a little 512 MB MP3 player. Get a 50 dollar sirius receiver. Plug the receiver in at home and record directly to your PC audio card to your hard drive. Take your MP3 player with you, loaded with the files you recorded while you were out last time. Then, when you get home, save the old files to your hard drive if you wish and load the MP3 player with new ones.
Bonuses to this plan? Here they are:
1.) You save about $400.00 on docking stations and overpriced, weak, proprietary gear.
2.) You get a really nice MP3 player out of the deal, and the fifty dollar receiver will work just fine for your car, since it has a built-in FM transmitter.
3) Your MP3 player will also have an FM receiver so that you can tell what is going on in the real-time world around you while your satellite receiver is at home recording the content you want.
4.) You get to KEEP the content that you record for later personal use as MP3 files.
This is a total piece of junk. Don't believe in cute little things with falsely represented bells and whistles. It's a joke. I have been in touch with SIRIUS developers, and they were assuring me that a true portable unit was on the way. What they delivered is another useless item with an enormous price tag.
I am sure that I am going to hear comments like, "Would rather hear a review from someone who has used the item", but there is no need for that. I am not commenting on the useability of the item. I am talking about the horrible lack of design foresight that has been exhibited by SIRIUS yet again in the area of portable hardware. Just another bad call. I am getting SIRIUS, the programming is great. But I am going to be smart about how I get the programming, and how I keep the price tag under 150 bucks for truly functional hardware. Sad. Sad. Sad.
Yours Truly,
Lord
Also, being forced to leave it at home in order to get content while I am out and about defeats the entire purpose of having a PORTABLE receiver!!! This is nothing more than an MP3 recorder with an enormous price tag. And a weak one, at that. You may think that fifty hours is a lot of recording time, but that is where you are fooled. They just lower the bitrate. Weak.
Here is what you should do. Get a little 512 MB MP3 player. Get a 50 dollar sirius receiver. Plug the receiver in at home and record directly to your PC audio card to your hard drive. Take your MP3 player with you, loaded with the files you recorded while you were out last time. Then, when you get home, save the old files to your hard drive if you wish and load the MP3 player with new ones.
Bonuses to this plan? Here they are:
1.) You save about $400.00 on docking stations and overpriced, weak, proprietary gear.
2.) You get a really nice MP3 player out of the deal, and the fifty dollar receiver will work just fine for your car, since it has a built-in FM transmitter.
3) Your MP3 player will also have an FM receiver so that you can tell what is going on in the real-time world around you while your satellite receiver is at home recording the content you want.
4.) You get to KEEP the content that you record for later personal use as MP3 files.
This is a total piece of junk. Don't believe in cute little things with falsely represented bells and whistles. It's a joke. I have been in touch with SIRIUS developers, and they were assuring me that a true portable unit was on the way. What they delivered is another useless item with an enormous price tag.
I am sure that I am going to hear comments like, "Would rather hear a review from someone who has used the item", but there is no need for that. I am not commenting on the useability of the item. I am talking about the horrible lack of design foresight that has been exhibited by SIRIUS yet again in the area of portable hardware. Just another bad call. I am getting SIRIUS, the programming is great. But I am going to be smart about how I get the programming, and how I keep the price tag under 150 bucks for truly functional hardware. Sad. Sad. Sad.
Yours Truly,
Lord
I am thinking about buying it.....
- I understand, but
-
by douglasfenton
December 3, 2005 8:52 AM PST
- If you spend 150 for a radio and iPod - you have saved 100 - I have a iPod - to create new play lists are very time consuming - I wish the iPod had a play next feature - or a way to create play list while on the road..... If the S50 automaticlly rec new mixes of music - then it is worth something..... I do wish it was a true portable - but if you read the reviews on the XM portables - everyone tells you that they have reception problems and the quility of the music is not the best... Perhaps the s50 fixes these 2 things, at the expense of not being portable....
-
Like this
Reply to this comment
-
(14 Comments)I am thinking about buying it.....