I've been getting dozens of reports about the first buyers of the Sirius S50 coming across some very unexpected (and disheartening) features, and it's causing a bit of an uproar amongst a few. Apparently the Sirius S50's manual was also updated (DOC file) to reflect these changes as well.

Here's the breakdown of changes that're getting everyone's panties in a bunch over:

• Recordings are limited to a maximum of 1 hour each.
  
• Only shows (yes, that's right only shows - not music) can be saved with a scheduled recording.
• You can record individual songs - not schedule a recording - after the song ends, the recording stops.
  
• Scheduled shows are limited to a maximum of 20 with a maximum of 2 hours per each recorded session.
• If you attempt to schedule more than 20 recordings, you will be prompted to delete an existing scheduled recording or to discard the new recording schedule.

Note that there is a distinction between scheduled recordings and "a la carte" (for lack of a better term) recordings. This definitely seems to have the reek of the RIAA all over it. While no 'official' announcement has been made (why would they?) it looks like the RIAA's stranglehold on the 2006 license renewals has made Sirius implement some last minute concessions to the S50. If that's the case, that really... sucks.

Who knows how this will affect the now delayed Samsung neXus and Dell DJ Satellite?

(Thanks to everyone who sent this in!) 

[via Sirius Backstage]

UPDATE: Sirius has issued a firmware update for the Sirius S50 that fixes a lot of these complaints. 1-hour blocks are now 2-hour blocks, and you can easily make this 4-hours with a simply doubletap.

Here we go again. Senator Ted Stevens once again is talking about imposing indecency regulations on satellite radio. According to Radio & Records, Senator Stevens told a group of broadcasters that he intends to "do his best" to push for restrictions on cable and satellite radio. Fat chance there buddy. There's a little thing called the 1st Amendment you need to be concerned with before you go pandering to your Big Radio buddies. The FCC didn't bite before, so makes you think it'll work this time?

[via Get Sirius Info] 

A trio of proposed bills began circulating this week on Capitol Hill. Legislation that would place recording limitations on portable satellite radio players, handicapping their functionality. The three bills are the “Analog Content Security Preservation Act of 2005” (PDF), the “Broadcast Flag Authorization Act of 2005” (PDF) and the “HD Radio Content Protection Act of 2005.” (link anyone?). Apparently, all were either authored or co-authored by the MPAA and/or the RIAA.

The “Analog Content Security Preservation Act of 2005” is meant to plug the “Analog Hole” (which is when copy protection is lost during conversions from digital to analog and back to digital). But the “HD Radio Content Protection Act of 2005” is the real kicker. It’s funny it’s called the “”HD Radio Content Protection Act” - since it’s also all about crippling the Satellite Radio industry. The HDRCPA is looking to prevent devices like the XM2Go series or the Sirius S50. The record-and-go capabilities of these devices would be outlawed if the bill goes into effect. The proposed bill would amend the law to ensure that devices like the MyFi would be designed to prevent transferring music or other content from the device to the outside world, and would also limit their ability to store content to a few “permitted recording” features.

This is getting ridiculous.