So some of you have been asking what exactly this new Connect and Play technology from XM Radio really is. I posted the original announcement from CES but really did little to explain the whole deal to many. So here goes.

The photo above is the guts of Connect and Play technology. The chip that makes a receiver an "XM-Ready" receiver. Check out a super-sized version of the XM Connect-and-Play chip photo if you really want to. So when you have an XM-Ready device, you simply need to plug an XM Connect-and-Play home antenna (pictured to your right) into the receiver and activate the service to receive XM's digital radio channels. The XM Connect-and-Play antenna is expected to cost $49.99 (that's MSRP.. it'll probably be cheaper from certain retailers).

Using XM's new-fangled chipset technology as well as their new proprietary chip and signaling protocol, the XM Connect-and-Play antenna is capable of receiving XM's satellite and terrestrial signals as well as channel tuning, decoding and audio transmission. Meaning that the antenna is the only accessory needed to get XM through an XM-Ready audio system. You really don't need any other accessories at all.

The beauty of all this, is the size of the chip. It's tiny. And cheap. Devices that otherwise wouldn't be able to receive satellite radio now can. Such as clock radios, DVD players, or even possibly a.... Skypod . :)

A helpful reader pointed me to the Radio Intelligencer where they have pics of the upcoming Eton / Porsche Design P`7131 Tabletop, the P`7132 Portable, and the E1XM satellite radio units taken at CES 2005.

Here's a great shot of the P'7131 and another shot of the P'7131. Also here's a beautiful photo of the E1XM AM/FM/SW/XM unit (with more here and here) and finally a shot of both the P'7131 and P'7132 together.

Very cool. Love the unique design.

There's still very little information available about the two Porsche Design XM Connect-and-Play equipped receivers; but from the look of those pics I pray that the XM Connect and Play antenna shown is for the "Home" kit (I believe it is), and that the portable/vehicle antennas will be slightly smaller.

We do know of a dedicated section of Eton/Grundig Radio's site for the P'7131 and P'7132 that has the usual marketing copy and a "COMING SOON" display. Once the units have hit stores, I'm sure we'll see that site in all it's glory.

As for a release date for any of these units, all we have to work with is from XM's Q404 Results:

"XM has developed alliances with a number of major consumer electronics manufacturers to launch XM Ready products with the "Connect-and-Play" technology in 2005 and 2006. The first "Connect-and-Play" product from Eton will be available in 60 days."

That was released on February 10th, which would put the 60 days at April 11th, and from what I can gather than that's just for the E1XM unit.

Ahh well, either way, I know I can't afford any of them. But it's nice to look.