Integrating directly with your sat-ready car stereo meant the need for both a tuner-box and a smart adapter/cable. If you upgraded your car stereo, chances are you needed to get a new adapter.

That is, until now.

Introducing the XM Direct 2. Shipping now and available for an MSRP price of $129.99, the XM Direct 2 is a fully upgradeable (“flashable”) solution. In other words, it'll never become obsolete.

The XM Direct 2 supports more than 100 car stereos just by flashing the software via the USB port. Simply download and update to the latest software. And as the latest head unit technology continuously evolves and new manufacturers add XM capability to their radios, you'll be good to go.

Now most people generally aren't up to flashing, wiring and installing tuners, which is why professional install is recommended. But the reality nowadays is that many people are opting for professional installs anyway. For folks who want to have a clean XM installation with the most flexibility, this is truly the way to go.

The XM Direct 2 also has an expansion port, allowing you to connect other devices like CD Changers or iPod adapters right into it.

Oh and one more thing, it's not a static built-in tuner anymore either. The XM Direct 2 rocks out now with the XM Mini-Tuner cartridge (about the size of a 9-volt battery). Pop it out, and your XM subscription can go with you from your car to your pocket instantly.

For most people car stereos should be heard, not seen. If you want a clean install, with absolute flexibility and portability, your wait is over.

XM has launched the XM CommanderMT, which we first saw earlier this year at CES 2007. The seamless in-dash XM radio will work with any car stereo and will be available at retail later this month.

Manufactured by Audiovox, the CommanderMT is an all-in-one package styled to seamlessly integrate into any vehicle's dash and will work with any car stereo, regardless of make, brand, or year. The clean and sleek unit seems generally targeted at people who wish to retain their current car stereo (be it a stock or aftermarket headunit), but who also want to maintain a "stock look" in their vehicle.

The CommanderMT features a large, easy to read, four-line display and easy to use tuning knob for selecting and changing channels. The radio offers quick channel navigation with up to 30 favorite channel presets, or you can just enter and move directly to the channel you want.

The "MT" part of course refers to the portable XM Mini-Tuner, which is a removable cartridge containing the XM subscription. So with the CommanderMT, you retain the clean look on your dash, but still have the portability of a Plug-and-Play.

CommanderMT will MSRP for $179.99, and XM has a product page up here.

Check out more pics after the jump... 

Introducing the Yamaha RX-V861. For a mere $1,000, the RX-V861 provides yummy goodness like auto speaker calibration, multizone operation, HD video upscaling and deinterlacing, 1080p-compatible HDMI, and iPod compatibility all at 105 watts per channel.

Oh, and it's XM Ready with what appears to be XM Connect-and-Play (...not XM Mini-Tuner?). The RX-V861 also sports XM HD Surround. So you can rock out to XM Pops and Fine Tuning with six channels of digital full fidelity audio, powered by Neural Audio technology.

Available in May 2007. 

[Product Page via Crave] 

Onkyo has debuted several new tuners today at a press event, including four tuners that support both Sirius and XM, and two new tuners that combined Sirius, XM and HD Radio capabilities in one.

The Onkyo T-4555P combines Sirius, XM and HD Radio in one for only $499. Gizmodo (who also happens to have a photo of the sexy little thing) says the T-4555P is scheduled to ship "soon" which sources tell us is much earlier than "later."

Meanwhile Engadget brings to light the Onkyo TX-SR575, TX-SR705, TX-SR805, and TX-SR875 tuners that all support Sirius and XM, as well as the top-of-the-line TX-NR905 which packs the Sirius/XM/HD Radio combo. Pricing ranges between $899 and $2099.

[Gizmodo and Engadget via Sirius Uplink]

It looks like Sony has unveiled some high-end home integration audio / video equipment at the International Builders Show this week.

At the top of the line is the Sony NHS-3030. It provides audio and video entertainment in up to 13 rooms, incorporating an ES A/V receiver and six sources. These include a DVD manager with 400-disc changer (yikes), along with a music storage and a management server. The remaining sources range from XM Satellite Radio to secondary DVD players (in case you have more than 400 DVDs you want to access). Up to three additional HD or standard-definition components can be added to the system.

Sony's NHS-2030 and NHS-1030 have similar capabilities, including XM support, just with less rooms (6 rooms instead of 13). Your content is either navigated on your TV, or through LCD touchscreens or wall remotes.

At the bottom of the ladder is the Sony NHS-330, which gives you A/V support in up to 3 rooms, each with independent volume control. The NHS-330 includes an ES system, and three sources - which can be anything from XM Satellite Radio to a DVD changer.

Cost? Oh right, these badboys will run you only $10,000 to $50,000 (that's installed, thankfully). You better start saving your lunch money kids, because they're expected to be available this Spring. 

[Product Announcement via Engadget]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

The boys at CNET have given the XM Mini-Tuner a thorough once over and the verdict is, well, generally good.

As CNET points out, the big deal with the XM Mini-Tuner is that your subscription is no longer tied to a single device. Sure you can use a plug-and-play, but there's wires and kooky docking stations involved with such a setup. The Mini-Tuner solves this issue.

CNET also highlights that the XM Mini-Tuner is in it's 3rd iteration of a name, having gone from the XM Passport, to the XM Pass and finally resting on the XM Mini-Tuner. (Side note: it was rumored that the name change from "Passport" was due to a disagreement with the guys at Escort, though there's no official word on that.)

What CNET doesn't like - and I have to agree with - is that the XM Mini-Tuner, while tiny in the world of satellite radio, is a behemoth when measured against items like the clip-on iPod shuffle and itsy-bitsy MicroSD cards. Of course, those don't do nearly as much as the Mini-Tuner does - but some geeky consumers may wrinkle their noses at it. And even though it's still ridiculously small, it's not small enough to enable devices like the iPod to receive XM.

They also bring up the fact that the XM Mini-Tuner right now doesn't really have too many compatible devices on the market right now. Another issue, albeit a temporary one, is that some of the early-gen XM Mini-Tuner capable devices will require a small dongle (wow, haven't heard the term "dongle" since 1990). They are quick to point out that newer devices will have a built-in slot (like the drool-inducing Jensen NVXM1000 GPS - I want one).

Overall they gave it a 7.7 rating. Is that a fair rating? You tell me.

[CNET] 

The Audiovox DV7600XM is a 600-Watt 5.1 Dolby Home Theater System with a XM Mini-Tuner docking station.

It provides an impressive audio show, supported by five satellite speakers and a passive subwoofer. Perfect product for anyone buying a home theater system and with the added mobility of the XM Mini-Tuner, you can take your XM subscription with you.

The DV7600XM XM Mini-Tuner Home Theater System will go for an MSRP price of $159.95.

The Audiovox DS7000XM is a stand-alone docking station for the XM Mini-Tuner. XM programming is played out through the detachable speakers at 4-watts output power.

Digital volume control and signal strength are shown on an LCD display and the user can tune all XM program categories manually using arrow keys.

The Audiovox DS7000XM will go for an MSRP price of $119.95.

XM Satellite Radio has scored big in Popular Science's Best of Whats New 2006 Awards.

First the Pioneer Inno, which won in the Gadgets category, alongside the Sony Reader PRS-500 which won the Grand Award for the category. Then the XM Mini-Tuner won in the Home Entertainment category, alongside Grand Award winner the Nintendo Wii.

The Innovator of the Year award was given to... a nail (though, the Bostich HurriQuake nail is one badass nail).

The annual Best of What's New awards recognize breakthrough products and technologies that represent a significant leap forward in categories ranging from Auto Tech to Personal Health. A display of the Best of What's New is available to passers by in NYC's Grand Central Terminal. Watch a video highlighting the Grand Central display here (RealPlayer).