CNET also got the opportunity to review the Delphi SkyFi3 a week or so ago, and gave it a 7.3 (out of 10) rating. There's also a video review you can watch here.
While CNET liked the big display and microSD card option, they felt that the build quality felt a bit cheap. They also commented on the large tactile buttons which is great for the car.
Highlights -
The good: The Delphi SkyFi3 is a competitively priced plug-and-play satellite radio receiver/recorder. It can pause and replay programming up to 30 minutes, is lightweight and easy to use, and includes a large and legible screen. It plays back digital audio files via the expansion slot and can be used while afoot with optional antenna headphones. It includes a car kit and a remote control.
The bad: The Delphi SkyFi3 has a budget build quality, with a monochrome screen with no channel graphics and no built-in antenna, so you must use optional headphones for true portability. It lacks a Micro SD card, has subpar rated battery life, and can't store your own digital audio files on internal memory. It has a substandard FM transmitter and charging the device over USB isn't guaranteed.
They like the inclusion of a microSD slot, yet they say in the "bad" that it lacks a microSD slot.
BigMoola, that's a paradox being stated.
"The Bad" states that it lacks a Micro SD "card", not slot.
Do gadget manufacturers normally include MicroSD cards with the devices? The digital cameras I've bought required that you buy an add-on card if you wanted it.
There are a couple of things I don’t understand about the new SkyFi3. First, why the hell doesn’t the unit have a live antenna built into it? I mean, the Inno that I have worked pretty unit when I run outside without the headphones and in an area with a lot of homes and probably without a repeater around. I don’t want to wear from dumb headphones with a built in antenna, I just isn’t a good design to have wear headphones that look uncomfortable. But rather for consumer to just accept that reception is going to be so-so in some areas, but if you want better reception buy this headphones.
Also, personally I don’t like some body getting me a review about a product and then describing it has cheap and for 200 bucks! I have not held one in my hand, but it does little kinda cheap in the pictures that I have seen. And personally im not stuck on the fact that it doesn’t have a color screen or graphics but rather the fact that you cant store your own MP3’s on the SkyFi3 without getting a Micro SD card to use with the unit. I don’t understand why they could make it portioned, similar to other portables with the option of upgrading to more memory like most people naturally would. With this unit you get stuck having to buy a Micro card just to store you own music, because of that they should make a card standard to come with the unit.
Optional antenna headphones, gimmie a break! Just make them standard and raise the price 20 bucks because people are going to want these any ways.
Jim, the idea is that the Skyfi3 will appeal to all types of XM buyers, not just people who want a portable unit. You want a big display, Skyfi3, you want portable Skyfi3, you want mp3, skyfi3. You get it?
The idea is you buy the unit and in the future maybe you add on the portable kit later. If they just made an INNO clone then how would they sell anything? It would cost just as much and compete with current XM products.
Theres no excuse for the thing feeling cheap though. I got to say I think that is somthing that should not be taken lightly.