SkyFi 3: A Hands-On Look
Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 9:12 AM
Tags: 2, XM
The boys over at XM411 have the first hands-on look at the upcoming SkyFi 3, along with a nice quick review of the unit. Some of the features described are what we saw earlier, but there's a few additional things that we didn't know about.
Here's the rundown:
- This is Delphi's first unit since the release of the Inno/Helix.
- The 2.8" screen the largest of any plug-and-play satellite radio receiver.
- Screen display flips between horizontal and vertical with press of a button.
- The SkyFi3 allows for 30-minutes of pause/replay functionality. The 30-minutes of replay gets saved even with the power turned off (sweet!), so you can just power up and keep listening.
- The 10-hours of XM recording is separate from the 2Gb microSD storage - where you store your own digital music collection. (No doubt this is to appease the RIAA)
- You can create hybrid-playlists between the XM content and the microSD content, but you can't copy the XM content to the microSD card.
- No internal antenna, but it does have an internal battery. With the optional Standard Wearable Kit, you get a live-wearable unit but with 90-minutes of listening.
- The optional Premium Live Wearable Kit gives 7-hours of XM listening (longer than the Inno/Helix) and 40-hours (!) of pre-recorded playback time.
Very impressive, and a great review (plus a ton of pics).
[XM411]
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Comments
Very nice. Some will pan it for lack of the color screen, but it's a great way to listen/record XM. The car cradle has the presets, similar to the Stiletto. The Inno/Helix car kits need it. The kit also has an aux input for an iPod, or other device.
Posted by: iband | September 20, 2006 10:28 AM
With the lack of backwards compat. with the other Skyfi accessories (i.e. boombox) as well as future live wearable capabilities, it's more like a MyFi2 than a SkyFi3.
Posted by: theicepik ? | September 20, 2006 11:17 AM
When I first saw this I thought it was revolutionary. Mabye XM has finally nailed it and is going to make all their radios portable with big screens and flexible functionality.
Turns out this is a piece of junk. So its basically the midpoint between an inno and the nexus. The screen is big, but the display is crappy. Eventually they will get it over at Delphis R&D but they haven't quite yet.
Posted by: Joe Blow | September 20, 2006 11:34 AM
Props for including a SD slot. About time someone did.
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"O&A say I invented everything. I didn't invent everything...JUST THEIR ACT."
Posted by: PNess ? | September 20, 2006 11:46 AM
I'm assuming they used the SkyFi name instead of the MyFi brand name because of the SkyFi's brand awareness.
Posted by: WebMatt01 | September 20, 2006 11:48 AM
FREAKING SWEET
WF
Posted by: Westfall ? | September 20, 2006 12:42 PM
Anybody wants a pampered Inno with car kit, antenna/headphones and Belkin Folio Case? Im really thinking of getting this unit. Going portable is over ratted. Though i walked 3 miles just today and not one drop out. What to do, What to do.
Posted by: tussel ? | September 20, 2006 1:05 PM
Nothing like the Stiletto which makes this look like a Casio wristwatch.
Posted by: Mizzle | September 20, 2006 3:57 PM
Looks like crap, like an old style PALM Pilot
Posted by: ShawnDelajour | September 20, 2006 4:20 PM
This thing is pretty sweet, only problem is the screen!
Posted by: Tyler | September 20, 2006 4:21 PM
Looks like XM is getting ready to release another portable after this...The skyfi3 is just a precursor to a better, more hi-tech portable.
This unit does look cool though..
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | September 21, 2006 5:34 PM