The XM SkyDock - arguably the most anticipated satellite radio receiver this holiday season - is expected to be available for shipment from select retailers on October 18th, according retailer TSS Radio (via SiriusBuzz).
Some retailers have begun taking pre-orders of the SkyDock, including TSS Radio and others like Crutchfield, and (as usual) these orders will be fulfilled in a first-come, first-serve basis.
The an MSRP of under $120, the XM SkyDock is pretty competitively priced as satellite radio receivers go. And while it's definitely more expensive than other iPhone cardocks - it also packs a ton more technology than those other cardocks as well.
When I got the chance to play hands-on with the XM SkyDock, I was mighty impressed - so much so that I still stick by my statement that Sirius XM "hit the ball right out of the park with this one."
And if the October 18th date remains correct (remember, shipping dates can vary depending on the rules of supply and demand), then we can expect to see the XM SkyDock iPhone App released around the same time based on what I heard in August.
And if you want to get in line for an XM SkyDock pre-order, visit TSS Radio and put in for your pre-order.
[XM SkyDock on TSS-Radio via SiriusBuzz]
Disclosure: TSS Radio is a sujpporter of Orbitcast
When I got the chance to play hands-on with the XM SkyDock, I was mighty impressed - so much so that I still stick by my statement that Sirius XM "hit the ball right out of the park with this one."
And if the October 18th date remains correct (remember, shipping dates can vary depending on the rules of supply and demand), then we can expect to see the XM SkyDock iPhone App released around the same time based on what I heard in August.
And if you want to get in line for an XM SkyDock pre-order, visit TSS Radio and put in for your pre-order.
[XM SkyDock on TSS-Radio via SiriusBuzz]
Disclosure: TSS Radio is a sujpporter of Orbitcast
I was in a Radio Shack the other day and they have a huge display dedicated for the Sky Dock as soon as you walk into the door. I had my mgr friend at Best Buy check for the sky dock in his computer and he said they may start receiving them later this week.
This is the most anticipated reciever of the holiday season? If that's the case, this company is in real trouble.
Again, why would you pay for sat radio when there are a multitude of free music options available on the iPhone? Where is the new hardware? A dock that interfaces with someone else's hardware does not count.
I already have an Inno which does more than this thing and came out years ago. Weak. This is why the company is losing dedicated listeners. Weak programming and lack of innovative hardware.
@ mnxmfan:
there are over 9 million Iphones and over 30 million Ipod touch users out there. there are other music options available on them, however the constant buffering or lost signal problems plague these devices when in a car. imagine trying to stream pandora or slacker with an Ipod touch driving around town. without wifi you are SOL!
Also, those free services still have commercial interuptions, and no entertainment, news or sport content.
For $120 i can buy an accessory that already works with my device, which means there are less items i need to install on my dash or carry around with me. all i need to do is put an antenna on my dashboard or run it outside my passanger door, and i have an instant XM radio. This device will also make the other content available on my device to be played through my car stereo.
i am a huge fan of this new development from SIRIUS XM and i hope they roll this out for other devices like Blackberry, Zune, etc.
plus, as an investor this device is great news. it costs less to produce (brings SAC down), and it adds to the possibilty that these subscribers will also add the Best of Sirius for an addtional $4 a month and the $3 a month internet app.
Any word if the skydock app would be available on its own? It looks like the new app is an improvement over the current one.
Because sat radio is not just "music". Show me a "free music option" that also gets you breaking news from the broadcast news leaders, live games from all major sports, exclusive talk/comedy shows, syndicated broadcast talk shows available anywhere in the U.S., and more...for about 43-56 cents a day (depending on subscription package). As Sally Struthers would say, "For less than the price of a cup of coffee..."
I don't get why I would spend $120 for a device that ties up my phone to use instead of just getting a dedicated receiver for a third as much? What's the "killer app" portion of this?
I feel the same way about the navigation system apps and hardware accessories for the iPhone. Why not just actually get a dedicated system for about the same money?
I also don't see what the big deal is either. With my Blackberry and Slacker, I can listen to whatever I want to listen to, program the content as I see fit for $30/year, and with the ability to queue content on my 8GB MicroSD card, I'm not constantly dropping a signal or having some sort of reception problem. It queues up and if I lose the signal, I never know. So much easier than this fucking thing.
Hope it helps the customer and company!
I enjoy my satellite-radio(s), and I find the cost negligible! It's a great value, with little by way of a direct competitor! I've always asked myself, how people pay $.99-cents to download a song they get tired of hearing within a couple of weeks of play? Many thousands-per-person have been spent on boredom! For me, I just turn-on-the-digital-dial, and enjoy too many good stations to listen-to, and I have spontaneity! Don't have to spend time downloading, and a bunch of great, new content is readily available, at my finger-tips!
Also, there are so many burned-out detractors of satellite-radio, that spend the better part of their lives saying how terrible the service is, how they are going to quit immediately, and go to the "competitor"; People rave about Slacker and Pandora, but these services, though nice in their own respect, are far from what I get from sat-rad! They are "free" for a reason!
So, I say, and as I have observed for the last past 6-years, hearing the "detractors-so-soon-to-quit-the-service", go ahead and quit already! Seems like the same monikers are still going to "quit-the-service" for the past 6-years! Does it really take that long to discontinue the service?
Ok, whatever, satellite-radio sucks terrible! I'm going to HD-Radio, no Wi-Fi radio, heck, am-fm is free, so I'll go there and supplant my satellite-radio needs!
Thomas - you are absolutely correct, and for the life of me.... I find it bewildering that the general public is so oblivious to satellite radios unique advantages, the two biggest being: convenience and spontaneity. You push a button, and a world of content is at your disposal. The cool thing is that you never know what is coming on next; it is this spontaiety that creates the suspense and excitment that is unique to radio... and only radio! Are people just too stupid to understand what a big deal this is? As you get older, you start to realize that new isn't necessarily better. I will be damned if I am going to spend my time downloading/paying for individual songs, or relying on anything that doesn't give me uninterupted coast to coast coverage. I am spoiled by satellite radio, and in my opinion there is no viable substitute - taking everything into consideration: reception, geographical coverage, CONTENT, mobility, and overall bang for the buck. What else offers this much entertainment for "the price of a cup of coffee" or less? They need to advertise these benefits, and educate the skeptics, because for some reason people just don't get it. If the company would take their message to the people, perhaps a good percentage finally will "get it" - and gladly subscribe.
What is this? NAB website? Most of them are SIRIUS/XM bashers on here.
it sucks that it wont be available on sirius i work for them and im sure our fans would of loved it
I love Sirius radio. I tried Slacker. It was exciting for about 2 weeks until I kept hearing the same songs over and over again. It's a big world and Sat radio presents a bigger portion of it. It's a joke when people bash Sat radio at less than 15 bucks a month when they spend a hundred bucks on cable TV, a hundred bucks on their cell phone and a hundred bucks on electricity for their house or apartment.
Forget the bashers, Sirius XM is the wave of the future.
xmfan has them for $99
http://www.xmskydock.com/sirius-xm-skydock-for-iphone-ipod-touch-xvsap1v1.html
I just need a good dock for my iTouch. Being able to hear 202 and NFL Radio will be a plus. As for everything else......... fuck you Sirius.
Great points on wasted time downloading,etc. I couldn't agree more with that premise.
However>>>>>>>>>
XM spoiled me UNTILL Mel & Co. took over.................................
Now it's just OK and only somewhat better than MOST FM radio stations........... Let alone the gutting of comedy,niche, and other assorted channels. Hell, they won't even provide "Morning Joe" on POTUS and that show is steadily increasing in popularity. I'm aware that XM canceled MSNBC a few years back but surely if someone had enough balls they could feature "Morning Joe". Mel & his minions haven't had an original concept and never will. They are too entrenched in commercial radio.
We've got a 2 - 3 great FM stations here in Charlotte NC area that would give Mel's SiriusXM a run for their money.
I agree with the Inno poster. If I WAS gonna buy something new it would be an Inno. Don't care a bit about tying into cellular or wireless systems. Gonna keep using my trusty "lil "ol SkyFi(generation 1). Way things are going I don't feel like investing anything in Mel's company. Got a year or so left on my multi-year sub.
That wasn't the case two years ago...
Honestly, the reason why *I* personally think this is such a big deal is because this is a clear departure in hardware architecture from what Sirius XM have done in the past.
This is the first time that they've split the interface and the receiver hardware in a TRULY agnostic way. The XM Mini-Tuner was the nearest they got to accomplishing this - essentially splitting the hardware and the software.
With this now in place, it opens up a whole new approach to Satellite Radio. BlackBerry, Palm Pre, and other mobile devices that people already own could serve as the "interface" to the hardware. And I think that's pretty significant - maybe less so from a consumer-facing standpoint, but it opens up a shift for the future.
My only issue with the Inno is that it only holds 512mb of my music. Since Sirius took over ive filled an iTouch with stuff i want to listen to. Much different than when XM was giving me the best listening experience i could ever imagine. But its better than nothing.
I never bring my Inno home to record anymore so that isnt an argument for me.
So this thing will do exactly what i need it to do. Im just worried about the hardware. How sturdy is that stand?
I see this point. Get customers in the door with the iPhone app and then turn them into regular listeners with additional hardware that makes the iPhone into a full-scale satellite radio.
If it were me, though, and I got into satellite radio on my iPhone, I'd just go out and spend less than this costs on a dedicated radio for my car and keep the iPhone freed up for other stuff, but that's just me. I know a lot of people like the "all-in-one" approach.
Ryan, Best Buy stores received the Skydock, Onyx, and new Stratus 6 today. They can not sell the Skydock until the app is available, which should be in a few short days.
@ Scott
If the programming was good enough, like it was pre-merger, 512mb would be more than enough
"With this now in place, it opens up a whole new approach to Satellite Radio. BlackBerry, Palm Pre, and other mobile devices that people already own could serve as the "interface" to the hardware. And I think that's pretty significant - maybe less so from a consumer-facing standpoint, but it opens up a shift for the future."
Ryan is the Blackberry capable of interfacing with a dock right now to become a sat radio? If not when do you expect it will catch up to Apple technology? Thanks
... however the constant buffering or lost signal problems plague these devices when in a car. imagine trying to stream pandora or slacker with an Ipod touch driving around town. without wifi you are SOL! ... is misleading. Slacker buffers the complete song - signal interuptions are not a problem. My iPhone and Slacker work fine on the 3G network (the wifi is normally turned off). BTW, Sirius FM, Pandora and most (all?) others do stream with the problems that you mentioned.
After reading your comments, and retreating from my "sales pitch" mode, I have to agree with you; Sirius/Xm has regressed from what it was, and is no where near fullfilling it's potential. My remarks are infused with the fervor of someone who despises most, not all terrestrial radio. The best programmed station in my area is a rock station out of Manchester Vt. I live in New York State, about 60 miles from where it is broadcast from, but get good reception. Most FM radio in my area is just horrible, so I am glad that I have satellite radio as an alternative. You reminded me that I mustn't settle for the pared down programming that Sirius/XM now offers. I am becoming increasingly aware that many channels on Sirius/XM have been, as you say, "gutted." It is a shame, and although I still enjoy being a subscriber, I must not forget that satellite radio, in it's current incarnation, is not what most of us bargained for when we signed up for it.
@ Denny,
Obviously SIRIUS XM is not for you. It is humorous how you and other haters (all 3 of you)continue to come to this site just to post negative comments on any sat radio developments, and call the company SIRIUS FM. You guys can pump up Slacker and Pandora all you want, the fact is that their service is very limited as far content and receiving their content, where SIRIUS and XM both have amazing infrastructure consisting of Satellites and ground repeaters to deliver THE BEST audio content available in North America whether you are in the car, at home, or in a wifi area with a wifi ready device.
As the RIAA continue to raise royalty fees you will see some significant changes in your Slacker and Pandora service, which will include fees to use their service, or an increase in commercial interuptions. These services will also continue to fall short when it comes to delivering content. No Entertainment, Sports, traffic and weather, or News programming.
It really is sad when grown adults can't afford a few dollars a month for a great service, so they troll around fan sites and post negative comments.
understand that no one reading these forums will read what you 3 post and say, "forget SIRIUS XM, im sticking with Slacker and Pandora."
please continue to post your hate messages. All of us true fans that come to this site daily to read up on recent sat rad news will continue to laugh at you 3. At the end of the day, you guys are a fan of the service whether you want to admit it or not. if you werent why would you come here every day too and take the time to post??? its funny how you dont find sat rad fans on slacker or pandora forums dumping on their service. well, really its because we are too busy enjoying our radio service and have a real personal life (including jobs and families) so we just dont have the time.
if you 3 put the same effort into finding a real job and posting on a dating site perhaps you'd have a personal life too.
Hmmm, a little testy – I’m glad I touch a nerve. My comments addressed your inaccurate (or ignorant) comment about Slacker. … It is humorous how you and other haters (all 3 of you) continue to come to this site just to post negative comments… Are you sure that there are only three? … a few dollars a month for a great service, so they troll around fan sites and post negative comments … Are you sure it’s still a great service? I had the XM service from the summer of ’02 (with two car installs and a 3 year subscription) until Sirius FM changed all of the programming and I had to cancel my service in December ’08 – I believe that 6 1/2 years of service gives me the wrights to make a few comments here at your little party (I bet you thought that I never even had the service). ... you guys are a fan of the service whether you want to admit it or not … That was true – I was one of the biggest fans, but now it sucks. And by the way, the receiver is still in the car and if you and Sirius FM could get your head out of your ass and make some corrections, I may give it a try again. But surely they will be out of business before that ever happen (or are they already out of business with 50 cent stock?). F.U.
@denny,
No struck nerve here. I just made a point about how you claim this service sucks so bad, yet you feel compelled to come to orbitcast and post comments.
i had a BMW for 4 years and sold it because i didnt like it, i dont go to their fan sites, regardless if i feel i have the "wright" since i was a car owner.
now go and have fun building your play list on your slacker, maybe even cry yourself to sleep tonight because SIRIUS and XM changed their channels around.
check it out....it available now
http://satwaves.com/blog/2009/10/07/exclusive-sirius-xm-skydock-available-now-at-best-buy/
A person isn't a "hater" because he or she would like to see a service improved. Also, Orbitcast isn't a fan site. Those exist, but this is an informative site about satellite radio, both positive and critical. That's why I like it.
I read what's posted, and post here myself, because I continue to have a subscription (used to have four), and I think this medium has potential. I've never cried myself to sleep over them "changing the channels around," but I do listen a lot less, enjoy the service less, and pay them about 60 percent less money. Of course, in actuality, they removed many channels and foisted inferior channels on customers; I don't consider that "changing channels around," which implies superficial changes such as new numbers or names.
Your comments regarding what "grown adults" can or can't afford (followed by your announcement that you owned a premium luxury brand of car that wasn't good enough for you), and comments regarding others' family lives or dating success undermine the credibility of other comments you make, as ad hominem fallacies usually do.
Seeing some of the comments on here or on other consumer websites, I realize that America is a country full of whiny, spoiled, WORTHLESS pieces of shit who deserved 9/11 and even worse. This country is destined for failure.
@ xmcountry,
These people (Haters) are not coming to the site because they would like to see the service improved. They are clearly posting negative comments regarding the company. If they dont like satellite radio, dont bother coming here anymore, or posting on threads regarding satellite radio. Ryan posts Slacker and Pandora threads as well. if you are a fan of those services post on those threads.
this is a great informative site. so great that people who claim they hate the service are compelled to come here and take their time to make a post. to me that states they literally have nothing else going on their life and they need to do something to stay busy. im just suggesting they go out and get a life. maybe meet someone of the opposite sex for a movie or something. there has to be something better to do in their lives than come to orbitcast and post negative crap about a service they no longer subscribe to. move on! they should use their energy to promote their slacker or pandora service. because at the end of the day they are wasting their time posting. no one is going to read what they say and not subscribe or cancel.
anyway, im done with this thread, i need to get back to work, then tonight ill spend some time with my wife and kids. maybe grab some lunch with an old friend today, sounds good to me! either way i wont be wasting my time on a computer on a slacker or pandora site, or even here on orbitcast posting negative comments about the other guys service.
I had 4 subs and will have none after the first of the year. Slacker is what I use for music and for talk I down load pod cast. I drive around all the time streaming slacker with a few issues but I do not care. To all you lovers of satrad, remember the more of us you tell to cancel the quicker you are killing what you love.
Read the financial papers sirius will soon be delisted, that will be the sound of the fat lady singing.
AMEN TO THAT
Many people who make critical comments regarding satellite radio have wives, kids, friends to have lunch with, and jobs to be concerned with -- not just you and other supporters of the current direction of Sirius XM. People who don't agree with you are not social rejects who lack your refinement or sense of balance.
You mentioned in an earlier post that you are an investor in Sirius XM. If that's the case, rather than attempting to suppress discussion and ridicule the opposition, you should hope that the company takes a look at some of the comments here and elsewhere regarding the direction of its programming, because in my opinion they're making mistakes that are costing them subscribers and money. Clearly, some comments are absurd, such as those that imply corporate conspiracies or personally attack the executives of the company, but there are also a lot of well-reasoned comments from those who once loved satellite radio but either don't have it now or listen to it much less often.
You are correct that this makes satellite radio fit as plug and play in the "open architecture" user interface of the auto. If this is truely a home run for Sirius XM, which I doubt because of the watered down content from sat, then it raises the question as whether Sirius XM should be allowed to have a monopoly for that pipe. Many users are making negative statements here about the competitors to SXM on that mobile desktop of the future. If those are true, then the case for the merger was false, and the current Democratic administration should recreate competition in the Sat radio business.
$15 to change a radio?
Fucking Sirius. Ive changed a handful of radios over the years and NEVER got charged for it.
To all of you bashing the Skydock. Why don't you cheer up and try to go out and get laid if you could. I own stock in XM and I have tried the Skydock and it is awesome!
If you don't have one then shut the hell up! If you want to say it to my face come down here to Myrtle Beach and I'll take you on the boxing ring.
I want action not talk! I beleive in this product!