If you're wondering why the stocks went nuts mid-day, that's because several sources have reported that CBS could make a bid for either XM Satellite Radio (XMSR) or Sirius Satellite Radio (SIRI).

Call me a Negative Nancy, but I don't buy it. Especially since we've heard this one before.

I sure do love a good fakery. Just under a year ago Orbitcast was anonymously handed a "photo" of XM's upcoming portable satellite video player, which I'm convinced was the work of a handy Photochopper. (Though, I must note, there was a working prototype out there... just not the one pictured.)

Today, it goes a step further. Now we've got video of the... video player. The verdict? You tell me:

(Pssst... to the guy with the video editing skillz: You may want to consider a white background next time. Just a thought.)
UPDATE: The video was pulled and replaced, now with the artifacts around the video player removed. Phew! Now we can all believe that it's real.

Some clarification on the Inno 2 speculation from yesterday:

• The GEXINNO2BK is the model number for the new updated Pionner Inno - not the next-gen Inno. This is just an new Inno with XM SureConnect included.
  
• The "BK" could indicate a new Black color.
  
• The Pioneer Inno2 - the next generation Inno - will most likely be unveiled at CES, but that's not confirmed.
• The "ipod built in" description is, as expected, bogus.
  

Anyway, that it for now. But the real news is that this new Inno is just with an updated FM modulator, while we'll have to wait for the juicy stuff after the Holidays.

Thanks Jimmy! 

UPDATE: The "BK" in the GEXINNO2BK model number indicates "Base Kit" and not "Black" as we had hoped. 

Apparently mentions of a Pioneer Inno 2 (Model # GEXINNO2BK) have been popping up all over the Internets lately.

First there's this listing over at Focus Camera, which describes it as the "Pioneer xm inno 2 with ipod built in" - curious. Digital Foto Club has it listed the same way. Curiouser. J&R also has it listed, but with the regular Inno name and specs - yet the GEXINNOBK2 part number is displayed. Curiouser and curiouser.

The "with ipod built in" is obviously the biggest eyebrow raiser - either it's a massive Freudian slip, or the mindless substitution of "ipod" for what should "mp3" as a moniker. My guess is the latter because "with ipod built in" just doesn't make any sense.

Now we still haven't seen much of the X2G-100 from last month, which Audiovox is now is saying is pushed to February 2007 (originally November 2006).

I'll take a wild guess here and assume that the Audiovox X2G-100 is the sister device to the Pioneer Inno2 GEXINNO2BK. Which then leads me to believe that Audiovox, and subsequently Pioneer, is waiting post-CES to launch this badboy next-gen XM2go to the masses.

Recall that a few investment analysts (lucky bastards) got to see a pimped out Inno earlier this year and indicated that new models sporting 2Gb or more of storage may be seeing the light of day soon. Let's hope it's the "or more" option.

Thanks JW! 

Rumor has it that Honda Motor Co. Ltd., is about to take a major stake (+25%) in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., and has received government approval for it.

Below is the government form that terminates some type of limitation that has previously existed.

That's all the details known as this time. More to follow. At this time this should be taken as a strong rumor only but the early termination definitely indicates something is happening.

[FTC Early Terminations, 08-15-06] (PDF) 

In differentiating Zune from the iPod, here's what Associated Content had to say:

XM Radio: The WiFi antenna also will help Microsoft to support XM radio on the Zune, something they've been looking into.  If Zune is to kill the iPod, they need something big that the iPod doesn't have; this may or may not be it, but they'll need all the firepower they can get. With the iPod lacking even an FM radio, this could be a big advantage.

Interesting.

Thanks StackPointer! 

UPDATE: As Gizmodo points out, since this would be streaming the XM feed over WiFi, it would be a dedicated application and not a WiFi-based browser (which would essentially allow for streaming of... pretty much anything). I would if this would also include XM+Napster functionality, allowing you to purchase songs you hear over the XM stream?

Think Secret has spilled the beans on information regarding Microsoft's much talked about Zune player. The part I care about is that the device will possibly have satellite radio capabilities:

Details leaked to Think Secret by Microsoft insiders call for the device to pack a 400MHz DSP processor, far more powerful than what audio and video playback would demand. Along with Wi-Fi, Microsoft is said to be considering a satellite radio receiver option for the device, along with hard-tying it to the new Urge music service.

The wording of this is interesting. The first thing that comes to mind is the upcoming Sirius/Zing player due to the Wi-Fi capabilities. The Zing player also has "social networking" capabilities such as push-to-talk and the ability to share playlists (these are features rumored for the Zune). But Think Secret clearly states that the satellite radio receiver is in addition to Wi-Fi support and that it would be an option.

The Wi-Fi makes me lean towards Sirius if this rumor should ring true. But XM does have the XM Passport, which is just begging to be an add-on to nearly any CE device. Speculating on speculation? We sure are.

[Think Secret vis Sirius Backstage, Engadget] 

According to Inside Radio, West Coast ad buyers are being told by sales reps that CBS Radio is only giving Adam Carolla “another month or two” to improve ratings - or his show will be cut. Supposedly they're also being told that CBS Radio is considering putting Opie and Anthony on the Carolla stations.

Adam Carolla replaced Howard Stern in many West Coast markets in January. Based out of KLSX in Los Angeles, The Adam Carolla  Show is syndicated in Phoenix, San Francisco, Portland, San Diego, Las Vegas, Sacramento, Seattle, Reno, Fresno and Palm Springs.

John Gehron, the former Regional VP at Clear Channel and Senior VP Programming / Co-Chief Operating Officer at Infinity/CBS Radio, is supposedly "is in serious talks with Winfrey's Harpo Productions about heading the company's new radio unit," according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Oprah Winfrey is ramping up her radio division, Harpo Radio Inc., which was formed in conjuction with signing with XM - as she ready's the September launch of the Oprah & Friends channel on XM Satellite Radio. And as part of the launch she quite possible could have tapped John Gehron to head up Harpo Radio, with a deal between the two being finalized within a the next week or two according to sources.

[Chicago Sun-Times]