Re: [Swprograms] OT: XM Walkman Coming

[jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

I can't speak for XM as I have no experience with that service.  I do subscribe to Sirius.  With the latter, the optimum receiving antenna position is toward the west and north if you're from the east (like I am), toward the east and north if you're from the west, and more or less toward the north if you are in mid-country.  Inside the house, I've found that the antenna does not necessarily need to be near a window or even facing toward the satellite.  It does work more consistently if you can and do.
But it works fine in an inside location of my wood frame home, as long as I'm willing to relocate the antenna within the room on occasion.  The strength of the signal is not a determining factor in quality reception.  As long as the signal maintains at least the minimum level for continuous reception (one bar), the quality of the sound is as it should be.

Sirius also has a "walkman" type device due out in November.  It's slightly larger than a cellphone.  The attached battery pack does add some further bulk to the package, however; and it runs about 3-4 hours on a rechargeable lithium polymer battery.  This device, by XACT Communications and nicknamed the Stream Jockey, also runs on AC and can also be fitted to a couple of boom box options to enhance portability.

John Figliozzi
Halfmoon, NY

----- Original Message -----
From: Richard Cuff <richard@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Friday, October 22, 2004 1:47 pm
Subject: Re: [Swprograms] OT: XM Walkman Coming

> I guess it's fine if you're someone who spends much of their time 
> outdoors.
> How well do these services work indoors if you aren't hear a south-
> facingwindow?
> 
> Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA  USA
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Joe Buch" <joseph.buch@xxxxxxx>
> To: <swprograms@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 1:16 PM
> Subject: [Swprograms] OT: XM Walkman Coming
> 
> 
> <http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/ns/news/story.jsp?id=2004102207460002605881&dt=
> 20041022074600&w=RTR&coview=>
> 
> XM radio seen launching 'wearable' device-analyst
> 
> LOS ANGELES, Oct 21 (Reuters) - XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc 
> next week is
> expected to unveil a "wearable" device, marking the satellite 
> radio industry
> leader's latest effort to woo audiences to the nascent format, 
> analystssaid.
> 
> A spokesman for Washington, D.C.-based XM declined to comment 
> beyond saying
> a major product announcement was planned for Oct. 26 in New York with
> automotive parts and consumer electronics products maker, Delphi Corp.
> 
> "XMSR is also likely to announce its wearable device next week. 
> There is a
> good shot this 'Walkman' type device, in the near term, will 
> differentiateXM's hardware from Sirius," a rival satellite radio 
> system, said Kit Spring,
> analyst with Stifel, Nicolaus in a note for investors.
> 
> He said such a device would "also get investors thinking about future
> combinations of IPOD/TIVO-like satellite radios, which would 
> increase the
> value of the monthly subscription."
> 
> A radio industry executive said the device was believed to be a
> satellite-radio receiver with headphones that also had a hard 
> drive enabling
> users to download XM content.
> 
> Spring could not be immediately reached for comment.
> 
> Delphi has already partnered with XM for such products as the XM SKYFi
> satellite radio. Since introducing it in 2002, the company has 
> shipped over
> 750,000 of the portable units.
> 
> XM rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc has said it expects to roll 
> out wearable
> products in late summer 2005.
> 
> The new "wearable device" by XM could bolster increasing investor 
> sentimentabout the business prospects for satellite radio, 
> although some analysts
> cautioned that both rivals are investing heavily in a bid to 
> attract a mass
> audience.
> 
> Earlier this month, Sirius reached a five-year, $500 million deal 
> with shock
> jock Howard Stern to bring his popular program to the company's 
> line-up in a
> bid to narrow the gap with XM.
> 
> XM responded this week by signing a $650 million deal to broadcast 
> MajorLeague Baseball games for 11 years.
> 
> XM Satellite has about 2.5 million subscribers. Sirius' subscriber 
> base has
> exceeded 700,000 and the company said it remains on track for 1 
> millionsubscribers by the end of the year.
> 
> © Copyright Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. The information 
> contained In
> this news report may not be published, broadcast or otherwise 
> distributedwithout the prior written authority of Reuters Ltd.
> 
> 
> ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,
> Joe Buch
> -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^
> 
> 
> 
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