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The folks at XM Satellite Radio, along with Pioneer and Samsung, have teamed on next-generation portable players that combine MP3 functionality with the XM service. The handsome 4.5-ounce gray-and-black Pioneer Inno XM2go is an appealing gadget, notwithstanding the $400 price tag, on top of XM's regular subscription fees. (Samsung's Helix is similar.)
The Inno's main benefit hits home when you go beyond the reach of XM's satellites, or the "terrestrial repeaters" that help boost a signal in large cities. By pressing the "mode" button on the front of the Inno, you can switch from live radio to prerecorded tracks: XM broadcasts, plus a mix of Windows Media files and MP3s either ripped from CDs or purchased and downloaded via XM's online music partner Napster. With the Inno connected (by USB cable) to a computer, you can easily drag songs and playlists onto the device through Napster. The Inno can connect to other subscription music services such as RealNetworks' Rhapsody, but certain "bookmarking" features are unique to Napster.
The Inno has simple menu keys that glow in the dark, along with a color screen that you can make out in sunshine. Volume buttons are on the side. Even with a stump of an antenna, the Inno is a tad shorter than Apple's video iPod, if slightly thicker. From a distance you might mistake the Inno for a cell phone; it actually uses cell phone-like bars on the screen to indicate the strength of a signal.
You can easily record songs or channels off XM on the fly, or schedule recordings in advance. Nice touch: Songs you record off XM are broken out into individual tracks when you play them back. What's more, as long as you're already tuned to a channel, you can capture an entire song, even if you press record up to 10 minutes after the song has begun. The recording automatically stops when a song does, unless you arranged to keep recording a channel.
You can "lock" songs already recorded to prevent accidentally erasing them. As with other XM radios, you can see the songs currently playing on another channel before switching to that channel and be notified if a favored artist or song is playing on any XM channel. You cannot record one channel while listening to another, however. The device can also display designated stock quotes and sports scores.
By default, the Inno "partitions" or splits the 1 gigabyte hard drive 50-50, to store up to 25 hours of XM content and about eight hours of MP3s and WMA tracks. You can devote the entire hard drive to XM material, but then you cannot store any of your own tracks on the device. On future models, it would be nice to see a bigger hard drive with more partitioning options, and perhaps removable memory.
Most iPod models, of course, let you store thousands of tunes. But nothing at times beats the serendipity of radio, and the prospect of either hearing something special for the first time, or taking in a track you haven't heard in years. You can bookmark songs you hear on the radio to learn more and buy the track or album once the Inno is connected to Napster.
The Inno comes with a remote control, belt clip, ear buds, home dock, home antenna and travel adapter. It includes a built-in wireless FM transmitter that lets you beam the satellite signal through a regular FM radio.
Reception was spotty with the FM transmitter in a car without the car antenna, included (along with a power adapter and cassette adapter) as part of an optional $70 car kit.
A few annoyances: Each time the Inno connected to a PC, Napster asked about upgrading the "firmware" on the device, even though it had already been upgraded. Because of the way you must plug in the AC adapter, it takes up the space of two outlets on a power strip.
Speaking of power, XM says the Inno gets up to six hours of battery life in live mode and up to 15 in stored content mode. XM's estimates seem reasonable.
You may not be ready to swap an iPod for an Inno, but the Inno is a winner. Here's hoping Apple takes a hint.
Rating: 3 1/2 stars (out of 4)
Developers: Pioneer Electronics, XM Satellite Radio, Napster.
Web sites: www.pioneerelectronics.com; www.xmradio.com; www.napster.com.
Price: $400, plus XM subscription plan ($13 a month for basic plan).
Pros: Handsome portable delivers live XM radio, or prerecorded XM content, MP3 and Windows Media files.
Cons: Expensive. Car kit $70 option. Minor problems upgrading firmware.
XM Satellite Radio and rival Sirius Satellite Radio cater to radio junkies put off by too many commercials, well-worn formats and static on much of what passes for AM and FM nowadays.
XM delivers 170-plus digital channels for $13 a month, including commercial-free music (in genres ranging from Nashville to the blues), plus Major League Baseball, NASCAR and shock jocks Opie and Anthony.
In addition to its own commercial-free music channels, Sirius headliners include Howard Stern and the National Football League. The service also fetches $13 monthly. Although mum on details, Sirius plans to introduce its own live portable satellite device this summer.
