New XM2go XM w/MP3 Ready to Ship

Phil Whitworth, product marketing director for XM Satellite Radio stopped by the E-Gear offices today to give us a hands-on look at the new XM2go products from Samsung and Pioneer, which go on sale in about a week. XM launched the XM2go platform in the fall of 2004 with the Delphi MyFi and added nearly identical products from Pioneer and Tau in 2005. The first XM2go products allowed users to record five hours of programming and had built-in antennas so you could listen to sat radio on the fly, provided you were in an area with strong signal coverage. The new XM2go products combine sat radio recording–this time up to 50 hours–with MP3/WMA music from a PC. It’s similar to the Sirius S50 product we reviewed in the March issue of E-Gear. The new XM2go products come in two platforms–one with a built-in receiver and antenna and one without.

The Samsung Nexus is of the receiverless variety and receives live satellite radio only when docked in its charging cradle, which contains the new XM Passport portable receiver cartridge–the first implementation of the XM Passport product. The Nexus is available in 25 and 50 hour versions, has a monochrome screen and ships with a home dock and earbuds.

The color screen, 50 hour Pioneer Inno and Samsung Helix are nearly identical to each other and do everything the Nexus does but adds a built-in XM receiver and antenna (with improved reception) so you can listen to sat radio anywhere a signal is available. The platform is integrated with the XM + Napster offering which lets you tag songs heard on XM for easy purchase on Napster. The Napster application is also used for transferring MP3s or WMAs to the portable unit. Users can create playlists to mix their recorded satellite radio songs with their own digital music collection. Look for a full review of the Pioneer Inno in a forthcoming issue of E-Gear magazine.