Think of
these pretty portable players as the lovechildren of TiVo, satellite radio and
the iPod. They allow you to record your favorite crystal-clear satellite
programming TiVo-style and then listen to it later on, wherever you are.
Although these wearable units are not themselves satellite receivers--they have
to be docked to receive and record content--the XM Samsung neXus and Sirius S50
have two key advantages over their antenna-outfitted relatives: They're half
the size, and you can upload your MP3 and WMA files and mix them into your
satellite-radio playlists. Pick your device based on programming (Sirius has
about 120 channels, including the NFL; XM has about 150, including Major League
Baseball), or weigh the tech specs below.
Samsung Nexus for XM
Covet it
because Press a
button on the handset to "tag" a song you like. When you connect the neXus to
your computer, you'll be prompted to purchase the song through the new XM +
Napster music service.
Buzzkill Old-school black-and-white screen
Size 3.4 x 1.9 x 0.7 inches
Capacity 512 MB (25 hours of content) and 1
GB (50 hours of content)
Battery life 15 hours
Channel
presets 10
Accepted
formats MP3, WMA
Price Not set (player available late
2005)
Get it xmradio.com
Sirius S50
Covet it
because It tracks
your three favorite stations based on percentage of listening time and, when
docked, automatically creates playlists tailored to your preferences. Sort
through songs--by genre, title or artist--on its stunning 260,000-color screen.
Buzzkill The Home Dock, including the
antenna needed to listen to and record live Sirius radio, is sold separately
for $100.
Size 3.9 x 1.9 x 0.7 inches
Capacity 1 GB (50 hours of content)
Battery life 6 hours
Channel presets 30
Accepted
formats MP3, WMA
Price $360
Get it sirius.com