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Why Isn't There a Sirius iPod?

by: Seaton Briggs August 21, 2008 | about stocks: AAPL / SIRI    

Seaton Briggs

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What could possibly be better? Satellite radio for variety with programmed channels, combined with the best portable digital music/media player available.

So why has this not happened yet? Good question. But the marriage of these two devices is compelling: fully portable satellite radio ([courtesy of Sirius XM (SIRI)], in an iPod [courtesy of Apple (AAPL).

As a gadget user, devices should make life more enjoyable – they should do not require constant maintenance but rather enhance experiences. Personally, I am thrilled by the beauty and elegance of the iPod and its user interface. But this device needs me – I have to load music onto it, which is fine if I am in the mood to do so, or if I have a playlist in mind. Otherwise the rotation gets stale. Also, I have to find a place to generate the ideas for music or audio to load.

What better place than the bounty offered by satellite radio? Everything is there: music from all ages and genres, talk radio, sports, comedy, and more. Lots to listen to with someone else to program it, along with instant exposure to new ideas for self-programming and purchase!

So far this has not come to pass. There has been talk about an iPhone application to deliver satellite radio content via the internet. This is not what I mean. The required consumer product is an iPod with the capability of receiving Sirius programming via satellite.

This concept would drive sales of both iPods and satellite radio subscriptions. The time has come. Mel, call Steve and get the ball rolling on this. Will it happen? We can only hope.

Disclosure: none

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This article has 31 comments:

  •  
    Aug 21 04:20 AM
    I think, the iPhone include all the features of iPOD. Can anyone explain the difference, please.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 04:25 AM
    If yes, then iPhone is a better choice. Just keep one item in the pocket and you can enjoy internet radio, download and store music (iPod) , and listen to SIRI XM.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 04:27 AM
    Because Sirius/XM is available in north America only (can you belive it?), Apple wants to be a global corporation. That's why the iPhone is working on GSM/EDGE/UMTS and not on American phone standards only.

    Because in the App Store you'll find a software to listen sat radio from Sirius/XM via Wi-Fi/3G, if you're a subscriber.

    I bet there will be no sat radio in future models of the iPod.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 05:38 AM
    With the apps "usirius" and "uxm" you CAN listen to Sirius and Xm on the ipod right now, although thru a WiFi connection only.

    The ONLY way Apple would build an ipod with Satellite built in would be if the songs played on sat radio could be BOUGHT thru itunes with the click of a button. Otherwise....why? I know it makes sense for apple to do this, as it would sell more ipods....but last I checked, they are selling alot of ipods as is. Besides, they'd have to make the ipods THICKER....and I don't think Apple wants to do that.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 05:53 AM
    iTunes might not be able to sell enough music through what plays on satellite radio to make a buck. It would be too frustrating for users to hear a track, click buy, and be told they couldn't have it because iTunes doesn't carry it. Seriously, iTunes has a LOT of music. But I hear things on XM Deep Tracks all the time that I can't buy from Apple.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 06:59 AM
    I would MUCH rather have Rhapsody in my ipod. I use it at home and at work and would really like to take the world's music collection with me when I am in the car.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 07:18 AM
    They will be in ipod. In the future, you will be able to connect your iphone to your car and use it as both to listen to sat radio and also for navigation. Iphone will replace both sat radio in the cars (or at least be able to) and the sat navigation devices.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 07:58 AM
    The real killer app will combine the functionality of the iPod, Sirius service, and the personalization that Pandora or Slacker offer. Here's my vision, check it out. You turn on your iPod-like device and you punch in a name of a band, creating a "radio station" playlist like on Pandora or Slacker. Then, if a song you like comes on you hit the "Favorites" button. If you don't like it you press the "Ban" button. You eventually have an ever-updating playlist of songs fed to your device live every time you power it on.

    The only thing is, I suspect Slacker or Pandora are already working on such a service. And they may not need Sirius to deliver the content. They would get more global coverage by working with the mobile phone industry, which has more coverage. But if they could swing it with Sirius, they could add their content to the feature set.

    Any way, THAT is what I would like to see. That is the device I would want for Christmas. Not an iPod that requires my constant attention, as the author here demonstrates.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 07:58 AM
    XM sells a portable unit that has memory that you can store .mp3 or record on. The memory is limited, but it does give you the best of both worlds.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 08:15 AM
    But what I want is for Sirius to remember what I like and play more of it. I don't want to have to store things on the device.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 08:32 AM
    Get serious; another monopolistic subscription service tethered to the iPod?
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 09:07 AM
    I AM serious, and why does it have any bearing on whether Apple has a monopoly on .... whatever you mean? It doesn't have to be on an iPod. Sirius has opened up the door to third-party development of devices. You wouldn't like to have a device you wouldn't need to upload files to? You wouldn't like a device and a service that knows what you like and gives it to you?
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 09:37 AM
    AWESOME idea!!! I would by one immediately if it was available. How do we push this idea on Mel and Apple? It truly sounds like a win - win. Thanks for the great article!
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 10:54 AM
    satellite radio is only appealing to certain people
    the people that count are those who buy music and love music
    and those people prefer creating their own playlists and don't mind playing around with music.. satellite radio was dead from the beginning
    it will never become mainstream
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 11:24 AM
    There is... its called the Stiletto
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 11:40 AM
    Point of the iPod is you are in control. XM/Serius work on the iPhone, because it has sattelite radio built in.

    Apple doesn't want to ruin the iPod experience by adding irrelevant fluff like radio. You can put any music on the iPod, there is no 'lock in' at all. You telling me you can listen to it on satellite but you can't get a CD of it? Apple can't sell it if the labels won't put it on iTunes. I don't buy CDs anymore though, and a lot of people don't want to hassle with CDs when iTunes works so well.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 11:40 AM
    The stilletto sux, u need to wear those stupid head phones, when u go to the gym in them u look like an idiot and u get shitty reception
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 12:05 PM
    How great would it be to be listening to SATRAD on your ipod and everytime you hear something you like you push a button and it saves to a list for your itunes download? This stuff is coming, it's just a matter of when. My guess is everything we think would be great, someone who could profit already thought of it. Think what the world was like just two years ago to now. What will happen in the next two years. I'm excited.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 02:14 PM
    great article - outside the box thinking!!!
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 03:07 PM
    Apple will never put SiriusXM on their device. Here is why, I have had a portable XM player for a few years now. My girlfriend and I have the Inno and Nexus. When a song comes on that I like, I dont have to illegally download or go to Itunes to pay 99 cents for it. I just press record and I have it! Full song, title and all. I can even record in the middle of the song and still get the entire track. Would apple want to allow people to get music without paying Itunes for it? No! I've always prefered XM over Ipod for this reason. I am a grown man and don't have time to download a bunch of songs either paying for them or illegally. Portable XM allows me to just press record and I get the whole song unedited. Putting aside the popularity of the Ipods, portable satelite has much more utility than Ipod. The one advantage of Ipods is the video. On the Audio side, a portable sirius xm unit is on a whole other level. When they can launch devices with plenty of memory such as 20 gigs, There will be no comparison if you are just looking for audio entertainment. Mel, focus on launching a sirus/xm portable unit with at least 20 gigs and keep it slim and fashionable and the company will rule! Portable is the way to go, even over satelite radio build into your vehicle. I like to listen to in the house, when I work out, even taking the bus and train to work. Why be stuck in the car?
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 03:25 PM
    Re: "I just press record and I have it! Full song, title and all."

    Just curious to know what happens to the songs downloaded this way if you cancel your XM subscription.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 03:45 PM
    Re: "I just press record and I have it! Full song, title and all."

    You don't download the song at all, you just are recording the song, or show. I record shows all the time so when I;m on the subway I have either music or a show to listen to. I listen to the Oprah channel a lot, so I record Dr OZ every morning and listen on the way to work. You can use it like a Tivo and schedule recordings. I am looking forward to Howard Stern in a few months. As far as what happens when you cancel the service, the songs will no longer be available to you. You never bought them, so you do need to keep subscription to hear the songs. This hasnt been a problem for me since I never cancelled. If you have a need to "own" the songs forever, you could still buy them from itunes, napster, or file sharing programs. XM had or may still have a partnership with Napster so you could buy songs after you recorded them if you wanted to, but this was not appealing to me. This way you have a choice record and or buy and keep it for life...
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 03:51 PM
    "Would apple want to allow people to get music without paying Itunes for it? No!"

    B.S. Apple couldn't care less. They are only breaking even with iTunes. It's a FEATURE of the iPod, it sells the iPod, and the overwhelming majority of it's music based income is coming from the hardware sales. The iTunes store is just the KILLER APP SELLING THE iPOD. Get a clue, this is all OLD NEWS.

    The problem with satelite radio is it's not really a mobile medium at all unless you have the local simulcast on HD radio. It's annoying not to be able to get a signal indoors. Afterall, terrestrial radio performed better than that!
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 04:05 PM
    Re: B.S. Apple couldn't care less. They are only breaking even with iTunes
    Well, if they are only breaking even, why would they want to get less revenue by allowing people to just record the songs they want and not pay the .99 cents to itunes. My point is that, it is not in Apples interests to allow satelite reception on the ipod the way it is on sirius xm portable devices. Why give people another option to paying for the song on itunes if I am Apple? As far as getting a signal in your house....lol....I am inside right now listening to my XM. I do it all the time. You do have to install the antenna by a window and run the wire or just get a signal repeater. Other option is to just listen to sirius or xm online. To compare satelite to terestrial radio is ubsurd. Content even sound clarity is not even close, unless you love commercials. One last point Breaking even is a lot better than losing money!!! Apple wouldnt want to give up any revenue it is getting from itunes, unless sirius XM would share some of its subscription revenue. That would be tough for sirius/xm to even think of.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 04:10 PM
    someone would have to tie me up and shoot me to go back to terestrial radio, HD or not. Wow!, I can get crystal clear commercial trying to sell me a car inbetween listening to FCC regulated garbage. When indoors with no signal I listen to recorded content, music or shows. No commercials!!!
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 04:12 PM
    Brewer: "The problem with satelite radio is it's not really a mobile medium at all unless you have the local simulcast on HD radio. It's annoying not to be able to get a signal indoors."

    No. My Inno works in my basement. It works in my local foodstore. It works in the shopping centers. This is due to a large number of repeaters in my area but most of the population is in areas like this.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 04:40 PM
    What???? I get sattelite radio in my car, in my home, and when I'm running or fishing. How is that not mobile? You can stream through WiFi, get a dock and antennae for home and car, the headphones have an antennae built in.... Brewer, have you done ANY research? this technology has been around for a long time and is very easy...and very mobile.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 21 04:46 PM
    Sattelite radio is the best content I've ever heard on any radio in any city. Sure the same songs can be found anywhere, but not everyone has Buddy Cage as a DJ telling a story of how Jerry Garcia came to pen Terrapin Station? Or have impromtu performances in studio that IS exclusive to Sirrius? Or Stern? Or Raw Dog? Or every major sports broadcast? Go ahead and keep pretending you are Mix Master Flash with your iPod setlists... I'll take my Sirius content!
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 22 08:51 AM
    The Stiletto 2 streams music from the satelite and it stores up to half of my available storage in a recentley recorded music. Fresh content with the touch of one button. In the morning I take the stiletto 2 outside and hook up the head set that has a receiver on top. I move a chair to the middle of the yard, find a station I like and begin recording...hours of fresh content. When I am ready to leave (work, beach, gym, boating) I grab the Stiletto and go. I have hours of fresh content that I can listen to and edit out songs that I don't like. Sirius strategy has been to have the best content and pay for it (Stern 738million), they do and will flourish from it. I listen to all types of music from Al Green to Weezy and nothing can touch Siri. In each genre of music they have stations and DJs that are amazing..Stern..Bubba.... Jude..Kayla..all the way to the Spa station 73. I have been a listener/shareholder since 2005 currently have 3 subscriptions. I am waiting for Labor Day to purchase a Sonos (whole house capability), or hopefully Siri has a new product available considering they had 17 months to prepare. I look for big things after Labor Day heading into the end of the year. If you know anything about Mel's past I would bet with him, not against him.
    Sincerely,
    Informed
    When the analyst said there was a 10% chance of this deal getting through, I was in the ten.
    Don't forget the only sport worth mentioning Football
    position Long SIRI,Long Steelers
    Reply
  •  
    Sep 09 12:35 PM
    APPLE will be idiots if they do not JUMP at linking their iPODS and SIRIUS! It would re-invigorate the brand!!
    Reply
  •  
    Sep 14 08:59 PM
    Sirius IPod would be the music gadget of the decade. Wouldn't it be great to have access to your vast music collection and be able to listed to real-time news, sports, and other types of excellent satelite content.

    I listen to tons of music at home. I would like to be able to hear a sat song, then click a button and have the some be in my itunes library where I need it to listen to on my home equipment. Sirius also transmits traffic info which would work nicely with iphone gps features.
    Reply
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