Pioneer Inno™
XM2go portable XM radio/MP3 player
By Thomas R. Filippi

Posted date: August 2006

Pioneer took a giant leap forward with the unveiling of a phenomenal second generation XM2go player called the Inno. Compared to first generation players like Delphi, the Inno has major advantages. For starters, it's a lot smaller and lighter at 3.7”h. x 2.2”w x 0.6” d and weighs just 4.5 ounces. The unit has a full color 1.7” color LCD that you can use to get stock quotes, sport scores and song info.

The Inno has a built-in FM transmitter, enabling you to turn any FM radio into an XM satellite radio and MP3/WMA jukebox. You can set the transmitter to use any available frequency, and you can even adjust the FM output level. The Inno streams live XM satellite radio and has the ability to store up to 50 hours of XM content, but you can also fill it up with your own MP3s or WMAs.

Inno’s battery life is reported to be 5 hours for live XM broadcasts and up to 15 hours of pre-recorded content. XM offers 170 channels of content. The Inno allows you to partition the 1 GB memory for XM broadcast or to store your own personal music files. Your only options are to either use all the memory for XM content recorded directly to the device (50 hours) or use half for your saved content and half for XM content (which nets you 25 hours of XM content and between 7 and 8 hours of 128-Kbps WMA or MP3 files).

Recording XM content is a snap. Just press one button, and select record. You have the option to record the current song, or to continuously record the channel. The Inno makes it easy to schedule recordings of your favorite programs. The new player has a 10-minute buffer rather than the previous generation’s 30-second buffer. If you are listening to a channel and a song you want to record comes on, simply start recording anytime during the song and the Inno starts recording from the beginning of the song. The recorded files are in AACplus format, and cannot be moved off the device digitally.

Loading the player with content is a snap via the XM + Napster client software included on a CD. The Inno allows a simple interface to purchase tracks you've heard on XM or found on Napster. With the current version of Tune Select, you can bookmark individual tracks or artists you hear on XM Radio so that when you connect the device to your PC and start the XM + Napster client, the XM-recorded tracks you tagged are automatically located in Napster's database and purchased. Your recorded tracks are then replaced on your device with the downloaded files. You can also use the XM + Napster client to access XM's online programming guide to see what's on, and you can even listen to XM online. Partnering with Napster, the Inno has the ability to download purchased songs, similar to iTunes, for a truly seamless operation.

“For music fans, XM Satellite Radio and compressed audio media are the biggest things to happen in decades, and now you can get the best of both worlds in a single device that fits in the palm of your hand,” said Hugh Panero, President and CEO of XM Satellite Radio.

Reported disadvantages are that the treble and bass functions are disabled during playback of pre-recorded content and only work with live XM broadcasts. As with any satellite service, broadcasts might be disrupted if you are in a location that is not optimal for reception, such as the middle of an office building. However, headphones with an antenna can boost reception capabilities in less than ideal conditions.

The Inno has received accolades as well as its share of controversy. The RIAA has filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New York, alleging the satellite radio provider is committing "massive wholesale infringement" of copyrights by allowing users to save songs heard on the service to the device. The suit claims that users who have the device would no longer have a need to purchase digital music. In a sense, the RIAA alleges the Inno takes users beyond the passive listening experience associated with radio broadcasting. XM radio has replied with common sense, stating the Pioneer Inno is no different from a person recording from terrestrial radio, which has happened for years. Furthermore, the Inno cannot transfer content to another device.

The Inno comes complete with the following accessories:

Home Antenna and Docking Station
Ear buds
AC Power Adapter
Carrying Case/Holder
USB and RCA Cables
Travel Power Cable
XM + Napster CD and Manual

"The Pioneer Inno delivers where other personal music players have fallen short," said Larry Rougas, vice president of marketing and product planning for mobile entertainment at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. "In the past, the consumer has been able to do one of two things: listen to satellite radio or listen to music downloaded from their own collection. Now, the consumer can have their personal favorites and also be exposed to great new artists through XM programming. Adding the XM functionality to an MP3 player means you're no longer a prisoner to your own playlist." Overall, the many advantages of the Inno, such as sleek styling, ease of use, battery life, and seamless operation with Napster music service, far outweigh minor inconveniences regarding memory partitioning and ability to receive broadcast in certain environments without an added external headphone antenna.

The Inno has an MSRP of $399.

For more information, please visit:
www.Pioneerelectronics.com.
www.xmradio.com/inno