Movie sequels are rarely as good as the originals. Fortunately, just the opposite is true with consumer electronics, where Gen 2 is almost always a good thing, loaded with extra features and tweaked for better performance. In the case of the new Pioneer Inno XM2go portable satellite radio, it's a great thing. The Inno (and, presumably, Samsung's similarly designed Helix) ups the ante on everything that made the original XM2go remarkable, adds the things that were missing, and packs it into a smaller and oh-so-much sexier package.
SETUP As with any satellite receiver, activation of service is required before use. The Inno comes with the basics needed to connect to your home system, but taking tunes on the road requires the optional car kit ($70), which includes a second antenna, a remote, a dock, a lighter charger, a cassette audio adapter, and a variety of mounts. Since neither of my vehicles has a cassette deck, I used the Inno's built-in FM transmitter with great success.
One important setup step is establishing the partition for the Inno's 1-gigabyte internal memory. You can choose from storing 100% XM (roughly 50 hours of programming) or 50% XM and 50% MP3 or WMA (roughly 25 and 8 hours, respectively). While this can be changed at any time, doing so erases all content — especially painful if you've built a large library of XM tunes.
Inno also comes with XM + Napster software, which is compatible with PCs running Windows 2000 or XP. The software enables some cool music browsing and organization options, and it's required to transfer MP3/WMA files to the device.
PERFORMANCE Small and compact, the Pioneer Inno feels comfortably solid in your hand, giving the impression that it's crammed with technology. The front panel is split between the color display screen and the navigational controls. Since nearly all functions are executed with the navigational arrows and XM key, you'll feel equally at home with the Inno whether you're right- or left-handed. In fact, I fumbled more when trying to use the tiny, button-packed remote control.
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The Short Form
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| $399 / 3.7 x 2.2 x 0.6 IN / 4.5 OZ / pioneerelectronics.com / 800-421-1404 |
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Plus
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| •170+ channels and 50 hours of XM in the palm of your hand •Enjoy XM programming anywhere •Easily organize XM and your music |
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Minus
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| •Pricey for a portable •Big penalty for partition change •Mobile reception can be spotty |
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Key Features
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| •Monthly subscription to XM service required ($12.95) •1.7-inch full color TFT display •Lithium ion rechargeable battery; 5 hours for live XM, 15 hours for recorded content •1-GB storage •Built-in wireless FM transmitter •Napster installation CD |
Recording a song while it's playing is straightforward; just hold the XM button down for a second. To fill my Inno with hours of tunes for the next day, I recorded my favorite channels (Fred on 44, Lucy on 54) overnight. You can also schedule recordings on any channel and for any duration, though Inno does need to be docked during the time scheduled.
The Napster software is a great tool for organizing and adding music to Inno. Using your PC, you can buy songs on Napster for 99 cents apiece and transfer them over. You can also easily create playlists on Inno or your PC that mix XM tunes with your other stored music files.
I loved the TuneSelect feature of the original XM2go, which informs you with a beep and a text alert whenever a selected artist or song is playing on another channel. It's here, too, though it seemed to be a bit less consistent than on previous models.
A huge part of Inno's charm is that it enables you to listen on the go, though mobile reception will vary depending on where you live. XM has installed 800 terrestrial repeaters in urban areas across the country to fill in coverage gaps, but Myrtle Beach, South Carolina isn't one of them, and my mobile listening was spotty when using the Inno's built-in antenna. Down at the beach with the Inno resting beside me, reception was great, but when I walked around my neighborhood or worked in the yard, the signal frequently cut in and out. However, plugging in a pair of XM's optional antenna headphones ($40) completely solved the problem, allowing me to roam freely without missing a second of music.
BOTTOM LINE The Pioneer Inno XM2go portable satellite radio is pricey for a portable, but it's the embodiment of cutting-edge cool in the palm of your hand. If you've been tempted by the sweet fragrance of satellite radio, or already tasted its nectar — digital sound, huge selection, no commercials — then Inno will make your life complete.
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