Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple and Sirius Satellite Radio Comments

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,142
38,922


LinuxInsider reports on recent comments from Sirius Satellite Radio's Chief Executive Mel Karmazin about the possibility of Satellite Radio in MP3 players including the iPod.

Essentially, Sirius is interested in such hybrid device but that profit sharing details would be an issue, and that no deal with Apple has been struck.

Overall, this is not new information. Rumors of and iPod-Satellite Radio first appeared in December 2004.

Sirius's CEO already reported that they had been in talks with Apple/Steve Jobs back in February... but that the current feeling is that "they don't need to put a satellite radio in their box [iPod]".
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2005/05/26/apple-and-sirius-satellite-radio-comments/
Just another CEO of a company desperately trying to get popular opinion on his side so he can tie his device to the wildly popular iPod.

Nothing to see here folks - keep moving...

Certainly not like no one has tried this tactic before - can't see it working any better than it did with that other music store that will remain unnamed...
 
This may be the reason I'm looking for to buy a new iPod, but I still wouldn't be completely sold. For me, the reason I have an iPod is so that I can listen to the music I want to listen to when I want to listen to it. I don't listen to radio, because why would I want to listen to someone else's music which I have no control over? At any rate, it'll be interesting to see how this story develops.
 
~Shard~ said:
This may be the reason I'm looking for to buy a new iPod, but I still wouldn't be completely sold. For me, the reason I have an iPod is so that I can listen to the music I want to listen to when I want to listen to it. I don't listen to radio, because why would I want to listen to someone else's music which I have no control over? At any rate, it'll be interesting to see how this story develops.
Click to expand...

Because unless you know every single piece of music out there, then you can always find new music via radio. It also doesn't require you to select songs -- sometimes I just like to let the DJs at the station do the work instead of me searching my collection and finding songs I like.
 
aldo said:
Because unless you know every single piece of music out there, then you can always find new music via radio. It also doesn't require you to select songs -- sometimes I just like to let the DJs at the station do the work instead of me searching my collection and finding songs I like.
Click to expand...

This is true. I guess I'm just usually into the scene enough and have enough diverse sources that I hear about new bands, cool new tunes, etc. from friends, family, Internet, and other non-radio sources...
 
There are two things good that can come out of this, one of which is tied to the fact that i decided to buy Apple and Sirius stock (the Sirius stock is back from when Stern said he was moving) the second would be that it would give many people a reason to upgrade. Right now I have a 40gb and a Shuffle, the iPod photo does not really give me enough reason to upgrade. There are two things that would make me upgrade 1) Video iPod (whether it displays video or just has a video out to allow me to play it on a TV) 2) Satellite iPod. This would be great because it would save me from having to buy a satellite deck for my car. Since I more or less listen to my iPod exclusively in my car it would be that much better to add the satellite radio function to it. ESPECIALLY if its with Sirius and I can listen to Stern. And as many people have said, the ability to hear new music other than same 15 or 20 songs that get played over and over and over on the stations I listen to (edge 102, 97.7 and Q107 - all Toronto) would be more than welcome.
 
Can't see it happening myself.

Satellite radio is very territory specific. We don't have it at all in Europe AFAIK although we do have full, free digital radio from the BBC via DAB and from other suppliers.

If Apple were going to add radio, they'd have added FM by now.

The Sat radio guys are only going to get it as an iPod addon otherwise Apple would have to start producing US-specific iPod hardware.

If anything, I reckon we'll see wifi in the iPod first to support podcasting. In the UK at least, the BBC and Virgin radio are now podcasting some broadcasts. Personally, I think Satellite radio and DAB will have a limited lifespan to be replaced by net based broadcasting in countries that have good wireless coverage.
 
aldo said:
Because unless you know every single piece of music out there, then you can always find new music via radio. It also doesn't require you to select songs -- sometimes I just like to let the DJs at the station do the work instead of me searching my collection and finding songs I like.
Click to expand...
I'm still waiting for the day that when you're listening to radio (satellite, webcast, or conventional) and you hear a song you like, you can simply click a button on your 'player' and be directed to a place where you can view and buy the song. What a great promotion that would be. The only thing close I've seen is iTunes regularly offers a DJ mix for free, the songs of which you can buy individually.
 
I would buy two! One for me and one for the wife. I am holding of on Sirius until they put it in a package small enough to have with me all the time. Since Sirius is the home of the NFL, Sirius is the only option for me! God I hope this happens!
 
dongmin said:
I'm still waiting for the day that when you're listening to radio (satellite, webcast, or conventional) and you hear a song you like, you can simply click a button on your 'player' and be directed to a place where you can view and buy the song. What a great promotion that would be. The only thing close I've seen is iTunes regularly offers a DJ mix for free, the songs of which you can buy individually.
Click to expand...


That was what i was wanting. A way to buy music from the radio easily and secure. Also a random thing I want is to click the center button when playing something that will give me a shortcut to the album, artist, and realated songs.
 
If Sirius works well only out of doors, and costs money every month, then it's not something I want adding size/weight to my iPod.

As a separate product for those who want it... go for it! Just don't make it standard unless it adds zero cost and size.
 
Please, please, someone explain to me how you could have a negative reaction to news like this. Satellite radio in the ipod? Let's see, combine an mp3 player that kicks the crap out of all alternatives with a radio that kicks the crap out of FM, all in the same small unit with the same easy-to-use interface - man, that is the biggest no-brainer since the iTMS.

I would instantly buy one and sell my current ipod on ebay.
 
tveric said:
Please, please, someone explain to me how you could have a negative reaction to news like this. Satellite radio in the ipod? Let's see, combine an mp3 player that kicks the crap out of all alternatives with a radio that kicks the crap out of FM, all in the same small unit with the same easy-to-use interface - man, that is the biggest no-brainer since the iTMS.

I would instantly buy one and sell my current ipod on ebay.
Click to expand...

You forget one thing, though. Where would you put the antenna? Satellite radio is great and all (I have XM), but the problem you run into with it is you need that antenna and that antenna needs to see the sky (unless you're in a big city with terestrial repeaters). So, if you don't live in a big city (which most people don't), then you're out of luck indoors and outdoors you look like a fool with an antenna strapped to your arm.
 
aegisdesign said:
Can't see it happening myself.

Satellite radio is very territory specific. We don't have it at all in Europe AFAIK although we do have full, free digital radio from the BBC via DAB and from other suppliers.

If Apple were going to add radio, they'd have added FM by now.

The Sat radio guys are only going to get it as an iPod addon otherwise Apple would have to start producing US-specific iPod hardware.

If anything, I reckon we'll see wifi in the iPod first to support podcasting. In the UK at least, the BBC and Virgin radio are now podcasting some broadcasts. Personally, I think Satellite radio and DAB will have a limited lifespan to be replaced by net based broadcasting in countries that have good wireless coverage.
Click to expand...

A DAB receiver would be useful in an iPod, and would make more sense for Apple to offer a technology that it could sell in most of the world. The US is about the only country that is not adopting DAB.
 
Macrumors said:
... but that the current feeling is that "they don't need to put a satellite radio in their box [iPod]".
Click to expand...

bzzt. wrong.

Satellite radio is exactly what iPod needs... and iPod is exactly what satellite radio needs.

Sirius needs iPod: HUGE potential for subscriptions to podcast radio shows. Satellite radio is *already* subscription based, why can't DRMed copies (of shows you've already paid for) be podcast to you under that same subscription? iTunes is the perfect delivery system.

iPod needs Sirius: Not all people want to "manage" their music. (Not everyone has music to manage!) If Apple wants to expand their iPod userbase, this is a great way of doing so.

MP3 player + Satellite Radio. It's only a matter of time before someone else does it.
 
From a personal standpoint, Apple couldn't be more wrong. I use my satellite radio a helluva lot more than I do my iPod.

But I have to imagine I'm the exception and not the rule. Jobs is pretty religious about the whole simplicity thing (usually to our benefit, I concede). On the other hand, Apple's always looking for something new to convince everyone to upgrade from their perfectly functional iPods. Satellite radio would be much better than some of the more gimmicky changes of past generations. I think they go hand in hand.

But, the chance of reverse engineering the devices to stock your music library with recordings of digital radio are prohibitively high from a legal standpoint. (I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying that the music labels spare no legal expenses.)

Besides, Jobs doesn't respond well to public pressure. Just ask Rob Glaser.
 
Looks like Sirius is out maneuvering XM:
Howard Stern, Martha Stewart, NFL Football, iPod?

I don't see XM trying to compete.

Steve if you don't do it someone else will.
 
iPod, you're personal radio

The iPod is already a radio, one that only plays YOUR music.
If I would listen to my iPod for 8 days continiously, I would never listen to the same song.

If you buy an iPod, you do so because you want to organize and listen to your music,only a small amount of people would want a radio added, FM and sat both have antenna problems, Sat is only in some parts of the globe...and would make your iPod significantly bigger...

No, I see no big interest for such a device, nor see I much in a Cellphone with iTunes.. I rather have an iPod with phone functions..but that's an other story..
 
What I've always thought to be a good idea to add to iTunes would be radio. (yes I know there is radio already) but not just little online sites. Set up something like Serius radio stations on iTunes (I don't know how pricing would work, or maybe Apple should do this outside of Serius and just set up their own stations) hae the stations be high quality, with a mix of all kinds of music. Then when the song is playing it shows what song it is and that you can buy it on iTMS.
 
Frisco said:
Looks like Sirius is out maneuvering XM:
Howard Stern, Martha Stewart, NFL Football, iPod?

I don't see XM trying to compete.

Steve if you don't do it someone else will.
Click to expand...


I think you have it backwards Sirus is the one trying to catch up to XM. XM just passed 4 million subscribers where Sirus is just over 1.5 million.
 
Sirius is Dead

Sirius shot its self in the foot with the stern contract Sirius can not afford to pay him.

The only WAY there going to be able to do it is by raising monthly costs, which will go higher then XM.

Steve is not stupid, I don't think he would invest in this. Mainly because there is a great possibility Sirius goes bankrupt, or an even greater possibility XM buys them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back