Pioneer Inno Portable XM2go Radio with MP3 Player
The original lineup of XM2Go products (the MyFi, Tao, and Airware) were the first attempt from either XM or Sirius at providing a truly portable satellite radio receiver. As first-generation products, they offered such tantalizing features as a built-in antenna for receiving live XM broadcasts on the go and the ability to record content for playback later. But, like many first-generation products, these technologies were not yet perfected.
Fast-forward a few years: the sequel–Pioneer Inno Portable XM2go Radio with MP3 Player
That’s important because not only does the Inno receive all of XM’s great content, but it also has built-in storage for your MP3 collection. You can either record up to 50 hours of live XM content into memory, or split it for 25 hours of XM and 25 hours of your personal tunes. Having the option to load a few hundred songs is the perfect antidote for when you’re in an area where the Inno can’t receive a live signal.
Having some backup entertainment is great, but rest assured that with the Inno, antenna reception is much improved. The Inno’s stubby antenna (think a slightly thicker antenna than on your mobile phone) pulled in rock-solid reception all around downtown Seattle, even when placed inside a jacket pocket. Performance will vary depending on your location relative to XM’s satellites and network of ground-based repeaters, but it’s way better than any of the original XM2Go units. Adding XM’s antenna headphones can improve your experience even more.
Thanks to a 10-minute buffer, the Inno is also able to download an entire song from XM, even if you decide to hit record at the end of the song. Connect your player to your PC once you’re at home and you’ll instantly have the option of downloading that song for keeps via XM’s new partnership with Napster.
Another highlight of the interface is the navigation pad. To go directly to a channel, hit the left arrow and then use the virtual keypad to punch in the channel number. If you just want to surf around, hit the right arrow and the display groups the channels by category (Rock, News, Sports, etc.).
The Inno comes with a remote control, a home dock with relevant cables and antenna, nice earbud headphones, software, and more. The rechargeable battery lasted about 4 hours when playing live XM programming, and it will last longer for MP3 playback. An adjustable color screen is another great addition, as it’s much easier to see in sunlight and it gives the Inno a high-end feel.
