| sternowitz |
Here is an article that is interesting because it states that the decision by the big two automakers (ford and GM) switching over to IPOD compatible stero systems, could be the start to more automakers doing the same and an ominous signal that they have little faith in offering Satellite Radio to their buyers.
While the big automakers will continue to offer satellite radio, you have to wonder if there has been a shift in thinking over at the auto companies. They might have considered that Ipod is the direction they want to take.
Here is the link and the article:
http://www.eetimes.com/news/semi/sh...cleID=191800212
SAN JOSE, Calif. — In what could send some ominous signals for satellite radio providers, Apple Computer Inc. Thursday (August 3) teamed up with Ford Motor, General Motors and Mazda to deliver "seamless iPod integration" across the majority of their respective car brands and models.
The three auto makers claimed that they will make it easier for users to integrate their iPods into a car stereo system. Seamless iPod integration allows drivers to use their car's multifunction controls to select their music, according to Apple (Cupertino, Calif.).
Ford, GM and Mazda insist that they are not backing away from a somewhat rival technology: satellite radio. But major providers of satellite radio — Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. — are expected to greet Apple's news coolly, especially as the two radio startups continue to struggle and lose money.
But by 2007, in fact, more than 70 percent of all U.S.-based car makers will offer iPod integration. Ford and General Motors will feature iPod integration in the majority of their 2007 models in the U.S. beginning later this year, while Mazda's entire global 2007 lineup of cars and SUVs will offer iPod connectivity.
General Motors (Detroit) said that it has developed an "affordable, all-new iPod adaptor, allowing music lovers to use their iPod with the factory-installed audio system in GM vehicles, beginning this fall."
The device, called "Personal Audio Link," will sell at GM dealerships for less than $160, plus installation. It will be introduced in October on 2006 and 2007 model year Chevrolet HHRs, with more GM vehicles scheduled to be added by the end of this year. Designed specifically for the iPod, GM expects to make the device available on all of its 56 vehicle models, mostly by the end of 2007, said Nancy Philippart, executive director of GM Accessories.
"With our simple, affordable system, our customers can plug their iPod into their vehicle audio system and get what they want — clear, quality sound as well as access to playlists and artists' names," said Philippart in a statement.
Rival Ford (Dearborn, Mich.) said that it is responding to the skyrocketing customer demand to bring electronic devices into cars and trucks by offering the new iPod features to its lineup.
For the 2007-model year, built-in auxiliary, audio-input jacks will be offered on the Ford Edge, Explorer, Expedition, Mustang, Fusion, Sport Trac, Ranger, F-150, Mercury Milan, Mountaineer, Lincoln MKX, Lincoln MKZ, Navigator and Lincoln Mark LT. The jacks allow customers to bring any iPod or other MP3 player with a standard 3.5 millimeter audio output into their vehicle and play it through the audio system.
In addition, early next year, Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers throughout the U.S. will begin offering Ford's TripTunes Advanced audio system — an iPod integration feature that provides drivers with top sound quality and recharging at the same time. TripTunes Advanced allows the driver to store the iPod in the vehicle's glove box and select music using the steering wheel or radio controls.
The U.S. auto makers claim they are not dropping satellite radio. Responding to another consumer trend, Ford said it is increasing the number of its vehicles with DVD-based navigation systems and Sirius satellite radio. By the 2008-model year, Ford expects to offer available Sirus satellite radio in 90 percent of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
Still, Apple's partnerships with Ford, GM and Mazda is a blow for satellite radio providers, which are struggling to make money. For the second quarter of 2006, XM (Washington, D.C.) last week recorded gross subscriber additions of 926,281 and net subscriber additions of 398,012. XM finished the second quarter 2006 with a total of 6,899,871 subscribers, representing a 56 percent increase over the 4,417,490 subscribers at the end of the second quarter 2005.
For the second quarter, XM reported revenue of approximately $228 million, an increase of 82 percent from the $125 million reported in the second quarter 2005. XM's net loss for the second quarter of 2006 was $229 million, compared to a net loss of $147 million during the second quarter of 2005.
The net loss for the second quarter of 2006 includes $105 million in de-leveraging and other non-operating charges that were not incurred during the second quarter of 2005.
XM still expects to achieve positive cash flow from operations for the fourth quarter 2006 and the full year 2007, although its ability to do so becomes challenging toward the lower end of the subscriber range.
Recently, rival Sirius Satellite Radio (New York) said it ended the second quarter with 4,678,207 subscribers, 158 percent higher than second quarter 2005 ending subscribers of 1,814,626. During the second quarter of 2006, Sirius added 600,460 net subscribers, a 64 percent increase over second quarter 2005 net subscriber additions of 365,931.
Total revenue for the second quarter of 2006 increased to a record $150.1 million, nearly triple last year's second quarter total revenue of $52.2 million. Sirius reported a net loss of $237.8 million, or minus $0.17 per share, for the second quarter of 2006.
For the year, total revenue is expected to hit $615 million, up from previous guidance of over $600 million. Adjusted loss from operations is expected to be $565 million, in line with previous guidance |
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| Klepto |
Not for Sirius, the main draw is Howard, as long as they have him they don't have to worry about Ipods.
I have an mp3 player and a 5 cd disc changer that I could hook up, but I dont bother. |
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| P-B |
| No thanks. I'm staying with satellite. I can't get talk shows, news, weather and traffic through an iPod. I'm also too damned busy / lazy to download or rip a couple of thousand songs to stick into one. |
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| Seriously |
| <sarcastic> and bootlegs are hurting box office reciepts! </sarcastic> |
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| joetissirius |
| i'm not buying it. remember when they came out with the portable hookup to play cd's? they have to be targeting younger kids who can't afford a monthly prescription and they all have ipods. how many of this age group can afford a brand new car with the ipod hookup? so they do the portable ipod hookup like they did with the cd players years ago. satellite radio will only get better as time progresses. just my opinion!! |
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| sleeepy2 |
| I have both, I use them all the time, and they serve different purposes. Besides, the article clearly states that Sirius is kicking ass. |
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| Tom from T.O. |
Unfortunately GM and Ford will become less and less relevant each year, this is an irreversible trend.
Ipod is indeed one of the biggest problems for radio and for any entertainment, there are alternatives now where people can choose their own entertainment.
You fight this by acknowledging it and realizing you need specilaized programming, something original that will draw in people, like an uncensored Mr. Howard Stern.
Free FM is fucking dead meat. |
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| mdram |
| ford and gm use xm, be better for them if the ditched that and the ipod and went to sirius |
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| webworks |
| no one says you cant just buy a sirius radio and connect it in the car anyway. they act like the only way you can hear it is if it was preinstalled. I have an ipod myself but i also listen to satellite. this is like saying VHS tapes will kill Cable TV. |
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| jaykilla21 |
Quote: Originally posted by mdram
ford and gm use xm, be better for them if the ditched that and the ipod and went to sirius |
ford is exclusive to sirius... |
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| mdram |
Quote: Originally posted by jaykilla21
ford is exclusive to sirius... |
really? ok. i thought it was xm, thanks |
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| sternowitz |
| While this is definately bad news for XM, at this point many people don't make the distinction between XM and Sirius. They just know it as satellite radio. I think that eventually satellite radio will overcome (especially sirius) but it is obviously bad news for XM and by proxy sirius as well because they are ideologically tied to XM's hip. |
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| rinaldiinjapan |
| I don't think the impact will be as big as the article makes it out to be. People can easily use iPods in their car without car manufacturers installing anything special. There are tape adaptors, FM transmitters, etc and I doubt Satellite Radio is something that people will get and keep because they are too lazy to cancel. This biggest issue is if iPod hook-ups RESULT in no option for Satellite Radio..then it would be an issue BUT the two are not exclusive. I'm looking at a car now and having an iPod hookup AND Satellite Radio are actually packaged together. |
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| billrhea |
| Ipods blow. Get a Creative Vision M its way better. Many people buy sirius for the content the ipod/mp3 player can not provide. |
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| sternjg24 |
| That will not hurt Sirius, I'm sure there are people out there, that listen to both Sirius and I-pods. You can already listen to the I-pod in the car, you just need I-trip "jones". It is not a concern at all. |
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| Jimmy Helmet |
| People will be able to equip a car for Sirius, I pod or both. |
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| togojunk |
| I think Sat radio is safe --- most people want a product they can just turn on and use. IPODs take a bit too much work for some people. Also, there will be something in the future that will be better than an IPOD, Sat radio will improve, etc. |
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| sternelvis |
| yeah, you can't get howard on I pod and with satallite you get to hear stuff you've never heard before. Even if they lose the auto companies, people still buy the units. |
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| sleeepy2 |
Wait 'til Terrestrial Radio releases their Hi Def radio, that'll turn things around!
:rolleyes: |
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| flowerfeeder |
I installed a car stereo with an AUX jack on the front that I plug my iPod into directly via Monster cable. I get crystal clear reception to listen to music WHEN HOWARD IS NOT LIVE.
I use Sirius and iPod.
Also, iPods are idiot proof. Wendy the retard could use one effortlessly. |
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| johnqpublic |
| Having an AUX port in the dash only makes it easier to hook up plug n play Sirius (or XM)units...like I did in my 05 Nissan Titan. The dealership wanted like $700 to install the Nissan factory Sirius unit...I said fuck that! Sound quality is 100X better thru an AUX connection vs. an FM transmitter. |
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| mdram |
| personally i refuse to have anything to do with an ipod, after all its by apple |
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| Creasy79 |
Quote: Originally posted by sleeepy2
I have both, I use them all the time, and they serve different purposes. Besides, the article clearly states that Sirius is kicking ass. |
Nuff Said ~ |
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| howies5incher |
Quote: Originally posted by Beckerfer
fuck ipod |
well said in a nutshell...
who has the fucking time to load all hose songs into an ipod?
get sirius and go,that's what I do.
Just like Howard said back in January,if you are actually buying the music from itunes for .99 a song,how much would it cost to load it up??
I think that point is well made....
again.....FUCK IPOD! |
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| wabbit |
| I have an iPod - and I listen to Howard on it. :P |
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| MoMMaLoID |
| Some one should make a single or dual format portable satalite reciever with help from Apple and make like a 60 GB, push button pay for song, video capable (for like howard tv). And It would be the be all end all of portable entertainment |
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| BeerPal |
Quote: Originally posted by howies5incher
FUCK IPOD! |
Jeezuz, where does the venom come from? You a disgruntled ex-Apple employee? Get a grip. iPod rocks, Sirius rocks, it's all good. |
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