Pioneer Inno Portable XM2go Radio with MP3 Player

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.4 x 2.8 inches ; 2.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000E3ZFSA
• Item model number: GEX-INNO1
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (124 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #817 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)

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  Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Satellite Radio > Handheld Portable Satellite Radios

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Amazon.com Review 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.

With the Inno, you can receive and play live satellite broadcasts while you're on the go. View larger.

XM radio offers an incredible selection of music, sports, talk, and more.

Fast-forward a few years: the sequel--the Pioneer Inno--is a radical step forward in both performance, features, and design. (Note: Samsung's Helix is essentially the same model with a slightly different shell.) Boasting a much smaller form factor, slick casing, color screen, and simple user interface, the Inno is the first satellite radio player to make people think twice about buying a straight-up 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.

Product Description

XM Radio is a satellite based radio system. It requires a monthly subscription fee for reception. Pioneer's Inno is the complete entertainment package. It's a satellite radio that lets you listen to live XM broadcasts at home, on the go, and even in the car (car kit sold separately). The Inno lets you store individual songs or entire blocks of XM programming and listen to them anytime you'd like. Or you can upload some of your favorite MP3 and WMA files, and create playlists that include MP3s/WMAs and the songs you've recorded from XM.

The Pioneer Inno offers the long-awaited combination of MP3 and live XM Satellite Radio reception in a sleek, handheld device. The wearable radio delivers XM's over 170 digital radio channels of commercial-free music and premier sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming live and nationwide. It plays MP3s and WMAs, and it has a time-shifting memory mode for storage and playback of XM content. A particularly innovative feature of the Inno allows the user to ?bookmark? songs heard on XM, connect the Inno to a personal computer, and instantly purchase the songs from the XM + Napster online music download service.

The Pioneer Inno has 1GB of memory storage for MP3 files, WMA files, and XM programming, to hold up to 50 hours of content. At only 4.4 ounces and 3.4? x 1.9? x .67?, the Inno is extremely light and easy to take along anywhere. In addition to the XM + Napster feature of the Inno, it has a full-color 180 X 180 pixels TFT display and a user-friendly interface for saving and deleting content. Users can build personal playlists using a mix of XM content and tracks from their own digital music collection. The Inno has a memory buffer to make it easy to store an entire track heard in XM, even if the user starts storing it in the middle of a song.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is my new favorite tech, June 15, 2006

By	Scott Goodwin (Norwalk, CT United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been an XM subscriber since my first SkyFi when Opie and Anthony started in October 2004. I added a MyFi when those launched and appreciated its features (ability to store songs, built-in FM modulator, auto on/off in the car, more presets for all the great music channels), but found its on-the-hip portability sketchy.

I purchased an Inno a few weeks ago and am blown away by the improved portability over my MyFi.
1. The reception is better--I can even get a signal in the gym (lots of windows, granted, but the old MyFi reception broke up too much for usefulness indoors).
2.The styling is sleeker. This thing is less than half the size of the old MyFi--about the size of my cellphone.
3. The store-on-the-go/auto-recording features are great. I've been recording Bob Dylan's theme time radio hour when they air it during the night so I've got it the next AM. Only fluke is that recording labels are not always EXACTLY the start and finish of each song. Sometimes you get a second or two of the song before/after.
The negatives that keep it from getting 4 stars--I miss the preset buttons from the MyFi. I had 30 presets, so could always find the right music/comedy/news/etc. for the moment. The Inno doesn't have any presets (unless I've missed something). The XM/Napster software doesn't work on the Mac, which is frustrating. Also, I'd ordered a car kit and still haven't received it.

In the end, though, this little radio is a HUGE step forward.

73 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pioneer Inno Disappointing, May 28, 2006

By	T. D. Yarnes (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been an XM subscriber since just about the beginning. I've also had a number of different units, including the XM2go MyFi. I got sucked in by the hype, and bought one of these new Pioneer Inno units expecting the portability feature to be much improved over the XM2go MyFi. It wasn't! Reception is very erratic--you turn one way and lose the signal--turn another way and it starts receiving again--just like the XM2go MyFi. I suspect those reporting good reception are better served by terrestrial repeaters than I am.

What does improve reception considerably is the headphone/antenna accessory. So, plan to spend the extra $40 or $50 bucks if you want to listen while taking a walk. At one time I think this same (or a similar) accessory was available for the XM2go MyFi, but it sold out quickly and never seemed to reappear. Anyway, without it, the Inno is a very frustrating unit.

The Inno is much smaller than the XM2go MyFi, and I like that a lot. The screen is much more readable, even in sunlight, so that's a plus too. I don't know yet what the battery life will turn out to be, but so far it seems to be reasonable. The menu process for selecting different options isn't all that intuitive, so you will probably fumble around a good bit getting to the menu item you want.

All in all, I would strongly recommend that you "test drive" one of these gizmos before buying, if at all possible. They aren't cheap, and you may not feel you are getting your money's worth. The headset/antenna accessory is a "must".

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love My Inno!, August 13, 2006

By	Aragorn7 "Aragorn7" (Ooltewah, TN) - See all my reviews

I wish to address the reception issues with this radio.

I just don't understand some of these negative reviews. A portable satellite radio is just that: a satellite radio that's portable. Satellite means it must have an open, unobtructed access to the southwestern sky. Try blocking a Direct TV dish and see what you get on TV.

That said, I live out in the country. If you place the Inno out in the open on a table (Therefore it is portable), it has excellent reception, just like a dish. However, if you put it on your side and you turn so that your body is blocking the southwestern sky, you will lose your signal (This may be different in a city with satellite repeaters). That's why they make a headset that has a built-in antenna (it's always exposed). Unless you are by a very large structure that obliterates the signal, it works great. Why, it's not included, must be due to price point. I would have included it rather than risk disillusioning some people with an otherwise great product.

I have a built-in XM radio in my truck. I bought the car kit for my inno and placed it in my mini-van. The reception is every bit as good as the one GM factory installed.

The home kit also works flawlessly. It's hooked into my surround sound and the reception and quality of sound is exceptional. Again, the antenna must have an open view to the southwestern sky.

If you want to use the Inno for jogging or walking, you must buy the optional headset -- at least, it's a necessity out in the country.

If you really want to be happy with the Inno, you are going to have to purchase your satisfaction up front -- that means buy now the accessories that will allow it to perform like you want.

If you do, I'm sure you will agree -- the Pioneer Inno is a great satellite radio.