XM SkyDock turns your iPhone into a satellite radio control panel
(Credit:
Sirius XM)
Like satellite radio, but don't want to deal with the kludge-y "dock and play" satellite radios that clutter up your car's dashboard? The XM SkyDock could be for you. It looks little different than your average iPod car charger, but the SkyDock has a satellite tuner built in. Pop in any iPhone or iPod Touch, run the free SkyDock control app, and the Apple handheld is transformed into a touch-screen control for the satellite radio service.
The app automatically adjusts to landscape (shown) or portrait mode, and the audio stream can be sent either via line-out or the company's "PowerConnect" system, which transmits the audio to most standard car radios via the car's electrical system. Because the SkyDock is plugged into the car's 12-volt power adapter, it also charges the iPhone/iPod Touch while it's in use. We got a brief hands-on demo of the SkyDock earlier today at a Sirius XM event, and it looked to be working smoothly, even with beta software.
Why invest in the SkyDock rather than just firing up the Sirius XM app on your iPhone? The app, as has been widely observed, omits much of "the good stuff." Rights issues preclude many of the service's keystone channels, including MLB Play-by-Play, NFL Play-by-Play, Nascar Radio, and Howard Stern. By contrast, because it's a full-fledged over-the-air satellite radio, the SkyDock offers the entire Sirius XM catalog, including those stations.
The SkyDock app also enables iTunes tagging: hear a song you like on one of the music stations, and a touch of the screen will tag it for later download on iTunes. Naturally, the SkyDock will also play music stored on your iPhone/iPod. (Whether that includes audio from other iPhone apps--such as Pandora, Last.fm, and the like--wasn't specified.) (Note: Last.fm is a part of CBS Interactive, which also publishes CNET News.)
The XM SkyDock will be available this fall for $120. In addition to a compatible iPod Touch or iPhone (any model that runs iPhone OS 3.0 will work), you'll need a valid Sirius XM subscription.
John P. Falcone covers home theater and network entertainment products. He's been writing for CNET since 2002.
I wonder how much a battery drain this and the TomTom app will do to the iPhone.
I guess I was thinking that you could use the XM/Sirius part away from your car.
And that the holder was just separate. I guess not.
I'd prefer to be able to take XM with me wherever I go.
"the SkyDock is plugged into the car's 12-volt power adapter, it also charges the iPhone/iPod Touch while it's in use"
The real question to me is can you use this rig with TOMTOM ?
The word yes forms in my magic 8 ball
I will most likely purchase this device when released. I'd like to know if the phone only acts as a tuner and if the dock will continue to play the last channel selected once disconnected. Or more importantly if the app is closed. I'd hate to not be able to switch over and check my mail while sitting in traffic.
I'm sure this is not in the first release of the app, but I would like to see the ability to record items for later playback the way I can with my current receiver.
We (my wife and I) have 4 vehicles and an RV. Shoe and I have our own separate iPhones.
If I want to take the SkyDock in the motorhome, using my iPhone one day, I undesrand the terms of the subscription WILL NOT ALLOW my wife to use her iPhone with the SkyDock in her car.
That is to say, if I register my iPhone and the SkyDock when I start the subscription, my iPhone is the only one allowed on the SkyDock... This STINKS.
I'm happy the Best Buy had a good return policy because I'll be getting a refund MUY PRONTO.
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by 2TuuTango
December 4, 2009 9:35 AM PST
- I bought a SkyDock a week ago, wanting to use it in my motorhome, my pick-up and my wife's car. The afternoon I bought the SkyDock and got it home, I decided to look up some websites about this device prior to activating it.
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(15 Comments)On one website, and to my surprise (and I don't know if it is true, nor can I get a straight answer from XM through the on-line customer service department) it is my understanding, if (for example) your wife has an iPhone and wants to use the SkyDock in her car with her iPhone, and you have an iPhone and want to use it in your vehicle, IT REQUIRES TWO DIFFERENT XM SUBSCRIPTIONS... How absurd is this?
My impression is that the actual SkyDock should have an XM account and ONE BILL. It defeats the purpose of having a portable device like this that can't effectively be used by two people in the same family, having different iPhones (loaded with different styles of music from iTunes....)
If I haven't gotten a simple "YES" or "NO" answer from XM Radio, I'm taking the SkyDOck back to Best Buy (unopened) for a refund.