will PCR units be shut off?

[kgb]

I've watched with interest the developments in this whole XM PCR issue:

First the PCR units go on sale and are at clearance prices

Next, the XM PCR radios become totally unavailable almost universally, although there are probably thousands sitting in some warehouse.

Third, there are legal letters flying around about the use of software to time shift listening of the XM PCR unit

Since each PCR unit has it's own ID code, just how long can it be before XM sends out an email apologizing for the inconvience, but that they have to discontinue service to all PCR units, and they will offer some small token refund or service extension on other units to customers.

The idea of being able to time shift listening of XM is so fundamental, that there must be some way to implement a similar means with other XM radios like the Roady and SkiFi. If the new SkiFi2 is going to store songs in RAM, then what's the difference in storing a program on disk until I can play it later?
I have no interest in burning MP3s of their music, but I would like to catch shows that I can't hear because I'm at work. I would also like to be able to skip music that I don't care for on a channel after it has been recorded.

Has anything been proposed that could work on other XM radios?

[Free]

If they do, I for one, will be taking a serious look at Sirius.

Not that Sirius would have better equipment or programming, but for the principle of the matter. I can't see staying with a company that screwed me.

[trublunite]

If they are going to turn off the PCRs I would expect an extremely generous replacement, either the new Sky or the stand alone boom box. If your are going to greatly disrupt you customers' listening experience and satifaction you better go above and beyond to placate them.

I wonder if they are software upgradeable, and if a software change to the unit itself might be required in the future?

[Free]

Actually, I was told, by an XM rep, that the reason they were discontinuing them, was that the software was not upgradeable.

[cyclingplatypus]

[Free]

I asked the rep why they were discontinuing the XMPCR, and she put me on hold to go ask her supervisor. That is the line she came back with, and may be the standard response now for this question. It wouldn't be the first time a CSR made up something to cover up the real reason

[tps]

[kgb]

I can see a way that XM could present this "shut off" of the PCR units.... they could say something like... "We're upgrading our signal, and existing Roady and SkiFi units will receive the updated software directly via our signal. However, the XM PCR units cannot be upgraded, and won't work after...... (insert your date here).... Please contact XM Radio for your rebate coupon to replace your PCR unit with our new SkiFi2".... and then after the smoke and mirrors of this infomercial, they will just shut down the PCR units and the will assume all will be OK.

If something like TimeTrax could work with any XM radio, there would be no effective way to shut off the whole XM customer base... With the PCR radio listeners, they're probably only dealing with a few thousand listeners with those units (out of 2,500,000+ subscribers), so that small group can be lost without any big harm to the corporate bottom-line.

[bbsux]

[Cabinwood]

I would be very unhappy if they shut off my XMPCR. I don't need them to replace it with something else -- I already have a Skyfi...

[rddoe]

It's a shame that XM has taken such a drastic position on the software for the XMPCE.

However let me point that this software and the features that XM is so against could work on any receiver with any type of remote control. The nice thing about the XMPCR is the USB connection. This makes it very easy to communicate with and control.

However you could take the same software and translate the commands to control an infrared LED. This is very do-able.

With the right software you could control your SKYFI unit to change channels in the middle of the night. The computer that controls the SKYFI could also start up an MP3 recording program.

[wharfrat73]

This seems like a pretty easy question to answer. Why were all retailers told to liquidate their stock of XMPCRs? Since all retailers did this simultaneously, there must have been some motivation given by XM. Otherwise, the retailer who hadn't sold out of PCRs would be making a mint at this point.

[pangderx]

[hockeygirl]

They wouldn't ever just be SHUT OFF. XM wouldn't go through the thousands of accounts to shut off each and every PCR. That's foolish.

[woofpup]

They're only doing all of this as a show of good faith to the RIAA. My theory is they're afraid of drawing a lot of attention over automated piracy, which is what all of this is about, since yes, you can record broadcast radio or audio from any XM radio, but you have to do it manually at the beginning and end of each song - TimeTrax does it for you. It gives the FM stations leverage against them with the FCC and RIAA if they're known for supplying products that easily allow piracy of music by their customers.

Anyway, that said, they wouldn't turn off already sold XM PCRs. They've already raised enough stink with going after the TimeTrax developer and discontinuing the PCR to make themselves look serious about piracy. Doing more (like turning off PCRs) would just make them lose a lot of money.