Pioneer Inno

The Pioneer Inno is a second-generation XM2go radio receiver model for use with the XM satellite radio service. The Inno improves upon the first generation units by having an improved built-in antenna for live portable reception, improved recording capabilities allowing unlimited sessions, and increased recording capacity. The Inno has the ability to record individual songs from the XM service and has a capacity of 1 GB for storage. This flash storage is factory configured as two separate blocks, for approximately 22 hours of XM content, and approximately 518 MB of MP3 or WMA music or audio tracks and can be configured for 100% XM content for a full estimated 50 hours. These files are stored internally in their native AACplus audio format and cannot be exported from the unit digitally.

A supplied software package, XM+Napster, allows the purchase of music from the Napster service for playback on the Inno and a bookmarking feature on the device allows you to purchase Napster tracks while on the go.

While the software is provided, the Inno is not actually compatible with Napster To Go, and users will be charged the .99 for each song they transfer.

There are several versions of the firmware for the Inno. They are 1.05, which is found on the first batch of units shipped, 1.09, which was an interim release, 1.10, which is on most currently available units at retail, 1.16, and 1.30. 1.30 was a significant upgrade for the Inno as it fixes a major bug where the unit would drain its battery in a short period of time while it was turned off.

SureConnect Innos first shipped with firmware version 1.47.

In March 2007, the latest firmware for all Innos was 2.03.
2.03 was removed from the XM server and replaced with a temporary download of 1.30 until an update became available.
On April 5, 2007, the latest firmware for the Inno is 2.11 and fixes the problems with the unstable 2.03.

1.05 units have the ability to use the built in FM modulator in any circumstance, for instance, transmitting in portable mode to an FM radio. Later versions (post 1.05) of the firmware disable the FM modulator except when the unit is placed in a separately available ($70.00 USD) car dock system. XM is offering refunds for returned Inno units to consumers who do not want to upgrade their firmware and lose this functionality. Home dock modifications have been successful in mimicking the car dock behavior and allow switching between the two modes.

On May 16, 2006 the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) sued XM, stating that the device infringes on copyrights. XM defends the device by stating that the songs recorded from the XM service cannot be exported from the particular Inno device it was saved on, and the owner of the Inno must remain an XM subscriber to continue to access material recorded from XM.

On September 6, 2006, XM Radio announced a Pink Inno available exclusively at Circuit City where $30 from each unit sold goes to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's fight against breast cancer.

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4989498.stm BBC: Satellite radio in recordings row]
* [http://www.xmradio.com/lineup/statement.jsp XM Statement]
* [http://www.napster.com/compatible_devices/ Napster's Compatible Device List]