Blair A. Schumann

What an announcement it was when they unveiled the Google phone, aka the Nexus One.  It is exciting to me that Google’s getting into the hardware business as well as software (Android). Unfortunately I don’t have one to actually review, but I have used the Android software.  The hardware specs are pretty impressive, though I think they could have added more on-board storage (512 mb, really?) though add-in SD cards remedy that.  There are two things that will keep me from owning one of these at this time and those are: no multitouch in system apps, and no AT&T 3G.  Those are killers.  I don’t understand why they (Google) are still behind on that ball.  The other issue is the lack of AT&T 3G, as the phone will only work on the channels that T-Mobile uses, and T-mobile has no service anywhere.  I can’t even get service by them where I live. If those 2 things were fixed, I’d jump all over it and buy it unlocked, even at the $529 price.  All-in-all, I feel this is a great step ahead for Google, and a welcome phone to the growing number of smartphones.

After I first heard of the SkyDock I was interested in it. It seemed like the perfect accessory for me. So, recently I purchased the SkyDock. It runs on the XM network, so I was very relieved as the Sirius network sounds like complete garbage. I would never have purchased it if it were on the Sirius network. Moving along… In the box they include an antenna, 1/8in male to 1/8in male audio connector, 3 different spacers (depending on the case on your iPhone), and, of course, the dock. The dock plugs into a cigarette lighter to power the device, and charge the iPhone. On the cigarette lighter plug end, there is an antenna plug, line out plug, and an FM out plug. In my opinion the length from the plug to the dock could be a little longer, but then again my plugs in my car are kind of out of the way, hard to get at. Once you run and install the dock, which is very easy, you need to download the free SkyDock app from the App Store. When you dock the iPhone, the power light will light up on the dock and the iPhone will start to charge. When you launch the App for the first time, it will walk you though activating the radio part of the dock, with instructions to a website, or number. Very handy Sirius XM, kudos. Once it’s activated, the App is very easy to use. You can type in channel numbers on the screen, swipe between channels, or see an entire listing. One of the cooler parts of the dock is the inclusion of Sirius XM’s new FM transmitter system. It’s called PowerConnect; and it distributes the FM signal through the electrical system of the car for much more powerful and clearer audio. Again, kudos Sirius XM for developing a system after the FCC screwed up the normal FM transmitters by practically killing the transmission power. One thing that I’m missing from my MiRGE is the ability to do timeshifting. It’s the only issue I have with it, and I’m sure this can be added in a future update. Please add this, you have more than enough space to work with. The dock, in addition to it being a satellite radio, will allow you to play anything through it from any other app. You can play the iPod, Last.FM, Pandora, etc. though it with awesome quality. It unfortunately cannot transfer the audio from a phone call through the dock and the car speakers, which would be so very nice. All-in-all I feel this is a pretty solid offering from Sirius XM. I do wish they had never merged in the first place, but change in inevitable and I’m living with it. Now if they would just decommission the Sirius satellites (since their audio quality sucks) life would be good. The only real problem with this lies in Apple’s hands. The lack of multitasking in the iPhone severely hinders this device. It would be so very nice to be able to switch apps and leave the radio playing in the background. Fix this, Apple, in iPhone OS 4.0.