A year ago, I extolled the virtues of Sirius Satellite radio. The Sirius S50 has been happily chugging out tunes in my Toyota Prius with minimal issues, getting updates "over the air", though the recording functionality is little more than a novelty at this point.  What's causing me to consider switching is the "Wife Acceptance Factor" again.  No, it's not Howard Stern that's the problem.  The issue is that my wife got XM free in her new Honda Pilot for 3 months.  This led to her subscribing on her own, a first for any service.   For both of us, it's the quality of the programming for our lifestyle.  But a few nice touches are about to put us over the edge. So here I'm going to break it down into sections:

• Music programming (Winner: XM) - Generally a tie between the two, except when you consider adult contemporary content.  Sirius is heavy on the rap/R&B end of Top 20 on Channel 1.  Good decades and rock (Rolling Stones, Who, Aerosmith). Flight 26 on XM plays contemporary hits suitable for my son to be in the car. I'm a soundtrack fanatic- my wife turns on Cinemagic and I'm hooked. She complains that the broadway station on Sirius has a limited selection and loves it on XM.  Now for the holidays, XM offers 5 radio stations vs. 0 (will be 1) for Sirius. 
• Talk programming (Winner: Sirius) - I grew up in the NY/NJ/Conn tri-state area.  Howard has been a guilty pleasure, but not enough to buy Sirius just for it.  Opie and Anthony can't compete and I like a diversion on the drive in the AM. Sirius has better comedy channels as well and CNBC/CNN/Fox troika of news simulcasts. Martha on Sirius, Oprah on XM if you're into that kind of thing.
• Sports programming (Winner: Tie) - Sirius has NFL and NBA; XM has MLB.  both have Nascar, NHL, and College sports. It all depends on what you're into.
• Kids Programming (Winner: Sirus) - Believe it or not, Sirius has 3 kids stations vs. 1 on XM.  Perhaps they're trying to make up for the bad boy image HS brings to the lineup.
• Music in the Home (Winner: XM) - My wife asked what it would take to get XM in the house.  I powered up the Xbox 360, went to Media Center and voila, XM Radio in Online Spotlight! I've patched it through a Sonos and now have whole-home music Now she has another reason for the Xbox beyond her Bejeweled games (keep that gamerscore going up honey <g>).  Sirius does offer an Internet-based player as well, but the Media Center integration on Xbox 360 for my wife is hands down the easiest.
• Listening in the Car (Winner: Tie) - In my experience, a factory-integrated satellite system just sounds better.  It's better grounded, better integrated.  Sirius has Volkswagen/Audi, Volvo, Kia, Rolls Royce? and Subaru.  XM has
• Music on the go (Winner: XM) - I just purchased a Samsung Blackjack cell phone (more on that later) from Cingular at an amazing deal and I love listening to XM built-in on the phone.  Anywhere in the US I have a data connection I can listen to XM.  I did some tests for delay in my wife's car- the internet-based version on the phone is about 10 seconds behind the satellite delivered version, and offers a wide range of channels. Yes, you can do Sirius on your Windows Mobile phone as well, but having an app built in is a nice touch.

The final tally in my highly unscientific evaluation:

• Sirius: 2
• XM: 3
• Tied: 2

It really comes down to what you're looking for- if you really want Howard Stern, then get Sirius.  If you want better programmed music for adults (my perception) get XM.  In my case, music around the home and on the go is also important.  So it looks like I'm headed to XM once my Sirius subscription has expired.

As engadget and Digg are reporting on their headlines, the clix 4GB flash-based player is now available. Verrry niice.

Update: Reposted by popular demand - I wrote the following how-to used by dozens of Xbox 360 fans to score their consoles online.  This year, I'm updating for the PS3 and Wii, but this could be used for any number of sites with inventory trackers. Thanks to Bensbargains.net for their Xbox tracker service and Sightmax.com for sponsoring hosting for this site.

Here's a fool-proof way to get notified when PS3/Wii/etc  are available for online ordering- no online auctions required.  I've tested it personally- and  received my premium system in time for Christmas.  There may be other tactics, but I hope it works for you. Happy Holidays!

Step One: Bookmark Bensbargains PS3 Finder or Nintendo Wii Tracker
There are lots of sites that purport to track PS3 shipments.  Bensbargains is the best IMO.  They're tracking all the major and a number of minor sites that are carrying the PS3.  The site is legit and updated about every minute. Even better is their history list so you can see who got what in and map out when online inventory databases are updated.

This is great if you want to check every minute.  They also have convenient RSS feeds, but again this requires you to sit there and wait for an update.  There's got to be a better way- something that notifies YOU when status changes?  That's covered in step two.

Step Two: Download URLy Warning
Get notified instantly when a Web page changes, and see exactly what's changed. With URLy Warning, a pop-up window appears when a Web page you're watching changes, and you'll see a visual comparison of what's been added and deleted. The trial allows you to track one site in demo mode.

Once installed, you'll need to launch the app and proceed to step three.

Step Three: Configure URLy Warning
I've tried a number of tactics, but this one works best.  Click on options and set the URL to:

• For Sony PS3:  http://ps3finder.com/  (be sure to visit www.bensbargains.net for cool deals too)
• For Nintendo Wii: http://www.nintendowiipreorders.com/

Configure the rest of the settings you see below or read onfor customizations:

Setting to when at least 3 words are added or deleted will notify you when items go in or out of stock. This can result in a high count, but ensures you don't miss anything.  There are other strategies here such as setting When page contains the phrase "In Stock".

Updated Strategy: Search for changes in history only

Kevin writes, "I added a test range to only ping me on changes to the Tracker History by entering ‘History’ in the first text box and leaving the 2^nd text box blank.  This way, I only get notified when something is in stock and not when a timeout occurs."  Nice addition Kevin- thanks for the tip!  Screenie below.

You can set the app to give you a popup, a chime sound, or even send email to you or a paging device.  I used the popup and chime.  If you use the settings I did above, you'll see when words change.  If the number is in the hundreds, that means multiple deals are popping up or selling out since your last check.

Just hit reset between checks.  Plan on checking multiple times as some bundles are ridiculously priced- I played the waiting game and won.

Step Four: Get up early, check early and often
I've noticed a trend from the east coast- many stores first update their inventory between 5 and 8 am Central time.  I've saw and let go a number of high priced bundles, before getting a reasonable (MSRP) deal at a major retailer last year on my Xbox 360.  Now I'm off to play Gears of War :).

Good luck and happy hunting!

Back when I owned a Honda S2000 in the age of B.K. (before kids), my tweaker friends would do a, "Dyno Day" where they'd rent out a dyno facility and benchmark their supercharged, ultra-flow, boosted, EFI adjusted S2K's. 

Apparently that's already started with Windows Vista.  Using the new Windows Experience Index, overclockers are getting some impressive numbers for their PC "horsepower". Jeff noted in comments on my Vistas PC post, that he was getting a 5.7 index # on his overclocked system.  He included a how-to with details on his equipment - a Core 2 Duo system here. Not sure about the "Take that Microsoft" part (it was a Dell PC), but I felt an urge to go visit Fry's and that's not a good thing (tm) according to my wife.

Instead, after playing Gears of War last night over at my house with ZuneGuy and Zunester, I'm thinking about how I can get a Zune to output display and control to my Prius on-screen display.  Where's Phil Torrone when I need him?

A friend in the Windows Vista team sent me pictures of a cool new PC for Windows Vista they just did with Dell for a promotion. 

This hot-rod took the fastest Dell Media Center PC on the planet, then added a tricked out paint job by mondo paint mod shop Colorware to commemorate Windows Vista release to manufacturing. As the picture hints at, the finished result is top-notch automotive-quality paint that appears lit from within.  That's not surprising when you consider the specs of the system:

• Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 Processor
• 512MB NVidia GeForce 7900 GTX
• 4GB RAM Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM @ 667mhz
• 1Terabyte RAID0 SATA HDDs (2x500MB)
• 48x Combo + 16x DVD+/-RW Double Layer Burner
• Dual TV Tuners (Analog)
• Dell 30" Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor
• Full 5.1 Surround Sound system

My contacts tell me this system has a Windows Experience Index # of this system is a 5.2. For those of you unfamiliar with this feature of Windows Vista, it is a ranking # that represents the capabilities of your PC based on performance of your video, CPU, memory, HD, etc. and can be  used to determine which software will run best by matching the number or below (goodbye trying to deceipher 3 point text on bottom of software boxes to see if you can run the latest/greatest).  

The Vista screamer was conceived as a way to commemorate the RTM of Windows Vista at the ship party.  A few were made, and one contributed to Microsoft's annual, "Giving Campaign" where OEM employees raffled it off, with Microsoft matching the raffled amount going to the United Way. Considering the full version will put you back $3200+tax, that's a healthy donation.  

The only thing it's missing as far as I'm concerned is a Windows Sideshow display on the front and maybe an HD-DVD drive.

More pictures on my Flickr set.

Update: Fixed details on the charity process - it was a raffle.

A certain other company may have been first to mention this shared win, but they neglected to disclose this was a 4-way tie in the same category.  In the order announced by the National Television Academy:

• Microsoft for Windows Media
• Adobe for Flash Video
• Real for Real System
• Apple for QuickTime

Congrats to the Windows Media team (and others) on the win.  The real winners at the end of the day are end-users enjoying audio and video on the Web.

http://www.emmyonline.org/emmy/advmedia_nom_release.html

Whew.  Long week in NYC for partner meetings (very productive).  Sometimes a trip doesn't go as planned due to weather.  But then you also get a chance to meet some interesting people along the way.   Here was my situation

• The AM of departure, all roads into/out of my town were closed due to severe flooding. Thanks to my barista at Starbucks in town, I learned I  could take the Evacuation Road out. A winding, 7 mile gravel road through the woods with no defined curbs or lights at 5am. Adds 2 hours to my trip to airport, but I get there.
• Friday AM, I changed my direct flight was supposed to put me in 2 hours early by flying earlier through Chicago O'Hare
• Seated in last window seat on an MD-80 with only a view of the engine cowling (and the noise)
• 2 hours of delays before takeoff
• 4 holding patterns in the air due to severe weather over Chicago
• Diversion to Detriot due to, "Fuel issues".
• Chemical toilets were full on the plane due to delays
• 1 hour sitting in the plane in Detroit getting refuled
• Pilot noting, "Never seen this in 22 years" - 75 planes on the ground in Detroit and we were among last to get out.
• Wind shear causing pilots to fight to keep airspeed up and plane level while descending into Chicago. I can sensewhat's going on in the cockpit through the engines rising to max thrust and dropping to idle what seems like every 15-30 seconds.
• Worst landing of my life as plane "dropped" last 25 feet. Kudos to pilots for dealing with very harsh conditions.
• Flight attendant notes most flights out tonight are cancelled, other than Seattle, which leaves at 8:55pm.  It was 9:10 pm.
• Called to rebook, no luggage tonight.  The "Rebooking Centers" for American in O'Hare are Red 80's style phones at a counter with no people.  Classy.  Long lines.  Thank god I called on my cell.
• O'Hare staff are breaking out the cots; I got a reservation at a former Holiday Inn 10 miles outside O'Hare. One of the last.
• No jacket, thin shirt. Its 38 degrees and heavy mist, very windy. The Taxi line is almost two blocks long- worse than CES.  Thank god for the Motel shuttle.
• It took 30 minutes to get checked in.  Their computer system isn't integrated and they get all reservations via fax.  Stack of faxes was 3 inches high.
• Restaurant was closed for the night at the motel. Only option was "Hooters"  across the street (I bagged it though the wife told me to go).
• I don't normally hit a hotel bar, but it was 10:30pm, and I did this night after meeting a few guys in the Shuttle bus- one a Food Scientist from ConAgra, the other does cabinetry work for Whole Foods stores. 
• Good conversations, a free round from the bartender.
• Get up at 5am for the first flight to Seattle.

Top 5 Things (Re)Learned

1. Always carry your cell phone on your person when on a plane. Minutes may count if your flight is cancelled- start the process as soon as you touch down and can use your phone.
2. If your cell phone supports web browsing, save a favorite to the flight information page for your airline/flight #. You'll get more up to date/detailed status on your current flight or connections this way than the agents on the plane.
3. If you're going to be stuck, book your hotel ASAP.  If you're going to be stranded overnight, there are more plane seats than hotel rooms. 
4. Be frustrated, yet appreciative of help.  It's okay to be worn down (and it can help).  Just be sure to remind the agent/CSR you understand it's not their fault.
5. Talk to strangers, kill some time.  I tend to go into, "The Zone" when traveling where I don't talk to strangers.  In situations like this, it can help when you connect with others dealing with the same situation- hear their stories, learn about their lives.  Get outside your comfort zone and get distracted for a time.

Bellevue Best Buy had a limited # of copies of "Gears of War" in inventory yesterday (locked up by the registers). I picked it up. 5 words describe it:

• Adult
• Violent
• Cinematic
• Gripping
• Addicting

I've only been able to play about an hour- small kid in the house means playtime is only after his bedtime, but I'm hooked.  The Bungie team has their work cut out for them to make Halo 3 look this good.

This one was sent to me by a friend.

"Suburban Auto Group is an auto dealership located about 20 miles east of Portland , Oregon , but they came up with a series of world-class commercials when they invented the trunk monkey."

Click on EACH one of the links below…

Trunk Monkey 1

Trunk Monkey 2

Trunk Monkey 3

Trunk Monkey 4

Trunk Monkey 5

Trunk Monkey 6

Michael Gartenberg has a good analysis on the Xbox HD TV and Movie service announced earlier today:

Net? A good move for Microsoft and XBox to add functionality without compromising anything related to game play. Don't be fooled by the limited content (although current content maps to the gamer demographic well). Like iTunes, we'll see more stuff coming to Live pretty quickly.

Engadget has details here. VC-1 will be the codec used for delivery of HD content.  The HD trailers were just an appetizer. IPTV just became a mainstream reality overnight.