August 22, 2006
Polk Audio Ships I-Sonic At Last!
The second tabletop radio featuring HD Radio reception ships: Polk Audio finally releases this unit after more than a year of delays, although they told me back in January that it had nothing to do with HD Radio, but rather the number of systems they were integrating. The I-Sonic is a stereo radio that retails for $599 and includes HD Radio tuning and a slot to insert a $49 XM Radio module for that subscription service.
But it also includes a CD/DVD reader that can handle audio CDs, MP3 CDs, and other formats, and play back DVDs, via a video output port. It can accept other audio inputs, too, through two sets of input jacks.
August 15, 2006
Leaves May Turn Gold before Radiosophy Ships
Radiosophy now looks likely to ship its units perhaps in fall: They were targeting fall most recently, but their Web site now says (as of Aug. 15) that they are nearing the commencement of certification, after which "several weeks" will be required to manufacture units, and units ordered today will take two to three weeks to ship after the first ship date. So that seems very likely to put us well into fall.
Radiosophy is the cheaper of the two HD Radio units currently expected to ship next, and that have been expecting to ship since last summer.
Multicasting in 68 Markets
The HD Digital Radio Alliance says that HD stations are multicasting in 68 markets: This still doesn't address the lack of people listening, but it does mean that as soon as radios are available, listeners won't be waiting for programming. Another 18 markets are on the way.
August 2, 2006
Radio Shack Will Offer Private-Label Receiver
Buried in a background story on HD Radio is a note about Radio Shack: The retailer currently sells the $300 Boston Acoustics Receptor Radio HD, but near the end of this Associated Press article, a spokesperson for the chain notes that they'll offer a $200 unit in the fall. Hey, the logjam may be about to break. I was predicting a break by now (because of new availability of next-generation chips and modules this last spring), but it's still taking longer.