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It is going to happen. The market demands will drive this service. Sure, no one wants to say this until they get their "ducks in a row".

So, what's the deal with Howard Stern? I mean big friggin deal. Everyone who talks about satellite radio, the first thing they mention is Howard Stern. He's still puking out the same old schtick as when I listened to him 7 years ago. Again, big friggin deal.

Bababooie, Bababooie, Howard Stern's penis! Bababooie, Bababooie!

Second "The Crunge's" comment about Stern!

Wishful thinking, but that's what CEO announcements are for. Does he really think Shuffles and other "stick" players will have phased-array antennas? Secondary receivers for the ground repeaters? Displays capable of channel title, song title, artist, AND the usual controls? How about preset buttons for the hundred-plus channels? And of course, battery capacity to keep all of these ready at an instant?

I could see an "iPod PhotoMax" with music, video, and satellite. Anything smaller and you're in smartphone territory- it's taken years to get them right.

The other alternative is a MyFi with a hard drive wedged in. Much simpler (logistically), but I doubt it would break into the mainstream.

Not related to this article

Yo, MDN, you're slipping. Just found a few good reads over on fortune.com (both non-subscription articles)

Apple's Mac Mini: Trojan Horse
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,1025093,00.html

5 Questions for Steve Jobs
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/technology/articles/0,15114,1025098,00.html?cnn=yes

oops, that first link should have been this:

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/ontech/0,15704,1025608,00.html

My assumption is that all MP3 players will have satellite radio

For "assumption" read "wish" or "hope." I certainly won't pay for it now.

I like Howard and would like to be able to listen to him. However, I don't think Sirius' satellite footprint extends to Japan. So even tho I am a gadget freak this is regrettably a probably non-issue for me.

That stuff was on MDN a week ago.

Ain't going to happen.

We are in a podcasting stage. Besides iTunes Radio is free.....now if we can do the same for the iPod that would be cool.

I listen to my iPod primarily at work. I can't get FM radio or my cell phone to work in the building. Would a satellite radio signal reach me? (I can't help but notice that in the commercial where a guy takes his XM to work, his desk is right next to huge window and on an upper floor.)

First, Jack A makes a good point. Satellite radio won't work for the rest of the world, making it kind of a silly thing to add.

Second, the iPod is about my personal music--not someone else's. So, while Sirius might have great commercial-free music channels, their music selection is certainly not as good as mine because mine includes all my favorite music. Their selection probably contains all my favorite music, but it also contains a bunch of crap which is someone else's favorite music.

I don't see how adding Sirius Satellite Radio is a benefit. Hell, I'd rather see Apple add an AM/FM Tuner--at least I can get local news and info--before they add Sirius or XM. Not that I think adding an AM/FM Tuner would be a good idea, either.

Here's a crazy thought. If adding Sirius to an iPod is such a good idea, Mr. Karmazin, why don't you talk to the nice folks at Belkin about building one that plugs into the iPod?

I think it's a good idea because one problem I have with the ipod is it's hard to find good sources of new music. (ignoring shared playlists which require you to search and explore and be tied to a computer) Combined with Itunes channels on satellite with narrow/deep focused styles, when you hear a song you like you could press a button to have it purchase and sync with your library the next time you are at a computer. (or even that instant if possible.)

I think I went through several walkmans in my life. One of them had FM tuner. I thought it was a feature I want at the time I bought it. It did not get much use, because I took small FM radio when I wanted a radio and took smaller (and falling apart) walkman without radio when I wanted to listen to tape. I also wasn't sure if I was allowed to use the combo unit while in flight (is radio really off when it is playing tape?)

Instead of adding Satillite radio to iPod, may be Apple should consider providing Satellite radio that looks like iPod shuffle. Same control buttons, but slightly different function. Volume control is same. Skip song will become change channel. The shuffle vs. playlist switch will switch number of channels available, on one setting all the channels will be available. On the other setting limited set of channels will available, which are selected while it is connected to a computer through USB.

However, I probably won't buy such radio. I still am not sure why I would ever want Satellite radio....

"I think it's a good idea because one problem I have with the ipod is it's hard to find good sources of new music. (ignoring shared playlists which require you to search and explore and be tied to a computer)"

That's actually an interesting point. And it depends on the person.

Radio is "push" technology. The concept is that they'll throw a bunch of songs at you hoping that you like some of them. You have no control over which songs get thrown at you and--if radio listening habits are accurate--you may go a day without hearing a song you like.

iTunes is more of a "pull" technology--you grab the songs you like, but you don't get exposure to see if there's anything else you like. Because of the way it works, you actually have to make an effort to find new music rather than having it thrown at you the way a radio does.

That said, iTunes does some interesting things that I find useful in finding new music. First off is the "people who bought this also bought" which can lead you to explore. Shared playlists are another example. Also, Apple's QuickTime site has some interesting stuff on it. Click on the "What's New" link.

But I find the act of exploring to be fun. I can spend an hour wandering around iTunes and adding stuff to my shopping cart. Usually about once-a-month or so, I'll go back to it and listen to it again. If I still think it's interesting, I'll keep it. Otherwise, I toss it. Then I hit the 'Buy' button. When I have enough for a CD, I burn one with the new stuff and rotate the oldest CD out of the car.

Some people find exploring tedious. "Push" works for them because someone else does the exploring and sends stuff their way. Some of it is good, some of it is crap, but you have to listen to all of it to determine what's good. Of course, you can listen to it while driving, making dinner, jogging, having sex, etc. so it's not "time out of your day."

The problem with radio largely across the country is most stations have been bought out by a few companies. Most stations are pushing the same homogonized music to its audience, not really giving you much choice.

You have to listen to the same few pops songs played over and over.