First $99 HD Radio announced
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Apr 13th 2007 12:16PM
posted Apr 13th 2007 12:16PM
Despite Ibiquity choosing to name next generation terrestrial radio after the ever so popular HDTV, it hasn't been widely accepted yet. The initial cost of HD radio tuners has been a big reason and Radiosophy is hoping to change that at NAB, by introducing the first $99 HD Radio, which makes it half as much as the next cheapest model. Like most radios today, it has a few more tricks: it's an alarm clock, has an external antenna connection, as well as the latest must have for any device with speakers, a line input for your MP3 player. According to the release you have to act now to get the $99 price, as those who wait until after July 30th will have to pay $119.99.
WooHoo! Now we can listen to tampon and income tax commercials 25 minutes an hour in CD quality sound for less! And they wonder why no one addopts HD Radio when you've got commercial-free music on satellite...
Sorry NAB... Content is still king!
“Sirius, XM, and HD: Consumer interest reality check”
“While interest in satellite radio is diminishing, interest in HD shows no signs of a pulse.”
http://www.hear2.com/2007/02/sirius_xm_and_h.html
"Is Pay-for-Play HD Content on Horizon?"
http://rwonline.com/pages/s.0049/t.4028.html
"HD Radio Effort Undermined by Weak Tuners in Expensive Radios"
http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/7002/hd-radio2.html
“HD Radio on the Offense”
“But after an investigation of HD Radio units, the stations playing HD, and the company that owns the technology; and some interviews with the wonks in DC, it looks like HD Radio is a high-level corporate scam, a huge carny shill.”
http://www.eastbayexpress.com/2007-03-07/music/hd-radio-on-the-offense
Reception is problematic with all HD radios - because of the low-power IBOC digital signals, external dipole and AM loop antennas are required. If consumers do not have a need for HD radios, price will make no difference. This freak'n radio doesn't even have a CD player ! LOL !!!