Why You Can Trust CNET Freebie Friday: Get a free year of SiriusXM Internet radio
No, Siriusly, it's totally free, no strings attached. You don't even have to provide a credit card.
I love Internet radio. Pandora, Slacker, Spotify -- they're all wonderful in their own ways, and not simply because they're free.
But SiriusXM? That's the satellite radio service for cars, right? Turns out there's also SiriusXM Internet Radio service, one you can enjoy on your computer, smartphone, tablet, or the like.
It normally costs a somewhat laughable $14.49 per month (a Pandora subscription runs $36 per year), but right now, you can get a free year of SiriusXM Internet Radio. Just click the link, supply your name and e-mail address (the CHEVY1YR promo code should already be pasted in), then wait for your confirmation e-mail to arrive.
Update: Well, I wish I hadn't been quite so prescient (see below): Looks like SiriusXM has pulled the deal. Sorry, folks!
Update No. 2: Some users are reporting success by deleting the code from the Promo Code field. Worth a try!
Once it does, head to the SiriusXM player (or install one of the SiriusXM apps), log in with your username and new password, and choose a station. (I'm partial to "80s on 8," which should give you some clue as to my age.)
And that's all there is to it. You don't need to supply a credit card, so you don't have to worry about suddenly seeing charges on your bill a year from now because you forgot to cancel. (No doubt SiriusXM will notify you repeatedly that your subscription is ending; I get a barrage of e-mails from them begging me to renew my satellite subscription.)
I'm not sure how long this promotion will be available. The promo code makes it pretty clear this is intended for Chevy customers, and I've seen companies pull the plug on offers like this once the Internet floodgates open (i.e., everybody else finds out about it). So if you want in, my advice is to act fast.
I'll be the first to admit I'm not a huge fan of SiriusXM, at least the car version. (For a supposedly commercial-free service, there sure are a lot of interruptions.) But it's pretty cool on your PC or smartphone, where you can easily build a list of favorite stations and quickly skip around "the dial." Plus there's an on-demand option for various concerts, shows, and interviews -- some really cool stuff.
Oh, and did I mention this is all free? Even if you're already plugged into Pandora or a similar service, why not take SiriusXM for a test-drive? Too good to pass up, if you ask me.
Bonus deal: For a limited time, GearXS has the Canon Pixma MG4120 wireless multifunction printer for $79.99, plus $9.99 for shipping. It not only prints, scans, copies, and faxes, but also duplexes (i.e. prints on both sides of a page). Check out the 4.3/5 user ratings at Amazon, where it sells for $98.
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