If you're a SiriusXM mobile subscriber and haven't already updated to the latest version of the iPhone app, you'll want to hold off. The 2.0.1 update on April 16 is advertised on iTunes to include faster channel changes and some bug fixes, but it looks like it also introduced a lot of new bugs and maybe eliminated some of the old features.
Last December,SiriusXM introduced a rewind capability with the 2.0 mobile app release. Listeners could tune into any station and replay content that aired up to five hours earlier. However, the 2.0.1 release seems to have restricted this feature on several of the popular news and entertainment stations, including ESPN, Howard100, and MSNBC.
Reviews of the latest version of the app on the App Store report network errors that prevent users from connecting to the service. Many commenters on AppComments.com report that the rewind feature is either broken or has been disabled on some of their favorite channels.
A CNET reader, who first alerted this writer of the change, e-mailed a list of the stations that no longer permit five-hour rewind:
- CNBC
- CNN
- MSNBC
- POTUS
- CNN HLN
- BBC
- Patriot
- Patriot Plus
- Fox Radio
- ESPN SportsCenter
- NHL Home Ice
- MLB Radio
- ESPN Xtra
- ESPN Radio
Commenters on AppComments.com who subscribe to the premium SiriusXM service complain that they are no longer able to rewind programming on Howard Stern's channel. Rewind appears to be working on all music stations.
It is not clear if this is a glitch in the app, or a new feature limitation. However, the app description on iTunes App Store still advertises five-hour rewind on all stations. SiriusXM did not respond to my e-mail inquiring about this change.
Many subscribers seem to be hoping it is just another easily fixable bug that's thwarting their user experience. If it's not a bug, SiriusXM could lose a lot of mobile subscriber sports and Stern fans who pay the additional $2.99 on top of the monthly service fee just for this capability.
Thank you to Justin G. for e-mailing this tip.