Portable Media Center Hardware Now Availble for Pre-Ordering

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=jasondunn-20&path=tg/feature/-/534383/ref%253Dms%255Fpmc' target='_blank'>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=jasondunn-20&path=tg/feature/-/534383/ref%253Dms%255Fpmc</a><br /><br /></div>Amazon has launched a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=jasondunn-20&path=tg/feature/-/534383/ref%253Dms%255Fpmc">Portable Media Center page</a>, and they're offering two different units for pre-order.<br /><br /><img src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/samsung-yepp-side.gif" /><br />First up, we have the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=jasondunn-20&path=tg/detail/-/B000294HDU%3Fv%3Dglance%26s%3Delectronics%26n%3D172630">Samsung Yepp YH-999 Portable Media Center</a> (pictured above), selling for $499.98 USD. It features a 20 GB hard drive, plays MPEG4, MP3, JPEG, WMA, and WMV formats. The 3.5" TFT display is, I believe, 16-bit colour (24 bit would have been ideal). The unit connects to a TV set through a composite output jack, has a USB 2.0 connection, and a rechargeable battery.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/creative-labs-pmc.jpg" /><br /><br />Next we have the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=jasondunn-20&path=tg/detail/-/B0002J6GLG%3Fv%3Dglance%26s%3Delectronics%26n%3D172630">Creative Labs Zen Portable Media Center</a>, also selling at $499 USD. It seems almost identical to the Samsung model - 20 GB hard drive, USB 2.0, but a 3.8" screen (0.3" bigger than the Samsung screen).<br /><br />Nothing terribly awe-inspiring, but the Amazon specs are sparse - I'm sure there are other juicy details on each unit that will make them more tempting. I'm eager to get my hands on one of them though! [Affiliate]

[James Fee]

The Samsung unit looks like one of those Sony Watchman portable TVs... 8O

[klinux]

How about DivX, 3vid, XVID, etc? Does anyone know?

[dean_shan]

I like the look of the Samsung. The Creative seems a little big for what it does.

[Jason Dunn]

How about DivX, 3vid, XVID, etc? Does anyone know?

I think none, and the odds of getting them are very slim since you can't install software on the devices. They're more like fixed appliances.

[klinux]

Surely there must be a way to a way to update codecs? What happens when WMA10 and WMV10 comes out?

[Jason Dunn]

Surely there must be a way to a way to update codecs? What happens when WMA10 and WMV10 comes out?

I'm sure there will be flash updates, but the problem is the way WMP works - it doesn't accept third party codecs yet, unless they're in a WMV wrapper. I don't really understand it myself, but I believe we would have seen DivX and Quicktime support for WMP by now if it was a simple process. :?

[Felix Torres]

...you can't install software on the devices. They're more like fixed appliances.

That official?
In the XNA intro, MS explicitly listed PMCs as devices that would play XNA games. Or was that meant to be *future* PMCs?
They're supposed to be based on WinCE on ARM9 so it should be possible to add apps *if* the manufacturer wants to allow it.

As for future Windows media codecs, they won't be needed for the forseeable future (Think:life of current hardware) because of the way the specs are defined.
MS locked down WMA at version 8 and WMV at version 9.
There will be no variation in codecsforWindows Media Player 10 or 11 or 12, at least.
Best guess is not for 10 years.
Once SMPTE certifies WMV as a standard that baby's cast in concrete.

[Jason Dunn]

That official? In the XNA intro, MS explicitly listed PMCs as devices that would play XNA games. Or was that meant to be *future* PMCs? They're supposed to be based on WinCE on ARM9 so it should be possible to add apps *if* the manufacturer wants to allow it.

My understanding is that 1st generation PMC's such as the ones we're seeing from Amazon are closed appliances that have no ability to use third party software. They are based on Windows CE and ARM, so yes it's certainly possible to do a LOT of cool stuff, but not in version 1.0.

As for future Windows media codecs...

They were asking about DivX and other non-MS codec support.

[klinux]

the problem is the way WMP works - it doesn't accept third party codecs yet, unless they're in a WMV wrapper.

That is not correct. WMP, for example, cannot play back DivX and MPEG-2 (i.e. DVD)content by default.

However, once one downloads the codec from DivX.com or cyberlink or intervideo, the WMP can playback both DivX and MPEG-2 contents just fine.

[Felix Torres]

My understanding is that 1st generation PMC's such as the ones we're seeing from Amazon are closed appliances that have no ability to use third party software. They are based on Windows CE and ARM, so yes it's certainly possible to do a LOT of cool stuff, but not in version 1.0.



That's what I was wondering about.
Cause XNA is more of an '05-06 thing anyway...
Thanks.


As for future Windows media codecs...

They were asking about DivX and other non-MS codec support.

Sorry, that was me trying to reply to two posts in one.
Not aimed at you.
I'm aware you know where MS is taking Windows Media. :-)

[Jason Dunn]

That is not correct. WMP, for example, cannot play back DivX and MPEG-2 (i.e. DVD)content by default. However, once one downloads the codec from DivX.com or cyberlink or intervideo, the WMP can playback both DivX and MPEG-2 contents just fine.

PMC's are based on Windows CE, so we're talking about Pocket Windows Media Player, which has the limitations I described. :-) I should have said "Pocket WMP" to be more clear.

[klinux]

Ah yes, you are correct then. For some reason I am confusing these devices with the likes of OQO and thought that they ran XP.