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Microsoft productizes Media2Go, announces manufacturing partners
Oct. 27, 2003

Microsoft unveiled a new member of its Windows Mobile software family today: "Windows Mobile software for Portable Media Centers," formerly code-named "Media2Go." Microsoft began showcasing Media2Go concept prototypes earlier this year, and hopes to establish the devices as a new consumer device category.

The devices are intended to allow users to take digital media content from their Windows XP PCs with them and view them wherever they go, Microsoft said. Multimedia content types initially supported include digital music and videos, digitally recorded television shows, and digital photos. The photo above is of a Media2Go concept prototype demonstrated by Microsoft in January 2003 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas -- click here for a larger view.

Consumer devices based on the new Portable Media Center platform are expected to begin showing up during the second half of 2004. As part of today's announcement, ODMs (original design manufacturers) Tatung and AboCom Systems, and device manufacturers Creative, iRiver International, Samsung Electronics, SANYO Electric, and ViewSonic announced that they are developing Portable Media Center devices. The photo at the right is of a Viewsonic Media2Go device prototype -- click the photo to enlarge it.

The new software platform is based on Windows CE .NET and provides support for both Microsoft's Windows Media 9 Series audio and video formats, as well as MP3. Microsoft says the high quality and smaller size of Windows Media Audio and Video files will enhance the effective content capacity of the devices for storing. Users will sync their Portable Media Center devices with PC digital media content from their PCs so that they can listen to thousands of hours of music on the go, watch digitally recorded television shows, home movies or digital videos, and store and view digital photo albums.

According to Microsoft, Media2Go makes use of the following key Windows CE .NET functions:
  • Windows Media 9 Technologies:
    • Latest bundled and optimized multimedia codecs, including MP3, Windows Media Audio 9, and Windows Media Video 9
    • Digital Rights Management (DRM) support
  • Microsoft DirectX 8 technologies, including Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectSound, and DirectShow
  • Extensive built-in driver support, including USB 2.0
  • HDD mass storage support
  • Instant-on and advanced-power management functions
  • Real-time, pre-emptive multi-tasking kernel
  • Rich graphical and user interface subsystem
"Just as Windows XP Media Center Edition set a whole new standard for enjoying entertainment on the PC, Portable Media Centers will do the same for portable devices," commented Scott Horn, director of marketing for the Embedded Devices Group at Microsoft. "Digital media technologies are radically changing how, when and where people experience and share their entertainment. Excellent partners like AboCom and Tatung will help us enhance consumers' media experience by building products that make the digital media content they love easily available to them on a portable device."


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