Breathing new life into Microsoft's Portable Media Center platform, the Toshiba gigabeat S, LG PM70 and Tatung V620 are on tap for 2006 boasting new features and form factors.
Unveiled by Bill Gates during the Chief Software Architect's keynote at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Microsoft is readying a new version of its Portable Media Center platform for introduction in 2006. Offering new features and the ability to vary form factors, three new devices from new partners are set to exploit the new functionality and deliver a diverse range of options.
First out of the gate will be Toshiba's gigabeat S PMC, which is equipped with a 2.4-inch portrait-oriented display with a QVGA resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and either 30 or 60 GB of hard drive space. Supporting Windows Media Audio and Video formats along with MP3 and JPEG, this device also features an integrated FM radio and TV out, claiming up to 20 hours of audio playback or up to 5 hours of video playback.
Cranking up the heat a notch is the Tatung V620, which harbours a 3.5-inch QVGA display and 20 GB hard drive within in a square form factor. Apart from these differences, however, the V620 is identical to the gigabeat S in its format support and battery life claims as well as its support for TV out.
Not so with the LG PM70, which is the jewel in the crown among the three devices and the only one to innovate beyond the capabilities of last generation's devices such as the
Creative Zen PMC-120 and
Samsung YH-999. First glimpsed at last year's CeBIT 2005 trade fair, the PM70 is fitted with a 4.3-inch widescreen display with a resolution of 470 x 272 pixels, a 30 GB hard drive and extended codec support.
In addition to the standard Windows Media Audio/Video and MP3 formats, the PM70 also supports the popular, MPEG4-based DivX and XviD codecs, and even adds on-device video recording to the PMC repertoir whilst retaining its TV out capabilities.
Similar to first-generation PMC devices, the new devices synchronize with either Windows Media Player 10 or Windows XP Media Center Edition PCs to transfer audio, video and picture content, and in the case of Media Center PCs also recorded TV. Also highlighted during Bill Gates' keynote was a mobile version of Vongo, an on-demand movie subscription service from which offers premium full-length movies and other video content for the new devices and is slated for availability in early 2006.
The 30 GB Toshiba gigabeat S30 and 60 GB gigabeat S60 are both scheduled for availability in March 2006 and are to sell for $300 USD and $400 USD, respectively. The LG PM70 is slated for introduction in the first half of 2006; pricing for this product has yet to be disclosed. Availability and pricing information for the Tatung V620 will be announced some time in 2006.
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