Windows, Amazon PMC team
Microsoft says punters can now ‘pre-order’ Windows Mobile-Based Portable Media Centers from Amazon.
Of course, they’re bound with chains of iron to Windows XP and Windows Media Player 10, but if you’re OK with that, they “allow people to enjoy all the digital entertainment they store on their PC – recorded television, music, movies, and pictures – on one device,” say Bill and the Boyz.
The first PMCs are Samsung’s YH-999 and the Creative Zen Portable Media Center, both with 20 GB of storage and both at $499.
The Zen centers are scheduled for late August to anyone who’s preordered at Amazon, and the YH-999 will be available in late September, says Microsoft in its role of promoter.
Microsoft is not, however, the only game in town.
In January PC World pointed out that Philips and Samsung were also releasing new devices offering both video and audio playback. Zvue is in there as well as one of the most affordable combos.
And you can count on the fact that similar devices are on the way, not forgetting the potential offered by streaming.
