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First Portable Media Centers Hit Store Shelves
An anonymous reader writes "After months of speculation and hype, the first Portable Media Center based on Microsoft's 'Windows Mobile software for Portable Media Centers' has finally hit store shelves. The Zen Portable Media Center, from Creative Labs, is now available at Best Buy and Fry's Electronics, priced under $500. That money basically buys a 3.8-inch color LCD screen, ultra-fast USB 2.0 port to transfer video, music, and digital photos from your PC, and an internal 20 GB hard drive."
I have one (don't ask) and I'm really quite impressed with it. While it won't replace my iPod for music use, I really think that the video/tv functionality would be fantastic for someone who commutes to work on a bus or ferry every day.
The UI is clean and easy to use, and the sync works great. I also like that it is easy to configure the system to transcode (in the background) all of your content to lower quality in order to optimize space utilization.
These are actually surprisingly good tools. There's a good review here.
I will say, however, that if I had not gotten one for free (again, don't ask) then I don't think I would have been willing to pay $500 for one. When they either get down into the $350 range, or have MUCH higher capacities at the $500 price point perhaps.
jrjBlog
What manner of DRM has been built in?
So when exactly did Slashdot jump the shark? Is there a specific date or story we can point to?
I mean, with every other story being press release, blog spam, or a rehash of the most recent issue of Wired what is the point of this place.
It's been bad for awhile, but it seems in the past month, month and a half it's just crossed the line to ridiculousness.
IMHO.
obviously no deficiencies vs. no obvious deficiencies
Which it will eventually- I think I just found a MUCH better solution to kid-in-the-car-on-a-long-trip boredom.
SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
does it
whew, close call.
run lin*whack*
http://www.archos.com Archos has been at this for well over a year.
>Unlike Apple's iPod, on which DRM is an optional consequence, Microsoft requires that you re-encode all video using DRM-encumbered technology.
That would be really interesting, if it were true. Jackass.
I actually own one of these things, and I can say 100% that you don't HAVE to re-encode your music to a DRM enabled format. Indeed, it is not even the default setting-- by default, your music is not encoded. If you DO set it to re-encode for space purposes, it does NOT drm the content-- you're free to copy it as you like (unless it was already DRMed, of course.)
jrjBlog
This is the coolest thing in the way of personal entertainment that I have ever seen in my life aside from unmentional bedroom activities involving myself in a dark room with a glow-in-the-dark prophylactic. The future is indeed a bright one.
ultra-fast USB 2.0 port to transfer video. Really, that fast huh?
Anyone seen my jagged little pill?
I can't wait for Apple's version of a portable media center. Imagine the ease of use and style of an iPod that you can plug into your TV!
I honestly don't understand the reasoning behind these products. These are marketed and designed for use from the point of view people WANT to carry movies and photos around with them. Sucessful portable devices don't get in the way when they are not being AND are so simple to intereact with that one doesn't think about using them.
These look like little more than toys for people who buy things because they are new. Novelty, nothing less, especially at that price, useability, and size.
Burn Hollywood Burn
After months of speculation and hype, the first Portable Media Center based on Microsoft's "Windows Mobile software for Portable Media Centers" has finally hit store shelves. The Zen Portable Media Center, from Creative Labs, is now available at Best Buy and Fry's Electronics, priced under $500.
Service Pack 1 released 15 minutes later...
"What the hell is an aluminum falcon?"
I would have preferred something that would support more formats, such as xvid, ogg vorbis, etc.
divx would be nice too, but there would be a licensing issue.
Marge, get me your address book, 4 beers, and my conversation hat.
Interesting that they call it the "Zen", since Zen teaches inner contemplation and quiet listening to oneself and body, not MP3s.
Dang it, I knew I should have waited on buying the mediocre-speed USB 2.0 port version. Now all my friends will be laughing at me because they have the ultra-fast version.
When things get complex, multiply by the complex conjugate.
mod up.
it might be the first for a device based on "Microsoft's 'Windows Mobile software for Portable Media Centers'" though. maybe that's a plus, dunno really.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
So it has a color screen, sound volume control, all sorts of DRM support and costs almost $500? And I have no keyboard, no networking, no generic applications, it's just like a portable DVD player, but there's no DVD slot, just digital link?
Well, for $600 I can get this low-end laptop running Windows XP Home with wireless networking, 40 gig drive and DVD slot, which is capable of doing so much more, which pretty much includes all the options available in PMC.
For $300 the PMC might be interesting. For $100 it would be a hot seller. But $500? Give me a break.
uh oh!
Look, I don't know whether the original poster's claim is true or not, but..
If you read what he's actually written, as opposed to what you assumed he wrote, you'll see his comment is specifically about video, whereas your reply mentions only audio. In short, you're discrediting a claim that he didn't make and calling him a jackass to boot.
Calm down, take a deep breath, and read the whole sentence, mmmmkay?
Seems to me the parent post was referring to video, and you were referring to audio. Can anyone point to whether DRM is reqired for video? It may well not be, but your blatant harassment of the parent is ill regarded considering you don't even address the point he was making.
-- Fighting mediocrity one bad post at a time.
I know, I can probably record it on my ReplayTV and then get it onto my PC and then onto the device, but I want it in one step!
He said video, not music. Why don't you read what you're attacking?
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
Microsoft always wants to extend Windows even into areas where it does not belong. A handheld running Windows? What on earth for? Now this too? No thanks. Give me a Palm, give me an iPod, give me a simple tool that works well and elegantly.
Well, to be fair he didn't say anything about re-encoding audio. He said video. Have you tested it with divx films?
funny, i could swear the GP specifically mentioned video while you keep on referring to audio...i still have no idea if the GP is true...
I'll turn into a supernova and burn up everything. Well I'll turn into a black little hole and you'll turn into string.
My question here is how much of that price tag reflects the license tax to Microsoft? The hardware can't cost more than $150 by itself even at retail prices... even the LCD doesn't justify it. The software itself also doesn't justify the price... maybe another $100 for that so.... IMHO the license is half or more of the purchase price there. Surely the market can come up with a better or comperable offering for much less...I'm not buyin' it, figuratively or literally.
A fool throws a stone into a well and a thousand sages can not remove it.
Good point, but that's like saying: Ford created the first truck just last year!*
*On their new F150 chassis platform that is.
Microsoft created the first console! To be based off the windows 2000 kernel, that is.
Let's hope so...
there are a number of superior devices readily available:
Archos AV3xx
Archos AV4xx
iRiver PMP-1xx
RCA Lyra 27xx
All of the above at LEAST play mpeg 4 video. Most can record Audio, some video, and one is ever a PVR. Educate thyself, consumer.
And if you're a linux nut, I believe both the Archos and iRiver are Linux based however neither appear hacked to any great degree.
LilMikey.com... I'll stop doing it when you sto
Video is not DRMed either. Not by default, and there doesn't seem to be an option available to turn it on.
jrjBlog
I have one (don't ask) ... I will say, however, that if I had not gotten one for free (again, don't ask)
I know how he got it. He sold his soul to Bill Gates, and got 15 of his friends to do the same. Then Microsoft sent him a free one. He didn't even have to pay shipping.
You can get your own for free to. Just go to:
http://www.freemediacenter.com?referer_id=6587412
Quoth the FAQ:
These devices will play video, music and photos that are transferred from a PC running Windows XP. The devices will playback Windows Media® Video (.wmv), Windows Media Audio (.wma), MP3 and display JPG images. The device is also compatible with other file types including MPEG, MPEG2, DVR-MS, ASF, WAV and MIDI.
So we can stick to MPEG for no DRM.
ah, mod points
Alternate reviews indicate it only plays WMV, MPEG1, and MPEG2. No divx/xvid.
LilMikey.com... I'll stop doing it when you sto
This from the Creative FAQ:
File transfers to the player are very slow (less than 100 KB/Sec). What do I do?
You may be transferring files that may be configured for other devices and formats, or your computer's CPU does not meet the recommended system requirements. Windows Media Player 10 changes or transcodes files before transferring them to your player.
Files that exceed the following specifications may require more time to change or transcode:
This should be less than or equal to Bitrate - 800 kbps Video or image resolution - 320 x 240 Frames Per Second (FPS) - 30 WMA Profile - Simple (SP)
Please read my Canon EOS tech blog at http://www.everyothershot.com
If a media player plays an MP3 but no one's around to buy it, does it make a sound?
Gizmodo linked to http://pmw.sorobangeeks.com/news_51.html about an iRiver portable media player. It doesn't look like the same as the one pictured in TFA. On a lighter note, I just can't see shelling out for any of these damned expensive gadgets.
-end of post.
The Archos AV4xx series is a handheld PVR. Have it record your favorite shows directly on the device --direct to Divx-- and watch them on your commute. Hell, it even includes a remote.
Also, the Archos 3xx series supports recording video directly to the device however they don't have the fancy PVR-style features.
LilMikey.com... I'll stop doing it when you sto
I wonder if this version has the same problems as the other Jukebox models. There were many problems connecting to PC that used the nForce onboard USB 1.0 and Firewire ports.
As opposed to a really slow USB 2.0 port?
Adherence to the truth is a form of disloyalty.
I would have thought it would be as simple as:
- Hook up device to cable
- Schedule recording
- Watch
Instead, you have to:- Hook up your computer to cable
- Go to your PC and schedule a show
- Once it is done, have the software crunch the video to be transfered to the device
- Hook up the device to the computer
- Transfer the video over to the device
- Watch
How much more would it have cost to include a tuner with the unit?! Based on a post above, the unit can do video compression. So, until that happens, I am not too interested in the device as there are too many hurdles to jump to get out the door.Bryan R.
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, or $12.50 as seen on eBay.....
Probably as cool as the Ancient's ZPMs. :)
gets its own custom OS that fits just right
RTFA = Read The Fucking Article.
Dude. It's not running the full version of Windows. Do you know how much space the OS takes on that thing?
And it does work elegantly, it's simple and straightforward. You have no idea what the fuck you're talking about.
or whatever is coming out in the future. I'm sure it will cost you a lot less then $300. In fact, you could get one for each kid, and still save money. Plus you don't have to worry too much when (and not if) your kid drops it. :-)
Did Apple port a stripped down OS X for it, or even a Darwin framework?
They tried! Then they threw up their hands and hired an outside company, Pixo, to write the software for them. Otherwise it would have been another Copeland/Pink/Taligent disaster.Best Buy can have you arrested
yeah, ok that makes a lot of sense. the whole concept of a huge portal is just silly and retarded. If I really want to watch a movie, i'll use my laptop. otherwise a portable should be small and light.
OH YEAH MAN, IF IT'S RUNNING WINDOWS IT'S OBVIOUSLY FUCKED UP!
You'd be jerking yourself off to this article if it was Linux or something on it.
No wireless...less space than an iPod...Lame.
Bill Clinton: Pimp we can believe in. - The Shirt!!!
yes, but that's pretty much how entertainment electronics marketing goes.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Hey, Creative made Carmack licence his own software and take out his own 3D sound engine in place of their fux0red EAX!
THEY ARE TOOLS OF SATAN!!!
Hey, Creative made a media center to play all my pr0n and ripzorz.
OMFG, HOW K3WL IS CREATIVE!??!?!
I would like to point out that NT 4.0 and Win95/98 ran great on "old" PCs anywhere from a DX4/100 to a Pentium 166 or Pentium 200 (non-MMX with smaller caches). Since you can buy a Palm Pilot with a 400Mhz XScale processor, it wouldn't seme unwise to leverage the already stable core of Windows and its stable support for mime types (hacked as it is around file-name extensions) rather than develop a brand new OS.
It's akin to using X11 on the Zaurus. Would you argue that is bloat, and that they should write a whole new framebuffer interface, etc? No.
--
Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
Yes, I agree with that statement.
Karma Schmarma
Can you directly attach a digital camera to it? Belkin has an adapter for ipods that allow you to move photos from camera --> adapter --> ipod = no laptop necessary on vacation. I am hoping someone can get to camera --> device where device plays mp3, etc.
Anyone else think it's ironic or perhaps moronic to call a *media* device Zen?
Sheesh, Zen is about as big of a buz word these days as I dunno some kinda crazy buz word.
I'm pretty sure most people don't really even know what Zen is, and if they did, they'd wonder why people call stuff Zen. It has nothing to do with motorcycle riding.
It's the first based on Microsoft's 'Windows Mobile software for Portable Media Centers'.
My other first post is car post.
"Microsoft always wants to extend Windows even into areas where it does not belong."
./ posts about of Linux on a wristwatch et al people tend to root and cheer. Personally, I agree with your sentiment. A large scale general purpose OS can only consume more than it's share of scarce resources on a micro-device. ;)
Yet when
However, in the future as computational power and memory resources grow ever smaller, the amount of bloat for the OS may matter less. For all we know, we'll see sixth generation "portable media centers" capable of playing DoomIII of course the display will look like crap on the holographic emitter and controlling the gameplay with hand gestures will be a chore, I'm sure it will be a hit for the hardcore game enthusiest
I would actually buy one of these things if they'd included an ebook reader. I guess MS figures reading for pleasure is going the way of the dodo.
The big problem is that with so many groups out there releasing things, their settings and codecs etc. are fairly varied.
Which portable player out there can handle divX 5.0 (and be upgradeable to newer versions), Xvid, handle codec upgrades, etc? This is the feature that will make or break buying one of these for me.
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
my mobile does most of this but the screen is smaller...
There was an unknown error in the submission.
Ah, Windows a bit too advanced or difficult to run for ya? What do you use, Gameboy?
20gb is not gigantic but it helps keep the price sane and is more then enough for 20 high quality movies or a shit load of tv captures.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
it had to be said, and it prolly already has been, but here it is again, the age old question. Will Linux run on it? I'm guessing not straight away as not many would know how these babies run yet. But i would assume it would use some pretty standard parts, so at least some of the most essential drivers are already completed. All one would have to do is tie it all together... Hard? Easy? Moderate? I'd love one of these. I was adamit my next house would be networked with thin clients in every room, also acting as TV or if you like, "media centres". These things would be greate for that sort of stuff, but what would make it really cool is Linux and Linux Terminal Services ;)
Giving IE users a taste of their own medicine since 2005 - http://pods.-is-a-geek.net/
WMV? Sure sign of a noob encoder. ASF? Extremly noob AOL encoder.
Quicktime ain't any better.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Can you rip DVDs to this piece of crap? If you can't stick a dvd in your computer and at least copy movies to it, it seems to me like it would be somewhat worthless.
Archos has had lower-case "portable media centers" on the market for over a year, but this is the first "Portable Media Center" -- as in, a satellite device compatible with Windows XP Media Center.
I happen to run XP MCE at home, and I like it quite a lot, but I don't want a pocket video player that's tethered to it or to Windows Media Player 10. I'm much more likely to end up purchasing the brand-new Archos Gmini 400, which was officially released about a week ago and should have a street price around $350 once it starts showing up in stores.
It is a fraction of the weight.
You basiclly wanted to show how smart you are eh. Oooh you can buy a totally different device for 100 dollars more so it is crap. Kinda like saying a mercedes is bad car since for a few thousand more you can buy a lorry.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
1 windows. 1 one not windows. The not windows one has the longest codec list. I didn't know it was out yet either although it is promised around this time.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
In 1997 I purchased a Newton 2100, hoping I could do on-the-go audio recording / editing by getting a PCMCIA card that had a SPDIF port (so I could plug in a digital microphone as well as an external DAT), get the RAM up to the point where I could edit digital audio of at least a few minutes in length, and actually find some version of Peak / Spark / etc. that would run on the little beastie. None of these things were meant to be, and I ended up using it as a PDA only.
These days, the palmtops and such are getting to this point. I'm getting excited about this again. WIndows -- blech, but if I could put Linux on it and get a SPDIF in / out, that would be monster-cool :-)
Regards,
John
Falling You - beautiful
a beowulf cluster build with these!
Be grateful for it!
Could you think of any better way to make it crackable?
"The likes of Facebook and WhatsApp are free to those whose privacy is of zero value."
The list of System Requirements says it all.
I'll buy this kind of device only if it is recognized as a Mass Storage Device when plugged on the USB port, not if I have to go through WMP to use it.
I bought a Dell Axim a30 Pocket PC a couple of weeks ago.
It does lots of things, Bluetooth and WiFi, for around $300.
A really nice piece of hardware, especially for the price.
I want to like it, but you know, it's got that 20% brain-damage-ness
of Microsoft that makes it fall short of being a satisfying fetish device:
Convoluted menus, syncing with too many options to set, WiFi that
won't connect without poking at it, remnants of applications that are
left after uninstalling, crashes, install files that are seemingly sprayed all
around the file system in random fashion, lots of extraneous interrface.
For some reason, even with all that talent they have on tap,
Microsoft just can't seem to pull of anything with the polished simplicity and
intuitive reliability that Apple does with consistency.
They have potential to do things right, but it's like there's a department
that all products are run through before going gold that adds an
intangible suck factor. Although I keep giving them chances over the
years, M$ products never meet my expectations, while Apple products
almost always exceed expectations, even years after purchasing them.
I don't expect this thing to be any different. Sorta cool, but screwed up.
Shoplifters, start your engines.
Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.
>>Unlike Apple's iPod, on which DRM is an optional consequence, Microsoft requires that you re-encode all video using DRM-encumbered technology.
>That would be really interesting, if it were true. Jackass.
>I actually own one of these things, and I can say 100% that you don't HAVE to re-encode your music to a DRM enabled format. Indeed, it is not even the default setting-- by default, your music is not encoded. If you DO set it to re-encode for space purposes, it does NOT drm the content-- you're free to copy it as you like (unless it was already DRMed, of course.)
Uh.. he specifically states when you are required to 're-encode all video'.. then you start spouting off about 'you don't HAVE to re-encode your music' and 'by default, your music is not encoded'. He's talking about video, you're talking about audio... and you call him a jackass to boot. RTFP, Jackass.
Who the hell modded this guy up?
-Copyright law #69:Whenever Mickey Mouse is about to enter the public domain,copyrights get extended by 25 years.
...and collect dust.
Read my own post. I never said it was running the full version of Windows, nor do their handhelds run the full version of Windows. ANY version of Windows is absurd for this sort of thing.
LOL, I did not know that. Well, I guess it's just lucky they failed.
In real world tests USB2 is much slower than even the first version of IEEE 1394...much less than IEEE 1394b.
and if you check on what he wrote you'll note that the Archos DVM-4012 does not exist.
A blog about stuff.
A previous poster said it automatically transferred his DivX movies and converted them to WMV format.
If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Microsoft always wants to extend Windows even into areas where it does not belong.
:(
AMEN. Try having windows on your cellphone. It's absolutely miserable to deal with(work phone, otherwise I'd toss it in a heartbeat). Even simple tasks like dialing a phone number are long, arduous processes that involve re-keying often because I enter numbers too fast for the system to keep up. It's like having all the annoying problems of running windows on a low-end PC with none of the benefit.
Don't get me wrong, it's nice having so many features in my phone(email/instant messaging/etc), but couldn't they have at least left the core features like dialing ALONE?
I would expect such blatant racism on Fark, but on Slashdot? Mods please ban this asshole.
... because people are going to be using it for pr0n . Maybe they did it unwittingly, but iPods target people's MP3 collections, while this thing targets porn collections. "Video and digital photos" means "porn downloaded from the web".
Anyone make the connection on how both Windows and OS X have built-in features meant to be used with music, photos, and video that can easily be applied to what people really use the net for? At first glance, it may seem that they are targetting legally bought CDs, digital cameras, and DV cams. However, they also conveniently fit the major uses of the internet which are downloading MP3s, porn images, and porn videos. Can you guess what some people are using the "slideshow" function for?
They should have gone and designed these things to be waterproof. And they should advertise them as "sport" versions that can be used while you are around a swimming pool, when in fact the waterproofing would be so that people can use them in the tub, and so they won't break from accidentally being dropped in the toilet, or from... um... "spillage". :P
Personally I think the Portable Media center is to functionally specific for it's given market. To me running video on a PDA makes a lot more sense. PDA have rougly the same size screen. The only question is can a PDA process video as fast.....?? The other limiting factor is that you are probably limited to Windows Media player formats. There is also the issue of digital rights limitations.
It's called "firewire," people. gekko
Watching a 30 minute show fits nicely into my 35 minute subway ride into work. The best part is that I already have everything I need via my (under) $200 Toshiba e355 PDA, a 300MHz, not-all-that-impressive CE device, to which I added a $40 256MB SD card.
.avi w/ mp3 audio, and then BetaPlayer, a fast, efficient, and full featured player with all sorts of (optional!) settings, to play it back. A 30 minute show with ads still intact takes up less than 60MB. For example, I schedule my DVR to grab The Daily Show overnight, and I encode it (five minutes!) in the morning before I leave for the office.
I'm using the incredibly easy to use PocketDivXEncoder to encode my video into a 320x240 Divx
I couldn't be happier. Battery life was my biggest concern, and it turns out that watching videos really doesn't drain the CPU all that much.
While I agree that 20GB might be nice for long trips, for casual use I can stick at least two hours of video on my 256MB SD card, which means a 1GB card would give me 8 hours -- plenty for any travelling I'd do, and all on a multi-function device.
I posted on this item before it became an article. Check it out >> http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=120329&cid=101 38448. And I still want to know why the guy in the ad keeps staring at me!
Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
but, as usual for mac (L)users, that didn't stop you spouting off like it was fact...
A couple of hours ago I exchanged my new fourth generation 40GB iPod for one of these units.
...the unit seems to be dummed down to the point that it doesn't do very much besides play songs and movies. Given that the unit is running Windows CE.NET (v4.2 I think) I expected the unit to be loaded with PIM applications and such. But, there don't seem to be any such applications. The iPod provides such things as tasks, calender and notes viewing applications. I had expected the PMC to be more functional than the iPod, not less.
I loved my iPod, but it was unstable and locked up repeatedly. It was my second such iPod to do so. My first such iPod was one that I had bought only two weeks ago. I exchanged the first iPod for the second iPod because after only one day of use the first iPod had begun locking up. Many thanks to Best Buy for living up to their 30 day return policy.
Anyway, with regard to the Zen PMC, my initial impressions are mixed:
1. The unit is very large and bulky compared to an iPod. In fact, the unit is large enough that you'll have to wear very loose-fitting pants in order to carry the unit in your pocket. And the unit is too heavy to carry in your hand for a long period of time.
2. Installation of the battery is needlessly hazardous to the unit and is needlessly annoying. Before installing the battery, you must adjust a tiny, delicate on/off within the battery compartment to the "on" position using whatever small tool that you might have sitting nearby. If you're not careful you could *easily* break the switch by pushing too hard on it. Also, if you don't have a small tool (e.g. a jeweler's screwdriver) sitting nearby then you're not even going to be able to start using your unit. I was fortunate as after a few minutes of scrounging around I was able to find a jeweler's screwdriver. Had I not found a tool I would have been pretty pissed off. My iPod didn't require any such silliness.
3. The unit's buttons have a cheap feel to them. The "Back" button not only feels cheap, but is too far recessed into the casing to be easily used.
4. The top (user facing) half of the unit is made of glossy black plastic and therefore shows fingerprints a lot. Within a few seconds of being handled the unit no longer looks new.
5. (Completly subjective) The unit completely lacks the sexy, cool appearance of an iPod. If I were a Mac user (I'm a Windows and Linux user), I'd probably say that the PMC is to an iPod as a generic Wintel desktop box is to a Mac G5 desktop box.
6. The directions claim that you should charge the battery for *sixteen* hours before first use. Sixteen hours is a long time to wait before taking a new toy for a walk.
7. The unit's UI is very easy to figure out. Mostly that's because...
8.
9. Windows Media Player 10 is required in order to synchronize the PMC with your PC. Without getting very far at all I got so annoyed with WMP 10 that I decided to post these comments. WMP 10 is bad in several ways. First, WMP 10 is still in beta. That's right. In order to get music onto your new $500 PMC, you're going to have to use beta software. Thanks Microsoft. And this is not just any beta software. This is software that installs a bunch of DRM stuff onto your computer. In fact, there are several steps in the installation procedure where you encounter DRM-related dialog boxes. These dialog boxes explain things such as the fact that the installer connects to Microsoft's servers to register your computer with Microsoft so Microsoft can assign your machine some sort DRM ticket. Depending upon how you feel about DRM, you might not be too happy about any of this.
10. Using WMP 10 to synchronize with the PMC seems to be broken. I keep telling it to synchronize and it keeps pretending that it is, but it isn't. I have about 16GB of songs to synchronize. With my iPod, I had the process of synchronization completed in less than an hour. I just plugged in my iPod to the cradle and everything just worked. With the PMC
The iRiver looks promising, I agree. Hopefully it'll come soon, I thought it was coming early fall but I really don't know.
Presently here, but not there.
for your purple-headed yogurt slinger!
seriously, this is another "escape" for husbands whose desktop "computer usage" is monitored.
Sorry, sorry, I know, it's the whole WinTel marketing machine, but if they really REALLY wanted an "ultra fast" port for moving all that data around, they'd've gone with FireWire 800. Even plain vanilla FireWire is faster than USB 2.0. Sure, USB's THEORETICAL maximum speed is faster than FireWire 400, but in practise it's a lot slower.
That said, it probably is fast enough. But ultra fast? HA!
finally, I can take some pr0n to go. and its small enough that I can hold it in one hand :)
:(
I dunno what you are all going on about. 20G is fine since you will re-RIP your moves to the smaller size. the movies and TV shows should be quite small. I t probably doesnt support DIVX though
Check out these links: http://computertimes.asia1.com.sg/reviews/story/0, 5104,2780,00.html?
http://computertimes.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,510 4,2770,00.html?
This kind of device (portable media devices with 20GB+ HDs) is a must-have for any long trip in a vehicle when the user isn't the driver.
I bought one of these 20GB Portable Storage Devices (PSD for short) that came without any fancy LCD screen or Audio output, but did have USB 2.0 and a CF card so that I could have a 20GB store for all my photos when I was taking pictures on vacation. The total cost of the unit was about $240, but considering that I have no laptop, and didn't want to take a laptop-sized device with me, it fit the bill perfectly.
Now with the Archos GMini and the SmartDisk FlashTrax among these new entrants in the market, there are more uses than just a portable storage device.
I don't know if any of the new portable media centers can or will be able to directly connect to my camera via USB (I imagine it's just a matter of getting the right software on it), but if they want to have my business, they need at least a Compact Flash card, or I'm not getting rid of my Aplux Tripper PSD.
Don't knock the iPod for being a novelty item. It is a very well designed (and well marketed) pocket MP3 player. These new devices competing with Video and Photos and connecting to digital cameras in the same space at competing prices will surely force Apple to invest more in this market.
We are seeing a convergance in small digital devices. I predict that within a decade we will have a digital camera, cell phone, MP3 player, portable storage (20GB is low end, but maybe 20GB in Flash RAM), and Photo viewer in the form factor of a $100 watch.
The only thing preventing most of this today is battery consumption. But Sony, and other large corporations are certainly capable of producing the hardware, and they have designs on the drawing board. Japan will embrace these before the US. After all, what's new over here is 5 years old over there.
I mean blurb telling that you can only download specific file formats, which obviously don't include exe. If it would be possile to run third party applications on it it would be a solid gaming platform...
I think the main difference though is that quicktime can encode and play a lot of open formats really well. A quicktime device would be able to play a lot more formats natively. Yes, having to use .mov's in a device would be pretty lame, but .mov files are only relatively small group of files which quicktime handles. Frankly, Windows Media sucks on a Mac. Playback quality is at best marginal on my dual 1.8 G5. God forbid I have to resize the window or jump to a different part of the file being played back. In my experience, Quicktime works better on windows than WMP does on Mac. Also, it seems that divX, Xvid, and 3ivx put WMV to shame bit for bit.
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0 is the magic number.
AFAIK it isn't actually Windows. It just looks like Windows XP MCE which I think is a good thing as it keeps things consistant. If it is going to be popular with the general customer they need to make the customer feel like they already know how to use it. If the customer has MCE at home they can pick this up and use it OOTB.
I have not had a chance to use one yet but Paul Thurott has an excellent review on his Windows SuperSite and is very impressed by it (however he did say the same as everyone else, why no DivX/XviD, Vorbis, etc. support).
I want to try one myself before I decide to buy one however from what I have read Microsoft did an excellent job with the OS on it. Windows isn't great, we all know that, but it isn't the worst thing either.
check this link
/
... has a tv-out ... etc.
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/handhelds/5fe2
doesn't this fit in just as the same thing ? for under 300$ ?
and it doesn support quite a lot of formats
what's the hype about the pay-more-get-less creative tool ?
better yet, grab yourself a zaurus handheld from sharp, add a portable usb 20gb hdd to it and enjoy the power of linux.
I'd tell you the chances of this story being a dupe, but you wouldn't like it.
Let's see if it works for me too...
winsupersite.com
so, umm, how'd you get it? ; )
winsupersite.com
Sshhhh!! He said not to ask. Ooooohh, now you're in trouuuuuuble...
winsupersite.com
Hah, USB 1.0 might be the problem, that goes slower than most cable connections.
I am one of many. My idea is not unique, nor do I expect my voice alone to sway you. I speak in a chorus of opinion.
the archos has been in compusa stores for over a year now. Plus they can record from a video/audio in connection.
we have them here at work for showing customers their new commercials. it will play regular Divx files.
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Umm, the problem is that it doesn't go at all!
Yes, it *converts* to WMV. It does not play DivX. So when you take your stuff back off the device, you don't have a DivX. You have a WMV. And I don't know what he's transfering but converting 640x480 2mpbs DivX to WMV isn't an 'on the fly' kind of process. On average hardware it takes almost as long to encode as the duration of the video (ie: 2 hr movie, 2hr encode).
LilMikey.com... I'll stop doing it when you sto
Really, I dont know who would pay $500 on this piece of junk when I can have a PVR running on Linux using MythTV software. Really, guys think about installing MythTV(http://www.mythtv.org/) rather than spending $500 for nothing.
I did state a fact, so there's no need to make empty insults that just make you look ignorant.
Now, all it needs is to be combined into a phone, have the ability to surf the internet, make ssh connections to work from anywhere, let me take notes on it, and be able to be used as a contact manager.
Of course, it will need a larger Hard Drive, a keyboard, and probably more ram, as well.
What I really want is this, an ipod, a palm pilot, a phone, and the power of a computer all combined into one small mobile unit. That's it. That's all I want.
This thing can be dropped in your pocket...in a second
You must have some pretty damn big pockets and one hell of a belt if you're just dropping this thing in...
Creative Zen PMC: 5.6" x 3.2" x 1.0" @ 11.7 ounces.
That's basically like shoving a DVD case that weighs as much as a can of Coke®(TM)© into your pocket.
Slashdot still doesnâ(TM)t support Unicode after it was added to the HTML standard in 1997.
...(don't ask)...
...(again, don't ask)...
and later
Okay, okay, "How did you get it, you cool stud, you???" *rolls eyes*
So you prefer to 'move' rather than 'copy'?
And he seemed to say that it was automatic. I'm sure he would have mentioned problems if it took an inordinate amount of time.
If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
If it was 'copying' that would be sufficient... but it's not. It's converting. Every conversion is a loss of quality and at moderate bitrate files the loss of quality is drastic on the reencode. It's also changing to a format which might not play on XYZ's DVD player or linux box or whatnot so what, you have to convert it back? 2 hours to convert to WMV, 2 hours to convert back and all I really wanted to do was copy my movie over to my friends house or move it to the PC with a burner in it?
LilMikey.com... I'll stop doing it when you sto