LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 2003 — During his keynote address at the 2003 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corp., unveiled the first prototype of a portable media player (PMP), based on the device platform code-named
“Media2Go.” “Media2Go”
devices are handheld personal media players that enable entertainment on the go by providing consumers with an easy and complete solution to download, store and play back all their favorite digital media content including video, music and photos. Microsoft also announced that it is working with Intel Corp., whose early pioneering work on the personal video player (PVP) led to jointly delivering the first
“Media2Go”
hardware reference design developed on the Intel XScale-based processors. In addition, Microsoft announced that leading consumer electronics companies, including Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., ViewSonic Corp., SANYO Electric Co. Ltd, and iRiver are planning to deliver a variety of PMP devices based on
“Media2Go”
for the 2003 holiday season.
“Consumers around the world are discovering, downloading, managing and playing back digital photos, music and movies on their Windows-based PCs,”
said Jim Allchin, group vice president of Platforms at Microsoft.
“It’s time for the next big step. ‘Media2Go’ is the catalyst for a new generation of smart portable media players that will make all your favorite content from your PC available to you, wherever you are, whenever you want.”
The Complete Way to Enjoy Videos, Music and Pictures on the Go
Today, consumers require a variety of portable devices to experience all their digital content while on the go. Now, with a single
“Media2Go”
device, consumers can enjoy their digital music, video, and photos any time and anywhere.
“Media2Go”
combines the playback and management functionality of an MP3 jukebox, the viewing capabilities of a portable DVD player, the ability to view authorized content from a personal video recorder as well as the capability to share digital photos.
“Media2Go”
devices enable consumers to watch and listen to their digital media content wherever and whenever they want. For example:
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Watching a favorite movie on a long plane journey
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Playing back favorite prerecorded TV shows while on a bus to work
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Entertaining the kids in the back of the car with their favorite cartoons
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Listening to favorite songs or watching music videos while working out in the gym
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Showing off the latest pictures or home movies of children to grandparents and friends
“Media2Go” provides complete support for a broad range of media formats, including Windows Media®
Audio, Windows Media Video and MP3. The high quality and small size of Windows Media Audio and Video files mean that consumers will be able to store lots of high-quality content on their
“Media2Go”
devices: up to 8,000 songs, up to 175 hours of VHS-quality video and up to 30,000 digital images on 20 GB of hard disk storage.
Moreover,
“Media2Go”
will allow consumers to transfer their media content from their Windows XP-based PCs to a
“Media2Go” device easily and quickly using technology called Sync & Go developed for the Microsoft®
Plus! Digital Media Edition for Windows XP. Sync & Go will quickly download consumers’ favorite digital content from their PCs to a
“Media2Go”
device using fast connections such as USB and IEEE-1394, giving them the freedom to experience the digital media they edit and organize anywhere, any time.
“Media2Go”
is based on Windows CE, the robust, real-time operating system designed to build and power the next generation of smart mobile and small-footprint devices.
About the Microsoft Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group
Microsoft®
Windows Embedded operating systems and tools provide comprehensive software platforms for building the next generation of intelligent, 32-bit connected Windows Powered devices that demand rich applications and Internet services for a wide range of flexible solutions. In addition, Microsoft offers a wide range of programs and services designed to meet the specific needs of Windows Embedded customers, industry partners and developers. The Windows Embedded operating systems currently include Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded. The Server Appliance Kit for Windows 2000 helps OEMs build Windows Powered server appliances, including Network Attached Storage (NAS) and Web servers. Windows CE was honored at the 2003 International Consumer Electronics Show for innovations in the category of Software/Embedded Technologies. The Embedded and Appliance Platforms Group also delivers the Windows CE for Smart Display software technology that powers a wide range of Smart Displays that extend the Windows XP experience to any room in the home. Currently in development is
“Media2Go,”
which is the code name for a new device platform for powering the next generation of portable media player devices that enable consumers to enjoy their videos, music and pictures on the go.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, Windows and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.asp .
“Since Intel originally talked about the PVP in 2002, we have continued to work toward a vision of bringing powerful new devices to market that allow consumers to access video, music and photos when and where they want. We are now another step closer to that vision through our work with Microsoft on the hardware reference design for the ‘Media2Go’ platform. ‘Media2Go,’ combined with Intel XScale technology, will enable a rich multimedia experience for the mobile consumer.”
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Shane Wall
General Manager, Emerging Platforms Lab
Intel
“Samsung Electronics is pleased to work closely with Microsoft in creating a next-generation portable media player. We are thrilled to provide our customers a unique end-to-end Windows Powered offering that enables rich, portable access to digital media content, has a high storage capacity and delivers the exciting new technologies found in ‘Media2Go’ that will enable a sophisticated yet simple experience when syncing videos, music and pictures and viewing them on the go.”
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HS Kim
Senior Vice President
Samsung Electronics
“‘Media2Go’ has great potential. It enables consumers to access all kinds of digital media through broadband connections. We are excited to bring a top-quality digital audio experience with our expertise to music enthusiasts that leverages the innovations of Windows Media technologies and the seamless and easy-to-use transfer experience found with ‘Media2Go.'”
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Yoshifumi Naito
Executive Director
SANYO Technosound Co. Ltd.
“We see the ‘Media2Go’ platform as another innovative move toward bringing digital freedom to consumers. Smart portable media player devices are catalysts in the evolution of digital convergence and seamless integration of visual technology. We are continuing our leadership in the visual technology arena by bringing consumers a device that allows the most-advanced digital content such as videos, music and pictures to be executed on a portable high-definition form factor.”
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Marc McConnaughey
Senior Vice President
Advanced Technology Group ViewSonic
“Unleashing the greater potential of PC and digital media experiences, iRiver’s portable media player designs, coupled with Microsoft’s ‘Media2Go’ software platform, will enhance how people enjoy their digital entertainment on the go.”
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Jonathan Sasse
Vice President of Marketing
iRiver
