Microsoft doesn't do handheld music players, but it's not hard to imagine that it would prefer more users to buy devices running its Portable Media Center software rather than Apple iPods. It's certainly given the Toshiba Gigabeat S Series Portable Media Center a bit of a plug. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates showed one during his CES Keynote on Wednesday, and Microsoft's Windowsmobile site is featuring it. The site says:
Just announced! The Toshiba Gigabeat S Series Portable Media Center offers a vivid 2.4" color display and an extended storage capacity, so you can take your favorite digital media with you. Download recorded TV shows from TiVo Series2 or feature-length movies from movie studio Web sites, and then watch them on your Portable Media Center or a TV. Listen to music and download album art from online music providers. Tune into your favorite FM radio station with the unique FM tuner feature. Create impressive photo shows set to music, or enjoy interactive gaming with integrated audio for Microsoft Xbox 360™. Available Spring 2006.
(Not sure what "Audio integration with Xbox 360" actually means.)
The two rival devices featured on the site are the Tatung V620, with its 3.5in screen, and the LG PM70. The LG model has a 4.3 inch 470 x 272 widescreen display and supports the wmv, wav, wma, ogg, asf, MP3, DivX, and XviD formats.
But as always with these devices, you need a hands-on to find out what they're really like.....
