BBC NEWS | Technology | Portable media gadgets get moving: "Pocket-sized devices that let people carry around video and images are set to have a big year in 2005, according to industry experts.
Last year saw the emergence of portable media players, such as the Windows-based Creative Zen portable media player, the Samsung Yepp, the iRiver PMC-100, and the Archos AV400 series among others.
But this year, they are set to get smarter and more connected, to allow people to find more video to watch on them.
Archos launched its latest range of its Linux-based portable media devices at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Friday.
Dubbed the Pocket Media Assistant PMA430 (Engadget Photo Report), it crucially has wi-fi capability built-in for the first time.
'Consumers are showing a great thirst for devices that store all their media in one place for anywhere access,' said Henri Crohas, chief of Archos.
'And now those consumers can stay connected and productive at the same time.'
Archos said the focus for the device is to be the second gadget in people's pockets, after the mobile.
The TiVo To Go service means that US consumers will be able to take any programmes they record on their TiVos and transfer it for free to watch on any of the Windows-based portable media players or smartphones.
It also said it had launched a service with MTV to let people watch Comedy Central, VH1 and Country Music TV on its devices.
And a service is launching with MSN to provide people with shortened versions of news, entertainment and other video on a subscription basis for download via the PC onto the portable devices.
Recent research by Jupiter suggested that people would prefer a device that was dedicated to music.
Only 13% of Europeans wanted to watch video while on the move. More seemed interested in spending their cash on music-only devices.
The possibility is open for non-professional makers of video and audio to take advantage of the growing portable media market to distribute their work."
By Jo Twist
BBC News technology reporter, in Las Vegas
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