Ben
1st April 2005, 03:01 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4396271.stm
Microsoft has launched a video download service for Windows-based mobile devices.
Subscribers will be able to get daily TV programmes, news and sport headlines, comedy, music videos and independent films.
The package of programmes is specially tailored for viewing on Microsoft smartphones, Pocket PCs and portable media centres.
The service is US only and costs $19.95 but some shows will be free.
Portable play
Microsoft has lined up 20 firms that will provide downloadable programmes and short films for the video service.
These include MSNBC, Fox Sports, IFilm, MTV, Tivo, Napster, DIY Network and many others.
The service would allow people to take favourite TV shows with them whether they were on the train, waiting for a doctor's appointment or keeping the kids occupied in the back seat of the car, said John Pollard, Microsoft's director of Windows mobile applications and services marketing.
Those signing up will get the content they want downloaded automatically to a library on their PC that they can then transfer to their portable media player.
Devices such as the iRiver PMC-120, Samsung Yepp YH-999 and Creative Zen will be able to play the video downloads.
Users will be able to create preferences for the type of content that they want and can set up the system to delete old clips to avoid building up a collection of old clips.
A copy of Windows Media Player 10 is required to sign up and use the service which was first previewed at the CES Show earlier this year.
Portable media, particularly music, is becoming increasingly popular with many gadget lovers.
As well as carrying around music collections many people are downloading TV shows so they can watch them when they have free time rather than when they are broadcast.
Microsoft has launched a video download service for Windows-based mobile devices.
Subscribers will be able to get daily TV programmes, news and sport headlines, comedy, music videos and independent films.
The package of programmes is specially tailored for viewing on Microsoft smartphones, Pocket PCs and portable media centres.
The service is US only and costs $19.95 but some shows will be free.
Portable play
Microsoft has lined up 20 firms that will provide downloadable programmes and short films for the video service.
These include MSNBC, Fox Sports, IFilm, MTV, Tivo, Napster, DIY Network and many others.
The service would allow people to take favourite TV shows with them whether they were on the train, waiting for a doctor's appointment or keeping the kids occupied in the back seat of the car, said John Pollard, Microsoft's director of Windows mobile applications and services marketing.
Those signing up will get the content they want downloaded automatically to a library on their PC that they can then transfer to their portable media player.
Devices such as the iRiver PMC-120, Samsung Yepp YH-999 and Creative Zen will be able to play the video downloads.
Users will be able to create preferences for the type of content that they want and can set up the system to delete old clips to avoid building up a collection of old clips.
A copy of Windows Media Player 10 is required to sign up and use the service which was first previewed at the CES Show earlier this year.
Portable media, particularly music, is becoming increasingly popular with many gadget lovers.
As well as carrying around music collections many people are downloading TV shows so they can watch them when they have free time rather than when they are broadcast.