A device that can store 20GB of music files can ideally store video files. Digital video can be compressed into a tenth of its volume while maintaining VCD quality visuals and stereo output. The only additional component needed to change a portable audio player into a portable video player would be the addition of a reasonable TFT VGA screen as well as output capabilities to external monitors or TV sets. Eventually, the ability to record TV programs directly into a portable device to allow "viewing on the go" would also be an added feature that would appeal to busy technophiles wishing to record their favorite shows to view in transit or in multiple locations.
Processor giant Intel has started developing such a device, which it hopes can make use of emerging technologies to penetrate the mainstream market much like Sonys venerable Walkman audio devices did in the past. Intel is looking to manufacturers like MP3 player veteran SonicBlue to produce variants of the PVP.
Intel envisions the device as a personal multimedia player, able to view pictures or video, but apparently lacking the capability to play video games or serve as an organizer. The device, designed to include a small 20GB hard drive, would download pictures or video from a PC via a USB cable or 802.11 wireless connection. Digital video recording similar to the TiVo system can also be considered as a future feature to make the devices more appealing to the mass market. Intel, which ended its own consumer-electronics group in a restructuring last year, said this initiative is part of its "concept platforms" program to seed consumer electronics companies with products incorporating the latest Intel technologies.
Similar to Intels PVP, the Jukebox has a 20GB hard drive storage capacity. Seven hours of digitized video can be played without recharging the battery. This can be credited to the machines small screen, which measures just 1.5 inches diagonally and offers only 237-by-234 resolution. This may be tiny for many consumers who are used to larger screens on their PDAs.
The Jukebox Multimedia is also the first handheld MP4 video player in the market, boasting 40 hours of near-DVD quality MP4 video with MP3 sound. The advantage of Archos, aside from having been the first to produce such a device, is its units pocketability and ease of transport. At around $400, the Jukebox is aggressively priced against high-end MP3 audio players.
Moreover, the touchy subject of intellectual property rights and distribution of videos and films will undoubtedly cause a stir of the same magnitude that affected the emergence of MP3 and resulted in the closure of Web-based, peer-to-peer sharing services like Napster. Should enough legal content providers emerge which would make it easier for people to source video content on a pay-per-download or subscription-based scheme, then it is certain that PVPs and similar devices will gain public acceptance. We expect to see these gizmos turning up everywhere, in homes, offices and schools. Like MP3 players, the more manufacturers there are competing in the market should bring prices down.