Texas Instruments Incorporated announced that it is working with Microsoft on future versions of the Windows Mobile-based Portable Media Center Software Kit, which will enable manufacturers to develop Portable Media Centers with TI hardware. The move emphasizes importance of handheld multimedia players nowadays.

“Portable Media Centers have created new opportunities for people to take their entertainment – video, photos and music – with them anywhere, anytime,” said John Pollard, director of Windows Mobile Applications and Services Marketing at Microsoft Corp. 

TI’s new development is based on a TI system-on-a-chip (SOC), a highly- integrated Digital Media processor targeted specifically for portable applications, capable of supporting QVGA resolution for Windows Media Video 9, as well as up to D1 resolution of other commonly used video formats. 

TI’s Digital Media processor is a multi-core device, embedding a digital signal processor (DSP) and an ARM core. The SOC has an integrated peripheral set, supporting the base Portable Media Center requirements, as well as many of the additional options available to Portable Media Center developers, the company said. 

The Digital Media processor features an integrated video encoder, hardware video accelerators and USB host capabilities, offering superior performance over single-core PMC implementations, while minimizing power consumption.  With a programmable architecture, the Digital Media processor can support Windows Media Audio (WMA), MP3, JPEG and all other major digital media formats, as well as offers encoding capabilities for OEMs that want to differentiate their Portable Media Center products.

“TI’s Digital Media processors will help our Windows Mobile-based device manufacturers deliver more choices as the category continues to evolve and expand,” Mr. Pollard added.

Microsoft unveiled Portable Media Center initiative several years ago and inked partnership agreements with such consumer electronics makers as Creative Technologies, iRiver International, Samsung, Sanyo and ViewSonic.

“This collaboration between leaders in portable media silicon, and PC and mobile software will accelerate the availability of highly optimized and affordable Portable Media Centers to consumers worldwide,” said Chris Schairbaum, worldwide business manager of TI’s Portable Audio and Infotainment business unit.

Apart from Texas Instruments, Freescale Semiconductor also offers reference design kit for Portable Media Center devices.