Windows Media Gadgets Ship

Iomega and Compaq have joined the list of companies that support Microsoft’s Windows Media format on portable digital audio players. Iomega’s HipZip and Compaq’s iPAQ PA-1 can play other types of audio files, including MP3 files, but beginning this month, the players will come with a bundled CD-ROM featuring Windows Media Player 7, which allows users to manage music files on their PCs and send them to the portable units with a single click. These new devices are the latest demonstration of fast-growing support for the Windows Media format in the portable digital music marketplace.

Other portable audio devices that support Windows Media audio (WMA) files include the latest version of Diamond Multimedia’s popular Rio (the S3 600), RCA Thompson’s Lyra, and the Win-Jam audio player. In addition, users of Creative Labs’ Nomad II can download firmware to gain WMA support, and Sony is expected to ship a portable audio player with WMA support by the end of 2000.

Moving Against RealNetworks

The Windows Media format now has a viable foothold alongside MP3 in several portable devices, while RealNetworks’ G2 format plays on only one device—RCA’s Lyra.