DISH to Sell Portable Media Centers
EchoStar, parent company of the DISH Network, announced on Tuesday it would begin offering handheld media devices that enable satellite TV subscribers to take content recorded from the DISH service with them in a portable manner.
The PocketDISH player will be available in three models: two that have recording capabilities and one that is playback-only. The two recorders will have HD-capable LCD screens in sizes of 4 and 7 inches with 30GB and 40GB capacities, respectively. The player will come in a size of 2.2 inches and a capacity of 20GB.
Users will be able to transfer television programming from a DISH DVR to the portable unit via USB 2.0 connection. The device would also be able to record from other sources as well, the company said.
The PocketDISH players will be MP3/WMA compatible and have the capability to display popular image formats, meaning users will be able to store bother their music and picture collections on the device.
"DISH Network is expanding its leadership role in digital video recording by giving consumers portability," said Mark Jackson, president of EchoStar. "More versatile than ordinary portable DVD or MP3 players, PocketDISH makes it convenient for users to watch popular TV shows or listen to the latest music downloads anywhere."
EchoStar's release of the PocketDISH highlights the increasing interest among the technology industry in portable media center devices. However, such devices have not yet taken off in the marketplace, as prices have been prohibitively high for most consumers.
The PocketDISH players may come closer to that magic price, however, as the units will retail for $329, $499 and $599 USD.