Portable Media Center

Announced at the 2003 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and released in early 2004, it was originally positioned as a competitor to Apple's iPod.

Manufacturers of PMC devices included Creative, Philips, iriver, Samsung, and Toshiba.

The strategy was developed by Microsoft's Windows Embedded group in partnership with the eHome Division, which formed in February 2001 and started partnerships with companies like Samsung with the goal to "develop new technologies so consumers can enjoy whole-home entertainment, communications and control experiences where, when and however they want them" and "develop an entire ecosystem of PCs, digital devices, intelligent home appliances and services that will easily and cost-effectively transform average households into next-generation digital homes.

Zune had similar aims to provide a unifying media platform across PCs, devices, and televisions (3-screen strategy).

Other video formats will either be supported by each individual PMC, or transcoded though Windows Media Player.