Dual decoder portable media device

A portable media device comprising:

• a device housing;
• a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal;
• a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal;
• a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals;
• an onboard media presentation device mechanically integrated with the device housing;
• and
• the second hardware media decoder and the media output port are configured within the portable media device to respond to an inter-device coupling via the media port that occurs at a time when:
• the first hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the first media signal from the digital media content item, and
• the onboard display presentation device is presenting the first media signal, by:
• commencing the decoding of the given digital media content item by the second hardware media decoder to generate the second media signal;
• and
• commencing the exporting via the media output port of the second media signal;
• wherein the first hardware media decoder and the onboard media presentation device are configured within the portable media device to continue:
• the decoding of the digital content item by the first hardware media decoder;
• and
• the presenting of the first media signal by the onboard media presentation device after the commencing of the decoding of the given digital content item by the second hardware media decoder which occurs after the inter-device coupling.

A portable media device comprising:

• a device housing;
• a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal;
• a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal;
• a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals;
• an onboard media presentation device mechanically integrated with the device housing;
• and
• the second hardware media decoder and the media output port are configured within the portable media device to respond to an inter-device coupling via the media port that occurs at a time when:
• the first hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the first media signal from the digital media content item, and
• the onboard display presentation device is presenting the first media signal, by:
• commencing the decoding of the given digital media content item by the second hardware media decoder to generate the second media signal;
• commencing the exporting via the media output port of the second media signal;
• and
• wherein the second hardware media decoder is operative to commence the decoding of the given content item in accordance with a streaming media playback bookmark of the first hardware media decoder.

A portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:

• a device housing;
• a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal;
• a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal;
• a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals;
• and
• wherein the first hardware media decoder and the second hardware media decoder are operative to simultaneously effect a playback of the given digital content item in a manner such that the second media signal provides at least one of:
• a look-ahead functionality relative to the first media signal;
• a look-back functionality relative to the first media signal;
• and
• a flexible time domain relative to the first media signal.

A portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:

• a device housing;
• a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal;
• a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal;
• a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals;
• the portable media device further comprises:
• a media presentation device mechanically integrated with the device housing;
• and
• the first hardware media decoder, the onboard media presentation device, the second hardware media decoder and the media output port are configured within the portable media device to respond to an inter-device decoupling via the media port that occurs at a time when:
• by:
• the second hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the second media signal from the digital media content item;
• and
• the media output port is exporting the second media signal,
• ceasing the decoding of the digital media content item by the second hardware media decoder;
• and
• commencing the decoding of the digital media content item by the first hardware media decoder to generate the first media signal and the presenting of the first media signal on the onboard display screen.

A portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:

• a device housing;
• a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal;
• a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal;
• a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals;
• the portable media device further comprises:
• an onboard display screen mechanically integrated with the device housing;
• and
• the first hardware media decoder , the onboard display screen , the second hardware media decoder and the media output port are configured within the portable media device to respond to an inter-device decoupling via the media port that occurs at a time when:
• by:
• the second hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the second media signal from the digital media content item;
• the media output port is exporting the second media signal,
• the first hardware media decoder is decoding the given digital media content item to generate the first media signal from the digital media content item;
• and
• the onboard display screen is presenting the first media signal,
• ceasing the second digital media playback of the digital media content item by the second hardware media decoder;
• and
• continuing the first digital media playback of the digital media content item by the first hardware media decoder to generate the first video stream and the presenting of the first media on the onboard display screen.

portable media device for decoding a given digital content item, the media device comprising:

• a device housing;
• a first onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the first onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a first media signal;
• a second onboard hardware media decoder associated with the device housing, the second onboard hardware media decoder operative to decode the given digital content item to generate a second media signal;
• a media output port mechanically integrated with the device housing for exporting at least one of the generated media signals;
• the portable media device further comprises:
• a user control for effecting a mode transition between any of a first mode, a second mode and a third mode;
• and
• the first, second and third modes are defined as follows:
• when in the first mode, the first hardware media decoder is active and the second hardware media decoder is dormant;
• when in the second mode, the second hardware media decoder is active and the first hardware media decoder is dormant;
• and
• when in the third mode, both of the first hardware media decoder is active and the second hardware media decoder are active.

A portable media device comprising:

• a device housing;
• a device port located within the device housing;
• a first onboard hardware media decoder located within the device housing;
• a second onboard hardware media decoder located within the device housing;
• control circuitry located within the device housing and operative to:
• determine whether the device port is connected to an external media presentation device;
• in response to determining that the device port is connected to the external media presentation device, activating the second onboard hardware media decoder to effect first media decoding of a given digital content item to generate a first media signal and output the first media signal to the external media presentation device via the device port;
• and
• in response to determining that the device port is not connected to the external media presentation device, activating the first onboard hardware media decoder without activating the second onboard hardware media decoder such that the second onboard hardware media decoder transitions to a dormant state so that the first media decoding is not effected and the first onboard hardware media decoder is configured to effect second media decoding of a given digital content item using an onboard power supply to generate a second media signal.