Vying for Remote Control -Companies Scramble for a Niche as Computers and Televisions Merge

The race is on to merge the two most powerful entertainment boxes in the home.

The marriage of the television and the computer moved a step closer yesterday when the giant chipmaker Intel Corp. unveiled its vision for using a new technology that blends the two devices. Intel said it is working with more than 40 companies around the world in the movie, music, television, gaming and photo-editing fields to deliver content to computers using the technology called Viiv (rhymes with five).

Due out early next year, Viiv-equipped computers are designed to control the overall entertainment experience. They turn a television into a computer screen with the capability of performing any computer task, including searching the Internet. Operated by remote control, the system will be able to show a movie on the television while downloading music for later listening. The computer will turn on instantly like a television and with an add-on feature will record, pause and rewind live television programs. An entertainment center operated by a Viiv-platform computer will be able to connect to other devices, such as DVD players and portable media players.

By Steven Levingston
Washington Post Staff Writer

Full Story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/30/AR2005113002118.html