Tech Giants Unveil New Digital Entertainment Options at CES

Strategic Insights -

Tech companies showcased innovative digital entertainment technologies at the Consumer Electronics Show, highlighting the convergence of devices and services. Key announcements included Intel's promotion of the UltraWideBand wireless standard, SBC Communications' U-verse service, and TiVo's TiVoToGo feature. These developments aim to make it easier for consumers to access and share digital content.

Key Takeaways:

  • Intel Chairman Craig Barrett promoted the UltraWideBand wireless standard as a replacement for Universal Series Bus cables, enabling devices to transmit large amounts of data in close proximity.
  • SBC Communications' U-verse service combines broadband Internet, voice communications, and video service, allowing customers to access video on demand and program digital video recorders through any Internet-connected computer.
  • TiVo's TiVoToGo service allows customers to transfer recorded shows to their computers and burn them to DVD, despite Hollywood's disapproval of TiVo's technology due to copyright concerns.
  • FCC Chairman Michael Powell emphasized the importance of the free flow of content in the information age, citing the need for consumers to have the ability to transport valuable content from one device to another.
  • TI Chief Executive Rich Templeton's keynote speech focused on the company's Digital Light Processor chip, becoming a competitive technology in digital televisions.
  • Intel demonstrated a prototype technology using a TV to browse through photos and movies stored on a computer, waving hands to scroll through files and pointing to select desired files.

Statistics:

  • 2005: The year in which the announcements were made at the Consumer Electronics Show.
  • 2006: The year in which SBC Communications' U-verse service is expected to be ready for customers.
  • 213: The phone number for worldwide contact for reprints.
  • 237-6515: The fax number for reprints.
  • $661-2511 (U.S.) and (213) 237-4914 (worldwide): Phone numbers for reprints inquiries.
  • 800: The prefix for the U.S. phone number for reprints inquiries.
  • (c) 2005: The copyright year for The Dallas Morning News.

Sources:

  • "Intel's Barrett promotes wireless standard" [no date provided]
  • "SBC's U-verse service combines Internet, voice communications and video" [no date provided]
  • "TiVo introduces TiVoToGo service" [no date provided]
  • "Powell delivers comment on TiVo technology" [no date provided]
  • "Templeton to focus on Digital Light Processor chip" [no date provided]
  • The Dallas Morning News online, [visited on an unspecified date]
  • Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services [no date provided]
  • Visit The Dallas Morning News on the World Wide Web at http://www.dallasnews.com/ [no date provided]