Death knell for television as we know it

Japanese television technology that will give viewers access to high-speed broadcasts over the internet could render conventional television obsolete and transform the media landscape within years, analysts have predicted, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

"The country's electronics and telecommunications industries are developing a technological standard for a new "internet television" set, which will let users browse websites and watch streaming programs at the touch of a remote control.

Japanese media reports say the new television, which is likely to run on the open source Linux operating system rather than Microsoft Windows to save boot-up time, could be on sale locally by next March.

... Although Japanese consumers already have access to broadband television services, they are presently required to buy television sets and receivers compatible with their internet service providers. This inconvenience will be removed by the new technology, which will enable broadband-equipped televisions to display internet content without a separate set-top box or computer."

emily | 1:32 PM | Technology |
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