[Tech] EPC: Ibrido computer + Wi-Fi television da Intel

Intel ha intenzione di produrre una sorta di ibrido fra computer e televisore, il tutto con capacità autonoma di connessione a Internet (non necessiterà di router esterno) e governabile da un controller remoto in tecnologia Wi-Fi simile agli attuali telecomandi domestici:

Called the "Entertainment PC" (EPC), the device will connect with the TV and be controlled by a remote. It will surf the Web using a Wi-Fi connection and cruise TV channels, recording movies and shows onto its hard drive and downloading programs and music not broadcast on TV.



In short, the small amount of exercise that modern humans currently get -- walking from the den to the living room -- now can be eliminated altogether.



Intel plans to make the EPC available in the second half of this year, with no-frills units retailing for under US$1,000.



"Intel is seeing that their area of strength, the PC, is increasingly becoming entertainment-centric," Yankee Group analyst Adi Kishore told NewsFactor. "They're saying, 'Why should we limit ourselves to the PC?' "



Wi-Fi and TV



At its core, the EPC will contain a pair of Intel desktop PC chips with wireless-networking capability. Incorporated in these Wi-Fi chips will be router technology that enables the unit to connect to the Internet without a separate hardware router.



The EPC will stream video and audio to other playback devices throughout the home, including wireless handhelds. The chips will provide surround-sound audio, a multichannel audio technology.



In 2005, Intel expects to release a PC-TV chip called "Sandow," which will include a TV tuner that can receive high-definition broadcast signals. The chip will include built-in software that enables a Sandow-powered device to accept input from PCs throughout the home.

Fonte: Yahoo! News.