OTHER TECH

CES is so big that it includes computer companies that would have shown at Comdex - that is, if the massive computer expo hadn't imploded 5 years ago. So these relative newcomers couldn't have been happy to hear one of the catch phrases making the rounds at CES: "No computer necessary." It was a line repeated by everyone from TV manufacturers to makers of MP3 players - and it meant that those who supply entertainment or information via the Internet and those who see or hear it are moving to cut the desktop "middle ware" guys out of the loop whenever possible. After all, if the goal is to provide convenience in a portable device, or comfort in a home theater, why not go directly to the point of consumption?

Last year, Sony introduced the Bravia Internet Video Link, a $300 accessory that attaches to most 2007 Bravia TVs so you can watch programs from Sony's content partners delivered via your home's broadband connection. According to Sony, 10 Video Link-compatible LCD HDTV models will be introduced this spring and summer (prices to be determined). Among Sony's new content partners is CBS Interactive, which brings prime-time and daytime series, news, and sports.

Sharp announced the Aquos Net feature for its SE94 Series LCD TVs. The sets contain Ethernet jacks, and you can use the built-in browsers to check news, stocks, and a 7-day weather forecast or to look at comic strips. Also, Sharp technicians will be able to remotely optimize picture quality or diagnose problems. The SE94 Series includes 46-inch ($3,200), 52-inch ($4,200), and 65-inch ($11,000) models. All should be available by the time you read this.

Samsung is building Ethernet ports into its new Series 6 and 7 LCD HDTVs. Using the InfoLink RSS service, the TVs will let you access content like weather, news, sports, and stocks directly from USA Today while watching a conventionally received TV show. And if you want to watch streamed Web programming and content stored on a networked computer, Samsung is offering the Home Digital Media Adapter (DMA), which also works as a Windows Media Center Extender for Vista-based computers. The DMA is expected to be available in April for $199.

LG Electronics and Netflix announced a plan to stream movies from the Internet to a TV using a set-top box. The service would be embedded in an LG networked player that's planned for the second half of the year. Netflix already streams 6,000 movies and TV episodes out of its 90,000 DVD titles to Netflix members' computers.

Meanwhile, a digital music player and a podcast-download dock were privately shown that each promised to let you pull the plug on your computer - at least after setup. The Slacker Player from Broadband Instruments, which began shipping earlier this year, is a no-subscription device that stores multiple streams of music, based on your tastes (identified initially via your computer linked to slacker.com). When you're in a Wi-Fi hot spot (such as your home), the music is downloaded directly to the player so that you can take it with you and listen to hours of fresh music in places where Wi-Fi reception is unavailable. (There's a subscription option for people who want more playback control.) The Slacker Player (2 gigabytes, $199; 4 GB, $249; 8 GB, $299) stores 15, 25, or 40 stations, based on capacity.

Cast Grabber showed the MusicCaster, an Internet appliance that the company claims is the first automatic podcast downloader. Attach an iPod or some other portable device, and the MusicCaster fills the player with the latest serial podcasts, even as it charges the player's battery. Setup is initially completed on a computer logged to castgrabber.net. The $100 downloader should be available by spring.

For more on this year's Consumer Electronics Show, see our CES 2008 package, featuring news, features, photo galleries and blog posts.

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