Convergence rules at CES

One clear theme emerging from the Consumer Electronics Show 2008 is convergence, according to PC Pro.

A host of manufacturers used CES Unveiled - a special preview event for members of the press - to display new products that combine PC and audiovisual technologies.

Logitech's stand was attracting plenty of attention thanks to its eye-catching range of multimedia devices. Its new diNovo Mini, for example, is a PC remote control designed for media centre owners.

ETRI announced its plan to start early industrialisation of IT convergence technology in earnest, says Korea IT Daily.

Amid fast convergence of IT and traditional industry in recent years, ETRI said it will submit test application proposals to local autonomous entities across Korea as part of the Ministry of Information and Communication's (MIC) project on building the foundation for industrialisation of next-generation IT-based technology.

The projects to be tested for application are mostly a result of source technology accumulated by ETRI while executing an MIC project on development of leading technology.

Head of consumer electronics at online retailer Amazon.com Paul Ryder discussed the convergence of products at the Consumer Electronic Show, says Forbes.com.

Ryder claims there are two types of convergence: the capable and the excellent. Devices that merely rate as "capable", Ryder says, include most of the set-top boxes at the show, products that can receive and send content from elsewhere in the house.

"Excellence" is achieved by those devices that represent the nirvana state of electronics that simply work together without any fussing by the consumer. These include the EyeFi card, the Slingbox, Flip Video, and Unbox with Tivo and Kindle, he said.