SanDisk introduces USBTV, a new, initiative that enables consumers to move digital content from their PCs to their televisions. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
USBTV is a new platform that will enable consumers to transport downloaded digital content from a personal computer, by using a small flash memory-enabled media player, and play it on virtually any TV. On the computer side USBTV uses a USB port, on the other side a special TV cradle connects the device to a TV set.
SanDisk said a number of companies back the initiative including LG Electronic, Mitsubishi Digital Electronic, Pioneer Electronics, Akimbo Systems and Guba. USBTV is just one of the many ways the PC can be connected to a TV set.
At first sight this looks like a cumbersome way to transport video content because it involves recording it on a USB device first and taking that to the TV set. A solution such as Apple TV connects directly to a television, either wired or wireless. USBTV also does not offer a solution for moving streaming web TV to the television. (RB)
