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A 10M Top 10: Tomorrow's TV Today

The vision of wirelessly networked, ubiquitous home entertainment is on its way to being a reality, though the race at this point is about which system will handle the media transfer: the TV or PC. For now, the tool bridging the differences between the two is a magic box that does the translation between platforms and sends the data from the wireless base station to the respective displays. Couch potatoes make note: The key to the box is the remote control that facilitates the untethered WiFi shipping between systems.

Microsoft has two versions of the magic box: one called Bobsled, which will be manufactured by partners including HP and Samsung, and another that updates its Xbox game console, both of which run on Microsoft's XP Media System OS. Intel's upcoming device, called the Entertainment PC, will allow users to view and record TV channels, connect to and download media files from the Internet, and, of course, play movies and music. PC-centric and utilizing Intel chips, with the Entertainment PC, you will also be able to stream video to a computer anywhere in your home or to a wireless handheld device. The company says its system will be on the shelves mid-year with a $799 price tag.

Already on the market: the Gateway Family Room Media Center PC. The $999 PC can play DVDs, record TV and play MP3 files. Controlled by a remote, it also comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse.

TV manufacturers, not surprisingly, are doing the opposite: focusing on the TV as the driving force. Philips is betting on its Streamium receivers that allow the TV and stereo system to receive digital content wirelessly, including files sent to the system through a home PC. Philips is also planning to release WiFi-enbled LCD screens sometime this year. Also in the TV-centric race: Sony and Sharp.