Gates' Comdex: Net appliances redux
C|Net | at | by Mike
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will show off smart objects--small, Internet-enabled household items--at Comdex next week, as PC makers gear up for the second wave of Internet appliances. The smart objects program revolves around delivering Internet information to alarm clocks, kitchen appliances, stereo equipment and the like, say sources familiar with Microsoft's plans. These devices, which could come out as early as 2003, will contain Microsoft software, energy-efficient processors and built-in wired or wireless networking capabilities, sources said. Smart objects could also revive the "agent" concept, with software that anticipates an individual's needs, said Tim Bajarin, president of consulting company Creative Strategies.