The old days of slide projectors have transformed into a slide show (with music) played straight from your computer through a wired or wireless network.  You no longer have to transfer your music or videos... you can connect right to it.  Pioneer has a top of the line plasma TV with a built-in DMA (the bridge that allows you to connect to, and display or play media from your PC) that can be connected to your home network without the need for an outside device.  Sony’s new Bravia’s will be able to stream (show directly on your TV) internet video straight from specific video online partners (but won’t be able to show other content from your PC because it goes directly online --more later.)  Both work without devices like a network-able DVD player, Xbox 360 game and media console, or a media “server” that actually stores the files. The job of the DMA is to create a user interface, that is, menu, that makes your files accessible.

 

The question in all this convergence will be whether you get a device that talks directly to your computer, or whether you buy a separate device which is basically a dedicated media computer (some people want to keep work and play separate.)  In the coming days I’ll explore the different devices and explain more what they do and how they work.

 

However the convergence happens, I’m just glad that I’ll be able to show my friends pictures from the recent wedding or trip without pulling out my computer, be able to play music that’s better quality than most songs on my ipod and have another way of getting last nights missed “Grey’s Anatomy” to my living room TV.  I’m all for the minimum of shlepping and the maximum of connecting.