As consumers seek universal access to content—and new web-based services spring up to deliver it—hardware manufacturers face intriguing opportunities. Instead of weighing down devices with large hard drives for storing content, and forcing users to dock to PCs or swap memory cards to manage content, devices need only connect to the web. Products like the Amazon Kindle, which includes a free Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) wireless connection that can push newspapers, magazines and blog content to the device, and can also be used to purchase and download e-books, already follow this model.
Of course, the Kindle’s utility is limited to print content, and it’s restricted to a single device from a single provider. However, networking giant Cisco is already working on new standards for multimedia networks, to connect PCs to DVRs, set-top boxes, gaming consoles, internet radios and VoIP phones, while the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is creating similar capabilities with the backing of Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Nokia, and others.
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