Six months after Intel and Yahoo announced plans to blend a television framework optimized for TV and related consumer electronics with the Intel architecture in the “Widget Channel,” Toshiba revealed at this year’s CES plans to deliver Internet-connected TVs by the end of the year, powered by the Cell TV technology.

 

The Cell TV microchip is able to record six high-definition images simultaneously, and will incorporate Internet access. Toshiba said it would integrate the Widget Channel in its brand new line of devices, which includes LCD TVs, LCD TV/DVD combos, but also standalone DVD players.

 

The Cell technology was first used in the PlayStation 3 console, and was developed in collaboration with Sony and IBM.

 

The Widget Channel will allow consumers enjoy rich Internet applications designed especially for TV, and is powered by Yahoo Widget Engine, a fifth generation applications platform that enables TV watchers to interact with a set of “TV Widgets” which enhance their traditional TV watching experience.

 

Intel pointed out in last summer’s announcement that TV will soon change the way we see and experience the Internet, turning it from a passive experience into an interactive one. Toshiba announced at the time its willingness to develop TV Widgets.

 

Intel’s Media Processor CE 3100, also known as “Canmore,” will power Toshiba’s devices. CE 3100 combines a high-performance IA core with functional I/O blocks, enabling high-definition video decode and viewing, home-theater-quality audio, 3D graphics, and the fusion of the Internet and TV experiences.