TV and computers singing from same hymn sheet

23:00 9th January 2009

TV and computers could be seen to be singing from the same hymn sheet as a series of new televisions are to be launched featuring web access.

Major electronics companies such as Toshiba, Samsung and Sony are to launch state-of-the-art flat-screen televisions which provide access to certain popular websites through a Yahoo! 'TV Widget'. Some Toshiba sets are being designed to enable viewers to access popular networking website MySpace simply by pressing a button on the television remote control. Indeed, Yahoo! has developed 20 separate widgets allowing access to a range of sites and more are to come.

William Leszinske Jr, general manager of Intel's Digital Home Group, said: "We believe bringing MySpace to the TV will transform the way people think about social networking and provide a seamless experience for users to enjoy MySpace while watching TV."

The widgets will allow viewers to use the web while watching television shows at the same time, and Yahoo! plans to more than double the number of widgets available in a matter of months.

MySpace is one of the world's most popular social networking sites.