Intel Unveils TV Chip

Not content to have its products in your pocket and your bag,  Intel has set its sights on your entertainment center. At IDF today, the chip maker introduced the Intel Media Processor CE 3100, which can be embedded in television sets to bring Internet capability to the tube. The processor can also be put into a set top box. Gigabyte’s Media Processor CE 3100 box will be the the first device with the chip embedded.

Intel has partnered with Yahoo to provide the user interface for your connected TV. The Web portal will provide a  Widget dock on the TV that will allow for access to your favorite sites and online tools, including Flickr, Twitter, Joost and more.

After the announcement, we were able to get some hands-on time with a Sharp TV set that was connected to a Gigabyte’s Media Processor CE 3100. The box was connected via Ethernet and only had a handful of working widgets, including Flickr and a weather application. Nevertheless, the interface looked sleek and it was easy to navigate with a remote. Applications such as the ABC and CBS  were not working but will pull in the network’s online content, such as shows like Desperate Housewives, to the TV itself. We also were able to stream a trailer from Blockbuster’s application, that will allow for streaming or downloading full length movies.

Check out our video demo of the Intel TV.