Bush story
British consumer electronics stalwart Bush Audio has once again surprised observers by announcing a series of innovative products. Hot on the heels of the internet TV range it unveiled last week, comes the first ever digital terrestrial PC TV card that enables users to tune into all 11 free digital terrestrial channels.

The PCC3, which goes on sale in July priced at £150, also boasts a digital VCR option that stores up to an hour's worth of programming. The card can be upgraded to access Digital Text, and the company is hoping to offer a conditional access module that will allow PC owners to watch ONdigital's pay TV stations.

Bush also introduced what it is billing as the first truly mass-market convergence product. The Ultimate MM hooks up to a TV to enable users to store video programmes on its hard disk, play DVDs and CDs, record CDs, play and record MP3 and WMA files, surf the Net, send emails and run standard PC programs. The company hopes to have the product in the stores in the autumn, selling for around £1,200.

Bush has also given more details of its internet TV range. The company is offering two ways of getting TV users on to the net. The first is a £100 standalone box that can bring the internet to any standard TV. Bush is also offering three sets, a 14inch, 21inch and 28inch that have the internet facilities already built in. Internet functions can be controlled using either a traditional TV handset or the set's accompanying QWERTY keyboard.

ONdigital
ONdigital has become the latest company to take Tony Blair's words about bringing the internet to the masses to heart. In two weeks time it is set to launch its TV-based email system ONmail. For a one-off payment of £30, subscribers will be able to send and receive emails and use up to five different addresses.

As the system uses transparent graphics, users can also compose and send emails while watching TV programmes. The company is also promising its subscribers full internet access via the TV by the end of the year. Apparently, unlike Sky Digital's Open system, viewers will be able to watch a TV programme and surf the net at the same time. (AN)

NetVista
What is "the most dramatic and significant roll out of desktop technology since [the] first PC almost 20 years ago"? According to IBM, it's the new NetVista family of internet-ready PCs with flat-panel screens, designed for e-business use. In fact, IBM is following Toshiba, Gateway and others in the move to "legacy-free" PC designs, which are made more reliable by leaving out the ISA expansion bus and connection ports that IBM introduced in 1981 and 1983. The systems will run Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, or Windows Millennium when that becomes available.

The range includes the small All-in-One with "a unique neck design" that provides space for the keyboard to fit under the 15in LCD monitor. This machine has a record seven USB ports for attaching peripherals, built-in Ethernet, and optional wireless networking. The NetVista Legacy-free (sic) version is a slimine tower system with five USB ports and two internal PCI expansion slots. Another version, the NetVista Internet Appliance, will be offered only via IBM partners, such as broadband service providers, internet service providers, application service providers, and big customers in data-intensive industries such as finance and healthcare. There will also be a NetVista Zero Footprint Thin Client version, which is designed to run as a terminal and which "minimises the amount of desktop real estate needed".

This will be aimed at banks, airlines and companies with similar applications. IBM's PC division has struggled to achieve profitability and has steadily lost market share over the past 15 years, with the matt black ThinkPad line of notebook PCs being one of its rare successes. However, it plans to invest more than $100m in marketing and advertising the NetVista line. See www.ibm.com/pc/europe/netvista (JS)

Robot rivals
Three of Japan's leading toy makers are getting together to bring robot football excitement to your living room. Bandai, Tomy and Takara announced this week that they are to collaborate to create dedicated football playing soccer machines. The small robots will be controlled by infrared remotes, with games being played on pitches the same size as a table tennis table. Robots will cost around £75. They will be developed in collaboration with the RoboCup Federation - the body which organises the Robot World Cup, whose aim is to create a robot team able to beat the winners of the real World Cup by 2050. (NM)