Intel Still Trying to Put Smarts Into the Boob Tube

Silicon Valley has been talking for 15 years or so about marrying TV and the Internet. For the most part, it’s still just talk; most people still use their PCs when they want interactivity, and rely on their TVs when they want to be passive content-watchers.

But Intel (INTC) is not giving up. The chip giant, having run along with partners down most of the blind alleys of interactive television, gave an update this week about a reformulated TV strategy that might be paraphrased as follows: it’s the software, stupid.

In other words, people don’t want to visit Web sites or engage in other PC-like activities while relaxing in front of their big-screen TV.

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