AMD to launch platform for watching net video with PS2

Everybody seems to have a solution to the last 15 feet problem these days. Sure, you can download movies on the computer in your office, but who wants to sit in front of a 17 inch LCD in the office to watch movies?

Apple's banking on the Apple TV, a $300 box that will wirelessly stream content from your PC or Mac to the HDTV in the living room.

But AMD's got another idea. The chip maker will be showing off its new Active TV platform at CeBIT this week.What's Active TV? It's basically software that runs on devices with ATI graphics chips, including TVs and set-top boxes. It connects those devices to your computer through a home network. In other words, you can download and decode media using your PC, and stream it to your TV. No new $300 box needed.

I don't see any reason you couldn't use this for hiding your PC-based PVR in the office.

AMD plans to let manufacturers bundle Active TV in future products using AMD and ATI chips. The company will also be offering CDs with Active TV software to retrofit existing devices -- including some that do not use AMD chips, like the PS2. It looks like you won't be able to go out and buy the upgrade CD, but it will be available to hardware makers. It's not clear if that means you might be able to pick it up with the purchase of a new PS2, or if Sony might somehow make the disc available to existing customers at some point. Stay tuned for more details.