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Eight of the world’s largest electronics companies have agreed a common “home
network” standard that allows any audio or video device to be linked up. With
the audio and video connected to a network, one remote control can work for
everything. The eight companies—Grundig, Hitachi, Matsushita, Philips,
Sharp, Sony, Thomson and Toshiba—will make the standard “open” so that
other manufacturers can make compatible equipment. The move challenges
Microsoft’s plans to make Windows software the standard for controlling audio
and video in the home.