CompuServe Messages

Oops. I spoke too soon. Looks like we may get our wish for standardized external control after all. There've been several methods promoted over the years, but these guys finally have the clout to make it happen, I hope. Here's the announcement: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. said Wednesday it has launched a joint venture with Philips of the Netherlands to promote the Domestic Digital Bus — a data communication and control system for audio, visual and other consumer products. The company said the system, called D2B, will enable products of different brands bought at different times to function as an integrated system, making them compatible. The D2B was recognized by the International Electrotechnical Commission as an international standard for compatibility among audio-visual equipment and home appliances manufactured by different companies. Matsushita said Thomson Consumer Electronics of France and Sony Corp. of Japan have decided to support the system.