Russ Smith
06-22-2004, 10:06 PM
It's one of the great shames of our technological age: Every device manufacturer has a set of proprietary formats and protocols which make it difficult or impossible to get full cross-manufacturer compatibility. It's also not a secret. Consumers and companies alike are well aware of the problems.
However, a consortium of some of the worlds biggest electronics and computer companies is attempting to work out a set of rules so devices from different manufacturers would actually be designed to be able to share information. The consortium, called the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), now consists of 145 global companies and includes Sony and Microsoft, two companies that are known for proprietary "standards." Unfortunately, Apple and RealNetworks are noticably absent from the alliance.
Products that meet the DLNA's emerging criteria would receive a special logo to let consumers know that they will work with other DLNA-compliant devices.
There are a number of matters still to be ironed out by the DLNA, even though DLNA-logoed devices are slated to be in stores later this year. One of the biggest issues is how to allow cross-compatibility while still following digital rights management constraints.
However, a consortium of some of the worlds biggest electronics and computer companies is attempting to work out a set of rules so devices from different manufacturers would actually be designed to be able to share information. The consortium, called the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), now consists of 145 global companies and includes Sony and Microsoft, two companies that are known for proprietary "standards." Unfortunately, Apple and RealNetworks are noticably absent from the alliance.
Products that meet the DLNA's emerging criteria would receive a special logo to let consumers know that they will work with other DLNA-compliant devices.
There are a number of matters still to be ironed out by the DLNA, even though DLNA-logoed devices are slated to be in stores later this year. One of the biggest issues is how to allow cross-compatibility while still following digital rights management constraints.