Intel and Yahoo to bring Internet widgets to TV

Intel and Yahoo on Wednesday announced plans to launch the Widget Channel, complete with TV Widgets, which will allow users to access the Internet while watching TV, either on their TV sets or other consumer electronics devices with Intel Architecture. Users will have real-time access to a number of small Internet applications, the TV Widgets that would allow them to watch Internet videos, upload photos and videos, chatting with friends and getting weather and news updates.

The Widget Channel will run on Yahoo's Widget Engine applications platform currently in the fifth generation, and will be controlled by a wireless remote. The Widget Channel will be open to developers who use JavaScript, XML, HTML and Adobe Flash programming languages, allowing them to write other PC applications that are compatible with TVs and other consumer electronic devices. A Widget Gallery will then allow users to download these newly created TV Widgets as they see fit.

Neither Intel nor Yahoo have announced when the Widget Channel is expected to debut, or any costs associated with it at the consumer level.