Vegas becomes gadget paradise

PC giants Intel and Microsoft plan to take centre stage at the world's biggest electronic gadgets show which kicks off today in Las Vegas.

Microsoft chairman Bill Gates is expected to demonstrate the software company's long-awaited Xbox games console at the Consumer Electronics Show today, together with Ultimate TV, which combines satellite television, WebTV and digital video recording.

Intel chief executive, Craig Barrett, who is one of the keynote speakers at the event, will discuss how the value of digital cameras, toys, camcorders, and personal digital assistants (PDA) would be increased when linked to powerful PCs. He is also expected to preview a Pentium 4-based PC that can automatically synchronise voice mail and email with a mobile phone-based PDA.

Consumer electronics giant Sony will take the wraps off the first wireless modem for its Clie PDAs. It will also reveal further details about its Vaio Slimtop Pen Tablet which comes with a flat-panel display and stylus.

Meanwhile Philips Components will unveil two reference platforms or nearly complete systems for web appliances, which will support Windows CE 3.0 and Mobile Linux. The company said the appliances would take several forms such as web tables or computer kiosks.

Motorola will show off its new wireless cable modem and wireless residential gateway. And IBM spin-off Home Director will demonstrate new software packages for its residential gateway.

The show will also be overrun with portable MP3 players including the long awaited Rio 800, the new flagship player from SONICblue, formerly Diamond, while Intel plans to show off its just announced MP3 player as well as a web-surfing tablet.

About 110,000 people from 25 countries are expected to attend the show.