That's not even mentioning the dual 1080p output and Blu-ray disc playback we already know about.

ENGADGET: Sony Playstation 3: Say goodbye to your Tivo, your iPod, your..........Xbox 360?

Moving on, we've got the Ion-based HTPC, which is outfitted with a 1.6GHz Atom 230 CPU, Vista Ultimate (64-bit), 4GB of DDR2-667 RAM, an OCZ 120GB SSD, Blu-ray drive, gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, HDMI output and a multicard reader.

ENGADGET: OCZ intros 17-inch DIY laptop, Ion-based HTPC / Neutrino netbook

He talked about moving into cloud computing, and was aided onstage by chief software architect Ray Ozzie, who talked about flexibility of purpose and output for all kinds of consumers and businesses.

FORBES: Microsoft? Big. Hard.

Nearly everything you watch will need to be upconverted (until you get a Blu-ray movie player or wait until HD-DVD players add support for output at that resolution), so take a look at the TV while it is displaying content from the source and type you will likely be watching most to see how it handles it.

ENGADGET: The (in)famous 1080p truth HD

But if Svensmark was correct, it would mean that periods of high solar output should coincide with reduced cloud formation (due to reduced cosmic ray incidence), which in turn would have a warming effect on the Earth, since less sunlight would be reflected back into space by clouds.

FORBES: Did CLOUD Just Rain on the Global Warming Parade?

As a video processor module in a small mini-box, the new accessory is simply placed in-line at the output of any HDMI video source, such as a video game console, DVD or Blu-ray player, media player, or any digital broadcast.

ENGADGET: DarbeeVision announces Cobalt video processor set to enhance any consumer's content

Ray Fair, an economist at Yale, famously devised an equation linking the outcome of presidential elections to inflation and output growth, but mid-terms are murkier.

ECONOMIST: The mid-term elections