The number of digital TVs, gaming consoles, and set-top boxes equipped with embedded web browsers will grow from 60 million in 2008 to 214 million by 2013, forecasts ABI. The research firm lists the open source Webkit rendering engine and CEA-2014 UI standard among key emerging technologies shaping the market.

ABI says web browsers are already "common" in Japanese TVs, with uptake happening now in North America. Some vendors, such as Sony, are integrating browsers in order to expand Web service offerings, it says. Linux apparently features in most of these offerings -- for example, JVC-Victor, Pioneer, Sanyo, and Sony have used the open-source OS in myriad TV models shipping since 2003.

The massive VAIO RT pictured above, for example, includes ATSC and NTSC TV tuners, HDMI I/O, a 25.5-inch LCD screen, a read/write Blu-ray drive, a Core 2 Quad processor, 1TB of hard disk storage, and Windows Vista. Oh, and a price north of $3,300.

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