Forget the keyboard and the mouse, what the newest edition of Windows XP really needs is a common household gadget -- the remote control. Microsoft Corp. announced an addition to its flagship Windows XP series of operating systems on Tuesday, Windows XP Media Center, which aims to transform desktop computers into remote-controlled digital entertainment hubs.

The world's biggest software maker said the new entertainment-friendly edition of Windows XP will debut in stores in the United States, Canada and South Korea in time for this year's U.S. holiday season, which typically begins late November, and be packaged together with personal computers specially designed to deliver its key media features. The PCs, to be built by Hewlett-Packard Co., Japan's NEC Corp. and Korea's Samsung Electronics Co., will have extensive digital music, video, TV and DVD video playback capability . Remote controls shipped with the computers will feature a "Start" button just like that on all Windows desktops, which brings up a screen to replace the standard Windows graphics with a sleek, simple design that provides quick access to various entertainment media and functions.