Today at the Windows® Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) 2002, Royal Philips Electronics and Microsoft Corp. announced that they have entered into a strategic agreement aimed at introducing a new Microsoft® Windows operating system peripheral: the remote control. Under the terms of the agreement, Philips, a Microsoft Global Account customer, will license its infrared (IR) remote-control protocol to OEM customers for use in Windows infrared remote controls. In addition, Philips will develop and distribute hardware reference design guidelines and will become the preferred protocol provider for remote-control products compatible with "Freestyle"-enabled PCs and future devices in the home. "Freestyle" is the code-name for technologies that consolidate and present the PC’s digital media content in one easy-to-read and easy-to-navigate user interface accessible by remote-control.
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