Compatible gadgets - would that be nice

We all know how it is - we have various gadgets that don't work with each others and we basically curse and swear (sorry the language), that they are always not compatible.

May be this will change in the future - a group of the world's largest computer and electronic firms came together to discuss common groundrules for building compatible electronic devices that can share movies, music and others.

So while the 145 companies discussed, they came up with the idea "products that meet the specifications of the Digital Living Network Alliance will be awarded a logo that will let shoppers know that such a device will work with other certified products. The first compatible electronics could start appearing on store shelves in the end of this year."

While this sounds good, one common problem came up - the issue of protecting digital content from theft - which is apparently more important than thinking of the consumer first. There are enough studies existing that show that downloading of music, for example, has certain reasons, and does in no way damage sales of the record industry.