The Blu Ray Disc Association has made it clear that it will not entertain any convergence with rival standard HD-DVD for the next generation of optical media. That, the group said, would be a rear view mirror approach, and mean diluting the Blu Ray technology.

So expect a standards war as the two slug it out for supremacy in the high definition market. HD is the big issue at CES, with companies scrambling to get bigger and better products into the market to tap into consumer interest over here.

Which is all the more galling if you live in the UK with no immediate prospect of high definition TV channels broadcasting into your homes.