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Automation vendor Control4 makes an audio debut at ISE 2013-- the Wireless Music Bridge, a device allowing customers to wirelessly connect and stream music on PCs or mobile devices on Control4 systems.

With Bluetooth, DLNA, Airplay, wifi and ethernet support, the Wireless Music Bridge streams audio from most, if not all, devices. It supports full metadata (including cover art) and allows access to connected content and devices through all Control4 interfaces, including TVs.

In addition, Control4 systems with OS 2.4 get a TuneIn update, allowing access to over 700000 traditional and internet radio stations, as well as on-demand audio and podcasts.

The Control4 Wireless Music Bridge ships from Q2 2013, while the TuneIn update should roll out from April 2013.

Go Control4

According to both CNBC and the Financial Times Microsoft is set to join a group planning to buyout Dell-- and is putting between $1 and $3 billion of mezzanine funding.

Mezzanine financing is a hybrid of debt and equity.

Unnamed sources "familiar with the matter" say private equity firm Silver Lake Partners and Dell CEO Michael Dell are bringing together a group ready to take the 3rd biggest PC maker in the world private.

Such a task might cost up to $25bn, the FT says.

Being a large software supplier to Dell, Microsoft has an interest keeping the company stable-- but such investments would bring it to odds with other PC vendors. Then again Microsoft already clashes with PC makers following its entry in the hardware market with the Surface tablet...

The news comes as Dell looks into transforming itself from PC maker to enterprise services provider. According to Gartner global Q4 2012 Dell PC shipments are down by -20.9% Y-o-Y, reaching 9.3m units (down from 11.6m in Q4 2011).

Go Microsoft May Invest $1-3 Billion in Dell Buyout (MSNBC)

Go Microsoft in Talks to Join any Dell Deal (FT.com)

Intel makes what perhaps is an expected announcement-- no doubt due to continual PC sale declines Intel is phasing out the desktop motherboard business in order to focus on mobile products.

In other words, the company will still supply desktop chipsets to 3rd party motherboard makers, but will stop making own motherboards (such as all ATX boards, including Mini-ATX and Micro ATX models) after a final Haswell-based series set for a Q3 2013 launch.

"Intel's Desktop Motherboard Business will begin slowly ramping down over the course of the next 3 years," the company says. "The internal talent and experience of 20 years in the boards business... is being redistributed to address emerging new form factors."

"Emerging" form factors to benefit from the resource reshuffle include "Next Unit of Computing" designs and Ultrabooks, as well as mobile devices.

Of course, desktop motherboards will still be around-- Intel expects the likes of Asus, Gigabyte and MSI, among others, to "fully support Intel's growing roadmap and large customer base."

The announcement follows rumours Intel will kill the current Land Grid Array (LGA) socket standard in favour of Ball Grid Array (BGA) for post-Haswell "Broadwell" chipsets.

Go Intel Motherboards

HMV Canada owner Hilco UK rescues HMV after it buys the bank debts (reportedly for around £40 million) of the ailing entertainment retailer.

Hilco does not actually own HMV now-- but it has the power to effectively take control of the retailer. Rival bidders for HMV would also need Hilco agreement.

According to the Financial Times HMV net debt currently reaches £120m, following the holiday trading period.

HMV administrator Deloitte says "the administrators will work closely with [Hilco], as secured lender, as we continue to seek a positive outcome for the business. Stores continue to trade and at this time we remain hopeful of securing a long-term future for HMV as a going concern.”

However retail analysts predict store closures are in the cards for HMV, with the store count to potentially drop from 230 to 100-150. Game already expressed interest in the acquisition of around 45 HMV outlets.

Go Hilco UK Acquires HMV Debt

Go Hilco UK Buys Debt of HMV to Gain Control (FT.com)

Go Imminent Rescue for HMV?