Time Warner Cable plans to offer its subscribers an easy Web to TV link as part of an overall home networking system, according to Reuters on Friday. The Apple TV was cited as an example of a popular system used now.

"We’re actually going to have equipment we make available to subscribers," said Time Warner Chief Executive Glenn Britt. "It’s actually going to be a new wireless cable modem that will allow you to network everything in your house. "Within a relatively short time, it’s going to be very easy to get Internet TV on your big screen TV."

However, other than announcing plans, few technical details were provided. Mr. Britt compared his system to the ease with which the Apple TV connects people to the iTunes store or their Mac or PC on a home network.

Today, there are many competing systems that allow customers various degrees of access to the Web. Most are highly manaaged and provided only for specific paid services that the vendor wants the customer exposed to. That keeps the system simple, but doesn’t always provide the Internet roaming freedom some people want.

With the Apple TV, Netflix, TiVo, Vudu and others offering customers a box and various ways to receive content, it remains to be seen how customers will react to the many choices and devices they have to chose from to connect to their TV.

In addition, Sony and the cable industry announced a project this week called Tru2Way that will allow a direct connection from the Internet to a Sony TV and eliminate the so-called set top box. That is, unless the customer wants a DVR in the middle.

Clearly, technology is booming in this area, and where it’s all leading is anyone’s guess. Apple has staked out its territory with AirPort, iTunes, and the Apple TV. Whether the rest of the industry can match that simplicity and ease of use is an open question. Motorola was one of the first to plan their assault on the Apple TV way back in 2006.

For now, options and offerings can be expected to increase until the consumers vote with their dollars and the industry backs into the best ways to achieve TV and Internet convergence without a gaggle of boxes hooked up to the HDTV.