It's funny (re: Gonk above) the same discussion got me thinking about LAN enabling a processor. Sure would be nice, and it can't cost much - One can get a router with a web interface for $30 or so, after all, and those folks have to be making money. Heck, a basic router has to have 2 ports, at least.

A tiny, cheap embedded CPU running Linux (one of the embeddable ones) on a simple SBC, hooked to the DSP control bus via an internal serial bus or something like that (I bet most if not all DSP chipsets support something like this) shouldn't cost much at all, and sure would be useful, particularly in a higher end processor.

• Automation would be simple
• Setup would be easy
• Updating the firmware
• Control for the second zone

Just for a few applications. Opening up a device for 3rd parties has seldom been a marketing error.