Opera promises cross-platform apps for Smart TVs, gives us little to complain about

Sep 7th 2011
No Comments
respond
trackback

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Opera promises cross-platform apps for Smart TVs, gives us little to complain about

Opera has some guts going up against the likes of Samsung within the emerging realm of Smart TV apps. Nonetheless, its new storefront brings something different to the table: namely a dashboard that strictly adheres to HTML5 and other web standards in order that apps can work across any platform. Content providers like Vimeo and DriveCast have already signed up and television manufacturers is just not far behind — not least since the underlying browser engine is alleged to run smoothly even on crappier cheaper processors. Opera has even released an emulator to make life easy for smaller app developers who, for one reason or another, can’t afford a complete testbed of TVs. Opera still has the way to go, but pleasing everyone on a regular basis is unquestionably a sensible strategy for any underdog. PR after the break.

Show full PR text

Opera lifts the curtain on Opera TV Store and television Emulator at IBC

Oslo, Norway – September 7, 2011

Apps on my TV? Yes, you heard correctly: web-enabled TV applications are not any longer the stuff of sci-fi films. At IBC 2011, Opera Software pulls out of its hat the all new Opera TV Store, a straightforward solution for developers to construct HTML5 apps for connected TVs and devices. OEMs, nonetheless, can make the most these ready-made apps and offer them to their customers straight away.

“Apps are a brand new must-have on TVs,” said Frode Hernes, VP Products, TV and Connected Devices, Opera Software. “With the Opera TV Store, developers can easily build cool and useful apps for millions of TV viewers. And, once again, Opera takes these apps across devices, bringing games, news, video and audio apps to TVs, set-top boxes and Blu-ray players.”

Why stop there?

Opera also presents the Opera TV Emulator, a device that permits developers do all of the nips and tucks had to build various TV apps without leaving their computers, and without investing in expensive bells and whistles needed for TV development.

The Opera TV Emulator rocks the subsequent innovative features:
- Web standards support. Support for the whole suite of web standards, similar to HTML5 with video, CSS, Canvas and SVG.
- Support for CE-HTML video. This lets developers test and debug applications that use CE-HTML video streams.
- Speed emulation. This enables content developers to decide on one in all four speed settings, which helps them evaluate the performance level of the television app.
- VirtualPC Image. This offers a brief means of installing and running the Linux based SDK on a Windows or Mac PC.
- Opera Dragonfly debugging. This helps developers debug TV applications on their PCs.

“Developing applications for TVs couldn’t be easier,” said Andreas Bovens, Group Leader, Development Relations, Opera Software. “Opera TV Emulator offers an entire package to develop, debug and deploy TV applications right out of your PC.”

No SDK left behind

At IBC in Amsterdam, Opera can also be unveiling the latest version of the Opera Devices Software Development Kit (SDK) with native JavaScript execution for MIPS CPUs, WebGL (beta) support and plenty more.

Meet Opera at IBC

See the Opera TV Store and Opera TV Emulator in action at IBC 2011. Please visit the Opera Software booth in Hall 5, B47, or, for additional info, contact Katrin Jaakson (katrinj@opera.com). The next partners also showcase Opera on their devices: AirTies Wireless Networks (Hall 5, B33), Albis Technologies (Hall 4, C71), Amino Communications (Hall 5, B40), CreNova Technology (Hall 5, B15b), Entone (Hall 13, 266), Ericsson (Hall 1, D61), HUMAX Co. Ltd (Hall 4, B70), IMAQLIQ (Hall 13, 372), SetOne (Hall 4, B50), Technisat Digital S.A. (Hall 1, A44), ViXS Systems Inc. (G104), Zappware (Hall 4, B51), 3view Consumer Electronics Ltd. (Hall 13, 154).

About Opera Software ASA

The global World-wide-web. Any device, any platform, any bandwidth, absolutely anywhere on the planet – Opera Software was founded in 1994, in line with the concept access to the net must be a universal right. Opera Software ASA is listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA. 200 million people (and counting) are using the Opera, Opera Mobile and Opera Mini browsers. Participation changes everything. Learn more about Opera at www.opera.com.

Source