Opera TV solution to debut on Android TVs
January 5, 2015
A Blink-based TV rendering engine, by Opera Software, will ship on the latest Smart TVs and entertainment devices based on Android L. The Opera Devices SDK (Software Development Kit) 4.x series will launch on Android TVs by long-term Opera Software OEM partner, Sony, with the Opera Devices SDK 3.x series delivered on connected-TV devices using Android Open Source from TCL.
In addition to advanced HTML5 capabilities to power premium over-the-top content, the Opera Devices SDK also has the ability to bring Opera’s hybrid TV option for HbbTV, Opera TV Store app platform and Opera TV browser for open internet browsing to Android TV devices.
Manufacturers can also quickly deploy hundreds of entertaining, HTML5-based TV apps through the Opera TV Store, an application platform live on devices from more than 15 manufacturers and pay-TV operators and reaching millions of homes. The Opera Devices SDK also offers the new Opera TV browser, which lets viewers easily browse the full web via a standard remote control and use familiar features, such as tabbed browsing, visual bookmarks and browsing history.
“HTML5 has proven to be the harmonising factor in a complex and fragmented industry with many operating systems, regional standards and plug-in frameworks. When our TV partners announced their Android plans, Opera’s latest TV solutions were a natural fit,” says Aneesh Rajaram, Senior Vice-President for TV & Devices, Opera Software. “Manufacturers seek a certain degree of freedom on the OS layer, to differentiate the user experience. But, as we’ve experienced, content owners are keen to re-use their investments in HTML5 apps for TV, and this is precisely where we can add value to manufacturers launching Android TV.”