Advanced Television

ACCESS sets new standard for HTML5 WebKit browsers with NetFront browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile

January 5, 2012

ACCESS, a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile, beyond-PC and digital TV markets, has announced the availability of NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile, an advanced new WebKit-based HTML5 browser that features extremely efficient memory usage, high stability, high portability and comprehensive support for DTV and IPTV standards including HbbTV, BBC iPlayer, major video-on-demand (VoD) services in Japan and CE-HTML. NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile is an ideal solution for DTVs, set-top boxes (STBs) and Blu-ray Disc players.

NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile is based on a WebKit core that has been optimized for embedded environments. It features excellent support for next-generation web technologies such as HTML5 and incorporates unique technologies that achieve extremely efficient memory usage while minimizing the impact of memory shortages, ensuring highly stable performance even under low memory conditions. A uniquely developed, platform-agnostic porting API provides high portability to facilitate rapid time-to-market, while an application API enables flexible UI customization.

NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile delivers support for advanced specifications such as HTML5 and CSS3, as well as comprehensive support for the CE-HTML language for consumer electronics-device user interfaces. In addition, support functions can be optionally added for DTV and IPTV standards such as HbbTV and BBC iPlayer v3, as well as major Japanese VoD specifications by Digital TV Informatization Research Group. DTV/STB manufacturers, OEMs and service providers will be able to use NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile to quickly launch high value-added DTV devices and services with rich, wide-ranging content while also lowering their development burdens.

“Open source technologies like WebKit represent both opportunities and challenges for DTV/STB manufacturers, OEMs and service providers,” said Nobuya Murofushi, president, CEO of ACCESS. “With NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile, we’ve combined our extensive experience delivering market-proven, embedded browser solutions with essential components like engineering support and professional services. It represents a comprehensive HTML5 DTV solution that enables customers to meet or exceed the opportunities and challenges inherent with WebKit.”

Key Features and Benefits of NetFront Browser NX v2.0 DTV Profile
•     Unique platform-agnostic porting library for high portability
•     Unique API provides flexible UI customization
•     HTML5 support – Audio/Video tag, Canvas 2D, Web Workers, Web Storage, WebSocket* (new) and WebGL* (new)
•     CSS3 support – CSS3 3D Transforms, Transitions and Animations
•     CE-HTML (newly supported)
•     HbbTV, BBC iPlayer, and Major Japanese VOD specifications by Digital TV Informatization Research Group  (newly supported)
•     URL filtering (new)
•     Supported devices – Connected TVs, IP set-top-boxes, Connected DVD players
Automobile infotainment systems and Internet appliances

Categories: Press Releases, Standards