Opera launches Chromium/Blink engine for RDK set-top boxes

Friday, December 13th, 2013
Opera Software logo

Opera launches the industry’s first commercial-grade Chromium/Blink engine designed for RDK set-top boxes

OSLO, Norway — Today, Opera Software launched an industry first in the TV operator and devices sphere. Now, pay-TV operators and their partners deploying the Reference Design Kit (RDK), a pre-integrated software bundle developed and licensed to create a common framework for powering IP or hybrid set-top boxes and gateway devices, can get use the Chromium/Blink engine, via the Opera Devices SDK, in their set-top boxes.

The Opera Devices SDK integrates seamlessly into the RDK environment, replacing Qt/WebKit as the rendering engine and providing direct integration to the RDK ServiceManager and the RDK Media Framework from HTML/CSS/JavaScript applications.

Support for the RDK is an important step forward for the Opera Devices SDK. Opera’s Chromium/Blink SDK for the RDK greatly simplifies the path to outstanding web services in operator-controlled environments. What this means for set-top-box OEMs and operators is simple: cross-platform rendering of operator portals and web services, in addition to readily-available popular HTML5 web content in the form of TV Apps. Blink brings the latest and greatest of web standards for making stunning UIs, in turn providing a slicker, more cost-effective way of getting the content that consumers want onto the platforms they use every day.

The RDK was developed to accelerate the deployment of next-generation video services and prevent software fragmentation by providing speed to market, collaboration and standardization. Supported by more than 100 licensees, RDK Management, LLC, was formed as a joint venture between Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable to administer the RDK.

With the new Opera Devices SDK for RDK, operators can immediately start deploying custom, HTML5-based services, using state-of-the-art HTML5 features such as CSS animations and 3D transforms. The SDK also supports the most common DRM and adaptive-bitrate streaming formats. The transition to Chromium/Blink on RDK can begin, today.

“Delivering the Opera Devices SDK for RDK is a big milestone, not only for us, but also for any operator wishing to secure its HTML5 roadmap while improving time-to-market,” says Aneesh Rajaram, SVP for TV and Devices, Opera Software. “With a growing and engaged community, the RDK is quickly being embraced by CE manufacturers, SOCs vendors and other software developers, system integrators, and TV service providers around the world. Opera is proud to bring its experience to the RDK community, with over ten years of delivering web-browser SDK’s to tens of millions of connected TV devices worldwide.”

Enabling TV Apps to subscribers has never been easier

To further the reach of popular web content, Opera Software built a complete cloud-based HTML5 TV app platform, the Opera TV Store, which is now deployed on millions of connected TV devices manufactured by leading OEMs. Depending on the implementation choices of pay-tv operators for their next-generation set-top boxes, consumers may receive access to the Opera TV Store. The Opera Store which contains hundreds of TV apps, uses the Opera Devices SDK, effectively providing operators with an easy-to-deploy solution. The growing number of TV apps includes popular content providers such as Vimeo, Facebook, TuneIn, The North Face, Associated Press, Fashion TV, and much more. With innovative toolkits such as Opera TV Snap, brands and content owners can quickly repurpose their online video inventory into HTML5-based TV Apps, at zero cost.

In addition, the Opera Devices SDK is regularly tested and deployed with TV Apps from leading content providers such as YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Hulu+, Spotify, and many others. The Chromium/Blink-based browser solutions from Opera Software are also available in the SDK for Linux and Android, for a whole range of chipsets and CPU architectures.

Opera powers the web experience on tens of millions of devices made by over 50 customers, including Sony, Samsung, TiVo, Vizio, Humax, Arris, Cisco, Amino, TCL, Sharp, Vestel and Altech.

Be an early bird; book your visit to Opera Software at CES 2014, and get in on all the latest developments in the TV and devices space. Opera Software’s booth is located at South Hall S2, Lower Level, #MP25070, CES Meeting Place. To arrange a commercial or media meeting, contact zlauder@opera.com.