Opera brings Blink-based SDK to Entropic RDK implementations

Monday, February 10th, 2014
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Entropic, Opera Leverage OpenEmbedded; Collaboration Brings Blink-Based Opera SDK to RDK Implementations on Any Set-Top Box

SAN DIEGO — Entropic (Nasdaq:ENTR), a world leader in semiconductor solutions for the connected home, and Opera Software, today announced their RDK (Reference Design Kit) collaboration using the OpenEmbedded core technology and the Yocto Project™ Linux development environment. The cooperation leverages Opera’s advanced web browsing capabilities with the Blink engine via the Opera Devices SDK (Software Development Kit) and Entropic’s Open RDK System-on-a-Chip (SoC) platform to enable operators interested in RDK implementations to access the best performance browsers – across any set-top box device type. Opera and Entropic will highlight their collaboration at this week’s RDK User’s Conference, which is being held on February 11, in Denver.

The RDK is a pre-integrated software bundle developed and licensed to create a common framework for powering IP or hybrid set-top boxes and gateway devices for consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers, SoC vendors, software developers, system integrators and TV service providers. The RDK leverages a shared source model to speed time-to-market, increase standardization within the cable/MSO ecosystem, encourage collaboration and enable operators to offer expanded services. As an open software framework, RDK leverages open source components and web-standards to offer operators the ability to innovate and use third party application developers to increase the agility and lower the cost of releasing new features. RDK Management, LLC was formed as a joint venture between Comcast Cable and Time Warner Cable to administer the RDK and supports a community of more than 120 licensees.

The Opera Devices SDK seamlessly integrates with the RDK environment, replacing Qt/WebKit as the rendering engine and enabling direct integration to the RDK ServiceManager and the RDK Media Framework from HTML/CSS/JavaScript applications. The Opera SDK is an extensible platform for developing interactive connected-TV solutions, including cross-platform rendering of operator portals, premium content and web services, and providing a foundation for TV apps and full Internet browsing.

The Entropic/Opera collaboration focuses on leveraging the OpenEmbedded core technology which provides build recipes for open-source components together with the Yocto Project development environment. Together, OpenEmbedded and Yocto Project standardize both the components of the Embedded Linux distribution and the build environment, which includes the tools, libraries and configurations required to build open Linux-based set-top devices. In doing so, Entropic/Opera can ensure RDK implementations are fully-accessible across device types and that operators/OEMs have access to thousands of open-source components that target that same build-flow and use the same standardized tools. This in turn minimizes software diversity and allows operators to save significantly on application development – in both time and resource.

Entropic’s Open RDK platform is the first RDK-focused SoC solution to support the OpenEmbedded technology and Yocto Project environment. Entropic’s platform is comprised of its ARM®-based SoCs and Software Development Kit (SDK) and maximizes the commonality of the code used on different set-top devices, making it architecture agnostic. Opera offers its state-of-the-art SDK based on Blink, the web browser engine developed as part of the Chromium project by Google, which optimizes browser performance. With the ability to incorporate the Opera technology via OpenEmbedded recipes in the Yocto Project build environment, customers are assured of the lowest cost of ownership throughout their diverse product line.

“We believe our collaboration with Opera is an important step forward in driving new RDK implementations that leverage the OpenEmbedded technology and Yocto Project development environment,” said Roger Gregory, vice president, Marketing, Entropic. “Our joint efforts offer the RDK ecosystem the opportunity to minimize operator’s software diversity, save on application development, and ensure better quality software through the re-use of software development components.”

“Combining Entropic’s mature SoC and software development kit with their support for the Yocto Project build environment clearly defines them as a leading SoC vendor in the RDK space,” said Aneesh Rajaram, senior vice president for TV & Devices, Opera Software. “Blink is clearly finding traction in the connected-TV industry. Opera Software is ready today with Blink, the latest and great rendering engine fully optimized for the RDK space through the Opera Devices SDK, securing the roadmap for operators and helping them transition out of WebKit.”

Availability

Leveraging one SDK across its SoC product offerings, Entropic’s Open RDK platform is available to its full range of SoC products. Its RDK kernel distribution and build environment is available in February 2014.