Digital TV Labs' Ligada test tool facilitates Opera HbbTV browser integration

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
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BRISTOL, UK — Digital TV Labs, which provides independent, specialised receiver conformance products and services, has announced that it is working closely with Opera Software, the globally renowned browser supplier, to provide CE manufacturers with a swift and easy integration of the company’s new HbbTV-ready browser technology.

Opera has developed HbbTV compatibility as part of its offering, with the two companies working together to ensure that CE manufacturers integrate the technology correctly. CE manufacturers who have licensed Opera can now purchase Digital TV Labs’ Ligada iSuite HbbTV Test Tool to ensure a swift route to market by conforming to the interim HbbTV Logo Policy.

Keith Potter, CEO, Digital TV Labs, says, “The cooperation of the two companies’ teams means a faster time to market for CE manufacturers of all types of product. Ligada can be used to quickly solve integration issues, thus preventing interoperability problems in the field. Once again, this is about ensuring a smooth and successful rollout of the standard and therefore a positive consumer experience.”

The Ligada iSuite HbbTV Test Tool – a test harness consisting of test suites and server upon which to run them – fully supports the preliminary HbbTV Test Suite, slated for release in October this year. The latest version of Ligada automates many processes via its integrated JavaScript API support, IR blaster control, power cycle control and video screen capture interface. With its intuitive UI and the inclusion of HbbTV test cases linked to the HbbTV test assertions, Ligada significantly increases development productivity. Ligada fully supports DVB-T/C/S HbbTV receivers.

“Opera Software is a leader in HbbTV compliant middleware for TVs and set-top-boxes worldwide,” said Frode Hernes, VP of TV and Connected Devices, Opera Software. “By using the Digital TV Labs test suite and test services, Opera’s customers can rely on a solid third party to ensure compatibility and compliance, and avoid pitfalls in the rapidly evolving market of HbbTV compliant devices.”

Digital TV Labs is a very active member of the HbbTV Consortium and is the single highest contributor of test cases, having so far authored nearly half of the official test suite.

Potter adds, “The development of Opera integration testing is another clear sign of our commitment to the HbbTV standard and of our responsiveness to market needs. Standards are only as good as the test suites and facilities behind them, and that applies to HbbTV too of course.”

With offices in Asia and Europe and test services covering Europe, Australasia, ASEAN, Africa and now South America, Digital TV Labs’ international reach is unrivalled.