ACCESS Extends HTML5 Browser to Support HbbTV Standard

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
ACCESS CO. logo

OBERHAUSEN, Germany — ACCESS CO., LTD, a global provider of advanced software technologies to the mobile, beyond-PC and digital TV markets, today announced that its recently launched NetFront™ Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile has been extended to support the HbbTV standard.

NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile is an advanced WebKit-based HTML5 browser that features extremely efficient memory usage, high stability and high portability. ACCESS has continued its heritage of providing next generation embedded software solutions with the NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile which is an ideal solution for connected devices like DTVs and set-top boxes.

HbbTV is a major pan-European initiative aimed at harmonising the broadcast and broadband delivery of entertainment to the consumer. It allows consumers to access connected-TV services such as catch-up TV, video on demand, interactive advertising, social networking and games through their TVs. ACCESS is an HbbTV member, with the company’s solution compliant with the unified European HbbTV standard.

“We have extended our new browser to support HbbTV so that device manufacturers can rest assured that there is a browser available which aligns with the latest developments in both HbbTV and HTML5 – two industry standards which continue to increase in importance,” said Dr. Neale Foster, VP of Global Sales IA, ACCESS. “NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile offers a cost-efficient solution for OEMs and middleware companies that otherwise may have had to run two separate browser engines in their devices to accommodate both HbbTV and HTML5. It is crucial for the broadcast industry to be early adopters of standards such as these to continue to provide consumers with the high quality experiences they expect.”

Key Features and Benefits of NetFront Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile

  • Unique platform-agnostic porting library for high portability
  • Unique API provides flexible UI customization
  • HTML5 features – Audio/Video tag, Canvas 2D, Web Workers, Web Storage, and WebSocket* (new)
  • Other advanced web features: WebGL, Web Fonts, JIT for x86 and ARM, etc.
  • CSS3 support – CSS3 3D Transforms (new)HbbTV and BBC iPlayer
  • CE-HTML Profiling (newly supported)
  • Supported devices – Connected TVs, IP and Hybrid set-top-boxes, PVRs, Game Consoles, Internet-capable Media Players, Automobile Infotainment Systems and other Connected Appliances.

* Note: NetFront NX 2.0 DTV Profile provides partial support to WebSocket (direct connection without proxy).