ACCESS to show NetFront Browser HTML5 support at IBC

IBC Sees ACCESS HTML5 Solution Enable Broadcast Industry to Launch 21st Century UIs

OBERHAUSEN, Germany — ACCESS CO., LTD, today announces that its IBC demo of NetFront™ Browser NX 2.0 (IBC stand: 14.103) shows how HTML5 provides the broadcast space with an open UI platform that enables the launch of next generation UIs, EPGs, TV Services, and Games all at ‘Internet speed’.

IBC will also see ACCESS launch NetFront Browser NX 2.0 support for the latest HTML5 developments such as HTML5 Canvas and for the latest TV standards, such as HbbTV 1.5. This combination demonstrates how NetFront Browser NX can present remarkably enriched visual UI effects on TV and enable the fast development and launch of next generation EPGs, UIs and exciting TV gaming opportunities.

“For the past two decades the broadcast industry has been held back by the lack of an appealing UI, cool graphics, simple navigation and responsiveness – our HTML5 supporting NetFront Browser NX means that this is no longer an issue,” said Dr. Neale Foster, VP of Global Sales IA, ACCESS.

“For many people TV is now enjoyed as beautiful HD video on a crystal-clear large flat screen. But the experienced is often let down by the less than inspiring EPGs and UIs that ‘wrap’ the content. A well-designed HTML5 browser like NetFront Browser NX enables the broadcast industry to take advantage of the powerful graphics capabilities of HTML5 to make sure the user-interface is as pretty as the pictures. Just as importantly, HTML5 provides a highly controllable application platform for the broadcast industry, so that Smart TV and other next generation applications can now be launched at Internet speed,” concluded Dr. Foster.

NetFront Browser NX is based on the WebKit open source browser engine. This enables ACCESS to concentrate on support for TV broadcast standards and providing improvement in performance of HTML5, so that operators and device manufacturers can deliver the Connected TV and Multiscreen experiences that consumers want and are beginning to expect.

NetFront Browser series solutions on show at IBC include:

• NetFront™ Browser NX 2.0 – a WebKit-based, platform-independent HTML5 software solution that supports most of the HTML5 features such as HTML5 Canvas. It can be used as a next-generation TV UI engine to deliver greatly enriched user experiences including 3D graphics and animations.
• NetFront™ Browser NX 2.0 DTV Profile HbbTV Edition – a WebKit-based browser that features efficient memory usage, high stability, high portability and comprehensive support for DTV standards including HbbTV, BBC iPlayer and CE-HTML. It enables operators, OEMs and middleware companies to upgrade or launch HbbTV capable devices and services quickly, efficiently and affordably.

ACCESS has deeply rooted its design philosophy in Internet technologies, such as HTML5, so that managed Pay-TV service platforms, Home Network and Automotive Infotainment systems can be rapidly developed to provide operators and consumers with exciting leading-edge experiences. As part of this, ACCESS has built its HTML5-centric WebKit-based NetFront Browser NX Software Development Kit (SDK) to empower Pay-TV Operators and Consumer Electronic manufactures to quickly and affordably build their next-generation User Interfaces and web application platforms at the same time as taking advantage of the rich HTML5 feature set.

Why HTML5 matters

HTML5 is important because it provides an open, but highly controllable application platform for the broadcast industry. HTML5 represents the next generation family of emerging open standards that will define and empower the behaviour of web browsers, interfaces, video, audio and applications for many years to come. By integrating the work of different standards bodies and industry sub-sectors, HTML5 makes it possible to develop User Interfaces, applications and video services that will run equally easily, consistently and securely on a SmartTV, a set-top box, a smartphone or a tablet device. It is specifically designed to support the kinds of multi-screen consumption and interaction increasingly being seen amongst consumers and resolve the many issues that have hindered the industry so far.

By acting as a kind of ‘virtual velcro’ in the browser, User Interface and web applications environments, HTML5 provides the hardware, software and content communities with the kind of dynamic agility, creativity and interaction that has previously only been available through higher cost proprietary closed systems.