IWEDIA Middleware to accompany the booming market in high definition (HD) devices

Dedicated editions of Comedia middleware target HD set-top boxes and `digital ready’ HD TV sets with native user interfaces

RENNES, France — IWEDIA Middleware, the international provider of embedded DVB-based software solutions for digital television devices, today announced dedicated editions of its Comedia middleware specifically targeted at HD set-top boxes and ‘digital ready’ HD TV sets. The announcement was made to coincide with the opening of CeBIT ’08, which is taking place in Hanover from March 4th through 9th.

The two market solutions, for HD set-top boxes and ‘digital ready’ HD TV sets, are based on a robust, reliable, field-proven DVB system layer. Both of them come with a full set of features including a 7-day electronic program guide (EPG) and over-the-air (OTA) software upgrade capabilities.

For the ‘digital ready’ HD TV set solution, an exchange protocol has been defined to pilot the digital on-board module from within the analog chassis. The solution also includes DVB-Common Interface (DVB-CI) host software.

Special care has been taken to provide ‘native’ User Interfaces (UI), which use the display in native mode, without up or down scaling or stretching. The set-top box solution dynamically adapts the UI to the connected display’s aspect ratio (4:3 or 16:9) and resolution (single definition, HD Ready or Full HD). Similarly, the solution for `digital ready’ TV sets uses a 16:9 UI, with resolution matching that of the display within which it is embedded.

Patrick Desproges, CEO, IWEDIA, says: “With these editions of Comedia, we are providing the ultimate software solutions for set-top box manufacturers and TV set makers to deliver high definition devices at the right time to serve the needs of the European market. And with our native user interfaces, we can guarantee the same level of quality when interacting with the device as when watching TV.”