Opera Software has launched its Opera TV Store, an HTML5 based store solution for TV apps.
Opera Software has launched the Opera TV Store, a place for developers to find the tools and components to build apps for TV sets.
The Opera TV Store is a complete HTML5-based solution for easy
implementation into connected TVs by OEMs and easily reached by developers and content providers, Opera
said.
With the Opera TV Store, developers can reach a large, installed
base of compatible TVs and devices, using fast and easy tools to
develop all kinds of apps. Movie trailer apps, Video on Demand apps,
games, news apps, vodcast and podcast apps are now easy to develop and
deliver to customers for developers using the Opera TV Store, Opera
officials said.
The Opera TV Store extends beyond connected TVs, making it an
all-device experience. Running on the TV, set-top box or a Blu-ray
player makes no difference for the Opera TV Store. Using the
flexibility of the Web platform, development and deployment of apps is
done in a snap, the company said.
"Traditionally, the TV has been pretty static as a device," said
Lars Boilesen, CEO of Opera, in a statement. "The era when you had to
buy more expensive equipment to get new functions in the TV is over.
New approaches to TV software, such as the Opera TV Store, make it
easier for OEMs to implement smarter functions on connected TVs and
content providers to reach a wider audience with their HTML5 apps."
OEMs can harness the power of a multitude of developers to enrich
the consumer TV world with after-market apps. The Opera TV Store can be
installed on any device or connected TV and a wide array of content
partners reached through the store.
For developers, the Opera TV Store means a quick and easy way to
reach millions of users right in their living rooms. If a TV is based
on the Opera SDK 3.1, Opera TV Store and its content is just a click
away. An HTML5-based solution makes compatibility and app development
quick and easy. Cloud-based storage of the users' apps means no worries
about storage, updates and upgrades, the Opera TV Store shines on all
levels of connected TVs.
Running on top of the Opera engine, the Opera TV Store supports
HTML5, SVG, Canvas, CE-HTML and OIPF based applications which provide
both the rich environment seen in desktop browsers, and the TV specific
environment developers are used to in the TV markets.
Content providers have been adding apps for the debut of the Opera TV
Store, and several leading Web services have already published their
apps.
"Vimeo is excited to be developing for such a great platform as
Opera TV Store," said Andrew Pile, vice president of product
development at Vimeo, in a statement. "We're always looking to expand
Vimeo everywhere and with the addition of Opera TV Store, we continue
to bring high quality content to a wider audience."
"After developing the DriveCast app for such different platforms as
Yahoo ConnectedTV, Samsung SmartTV and Philips NetTV, porting the app
to Opera TV Store was really easy sailing," said Giorgio Bernardi,
president and CTO of Inrete, in a statement. "The development of an app
for the Opera TV Store is really an easy task for any developer of Web
applications."
"We're excited to launch a range of Funspot games on the Opera TV
Store," said Michael Lantz, CEO of Accedo, in a statement. "Casual
games are popular applications, and HTML5-based Opera TV solution
offers a vast range of new possibilities that are particularly
attractive for gaming."
Opera TV Store is available as trial software for OEMs and content providers, Opera officials said.
Darryl K. Taft covers the development tools and developer-related issues beat from his office in Baltimore. He has more than 10 years of experience in the business and is always looking for the next scoop. Taft is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and was named 'one of the most active middleware reporters in the world' by The Middleware Co. He also has his own card in the 'Who's Who in Enterprise Java' deck.
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