Oslo, Norway – January 04, 2006
Opera Software today announced Opera 8.5 for TVs, set-top boxes, consumer electronics and other devices. OEMs and operators can now include an optimized full Internet experience and an execution environment for Web applications and user interfaces on a wide range of devices.
In addition to full Internet support and the fast creation of Web applications, Opera 8.5 for Devices offers the same flexibility and functionality as the renowned Opera 8.5 for desktop computers and mobile phones. Sporting Opera’s Extensible Rendering Architecture (ERA), Opera re-formats Internet pages to suit any screen size, and uses spatial navigation to easily navigate pages with any input device. For TVs and set-top boxes, Opera also includes TV rendering (TVR) and integration with leading digital and IPTV middleware solutions.
“Opera 8.5 for Devices is a one-of-a-kind product for the device market,” says Michael Link, product manager, Opera Software. “We see the increasing demand for a full Internet browser on a wide range of devices, and we are meeting that demand with not only a superior surfing experience but also by providing a solution for quickly implementing advanced Web applications on anything from in-flight entertainment systems in airplanes to next generation networked media players.”
Opera is currently being shipped in devices from Archos, NDS, Nokia, Thales and Amino. Opera 8.5 for Devices is available for evaluation for commercial products at http://www.opera.com/products/devices/.
What to look for in Opera 8.5 for Devices:
Support for the full Internet
Today’s Internet pages are not written according to standards but using what is commonly referred to as Street HTML. Unlike any other device browser, Opera’s desktop browser experience and regularly updated cross-platform core technology enable the full Internet on devices.
Any sized display
Opera’s Extensible Rendering Architecture (ERA) re-formats Internet pages on the fly to suit any screen size, from two-inch LCDs, to giant 16:9 flat panel TVs. Horizontal scrolling is eliminated, and anti-flicker technology and TV-optimized fonts provide steady images on traditional CRT screens.
Any input device
Opera’s spatial navigation capabilities make it easy to navigate on platforms that do not have a mouse, and can be configured to work with a remote control, game pad or keyboard. Opera’s integration with IBM ViaVoice(TM) enables users to interact with Opera using voice commands.
Web Applications and AJAX
Web applications are faster to market and cheaper to develop than native code. Most device applications can be developed using HTML, CSS, DOM, and JavaScript. Opera’s JavaScript and rendering engines are the fastest on the market, enabling complex AJAX based applications to run smoothly.
Internationalization
Opera supports Unicode and proprietary character encodings, and has full support for Bi-Directional scripts. Global deployments are powered using Input Method Editors (IME) and the integrated iTypeâ„¢ font engine.
Pre-ported to popular silicon
Opera continuously upgrades its product, by adding pre-integrated support for new architectures. This significantly reduces time-to-market for new devices. Opera’s platform independent code can easily be ported to new platforms by the experienced embedded engineering team at Opera Software. Opera has architecture builds for the following platforms: MIPS, ARM, Intel xScale, SH4, x86, PowerPC and Equator.
The primary operating system platform for Opera for Devices is Linux, but the highly portable Opera Core can support additional operating systems as needed by customers.
Extensive APIs
The SDKs have powerful, well-documented, developer friendly APIs that allow easy customization of all main browser features.This enables developers to take full control of the look and feel of their implementations and integrate Opera with other device software.
Support for JavaScript Applications
Opera’s native JavaScript extensions enable developers to create new JavaScript objects and methods that can be used to control the device. JavaScript can be used to change TV channels, adjust the volume, make a phone call or even play a song.
Plug-in Support
The SDK fully implements the Netscape Plug-in API, which allows quick porting of Adobe Flash Player or custom plug-ins. Support for new content types can be added using Opera’s APIs for plug-ins and extensions.
Highly customizable UI
Opera’s SDKs include UI source code that developers can configure or develop further to make their device user interfaces. Opera provides well documented skinning files, ready examples and support for multiple GUI toolkits, enabling developers to implement a UI that fits the device’s design requirements.
Portability
The primary platform for Opera 8.5 is Linux OS on leading microprocessor architectures including MIPS, ARM, PowerPC, x86, and SH, but Opera is designed for portability and can be rapidly moved to new operating systems and hardware platforms for customer projects.