Wellesley, MA based Thinking Screen Media today announced the availability of its new platform for connected TVs on MStar solutions. The platform enables makers of connected TVs and set-top boxes to bring a wealth of Internet based applications and content to the TV screen.
Thinking Screen Media has partnered with MStar Semiconductor, the leader in the worldwide digital TV market. MStar Semiconductor will be demonstrating the solution on their connected TV platforms at the Consumer Electronics Show starting January 6th in Las Vegas.
MStar has created the «MStar Connected» package to address the Connected TV market and propose the best choice to manufacturers, operators and retailers. MStar provides the best of Broadcast and Broadband, for TV sets and Set Top Boxes, thanks to its team experience and assets already massively deployed in the market.
The Thinking Screen Media platform, called AppChannel, includes several components:
• a customizable, transparent UI that displays individual apps
• a library app for adding or removing content directly on the TV screen
• a web-interface for advanced configuration and authentication
• a series of hundreds of apps including both personal and commercial content from dozens of content partners
• platform tools to enable partners to bring a customized set of apps to their customers
AppChannel is based on Adobe Flash leveraging Adobe's focus on the digital home but is managed from the cloud so that partners can introduce new apps as well as update existing apps without having to modify any software on the device. The company said it plans to open up the platform for third party developers in 2011 but that today all apps have been developed internally to ensure a consistent, high quality experience for launch.
AppChannel's connected TV apps have been developed specifically to compliment and enhance the lean-back television experience. AppChannel brings a suite of apps including weather, sports scores and schedules, photo-sharing slideshows, social networking news, updates and interaction, TV and movie entertainment updates, stock quotes, headline news, local events, and a growing selection of apps for the whole family.
« MStar Connected » includes turnkey solutions for many countries and areas in the world, and on-demand solutions. It’s a real end to end Connected TV offering that allows our customers to address the market with a very short time-to-market, at an optimized cost and with up-to-date technologies. « MStar Connected » is pre-certified for many countries and ready for mass-production.
About Thinking Media
Thinking Screen Media is an early leader in bringing apps to connected TVs. Its AppChannel platform gives consumers access to a rapidly growing library of custom apps - bringing a rich, personalized experience to the largest screen in the home. The AppChannel platform can be fully integrated to give consumers one-touch access to social networking and photo-sharing accounts, favorite sport teams, breaking news, detailed weather information and forecasts, personalized stock quotes, and hundreds of new apps that compliment and enhance today's lean-back TV experience. For more information, please visit www.thinkingscreen.com
About MStar
MStar Semiconductor, Inc. is recognized as the leader in silicon solutions for Digital TV and other high volume consumer products including STB, and Mobile Phone. MStar solutions enable leading TV manufacturers to quickly produce market leading products. MStar is Headquartered in Hsinchu Taiwan and has development offices across the world. MStar Semiconductor is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
www.mstarsemi.com
