Opera Devices SDK to power Bang & Olufsen connected TVs

OSLO, Norway, and COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Opera Software today announced that Danish electronics manufacturer Bang & Olufsen is now shipping the latest version of the Opera Devices Software Development Kit (SDK) on selected high-end connected TVs, bringing Bang & Olufsen viewers first-rate support for online video streaming services.

The SDK powers the user interface of Bang & Olufsen’s smart TVs, deploys HbbTV, and adds a unified video architecture for a simplified way to serve video content. It renders the popular web applications Spotify and BBC iPlayer, and enables content certifications for YouTube Leanback 4.0 so viewers can enjoy their favorite online clips on their TVs.

The Opera Devices SDK is an industry-leading toolkit for developing Smart TV solutions. With advanced web-standards support – including HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, SVG, 2D Canvas and WebGL – the Opera Devices SDK takes connected devices to a new level, for superior streaming performance and web-content rendering.

“Web-savvy viewers are realizing that the size of their TVs gives a better experience for watching online video, as video streaming services become the most popular apps for connected TV,” says Aneesh Rajaram, Senior Vice-President for TV & Devices, Opera Software. “Bang & Olufsen connected TVs powered by Opera provide enhanced support for the latest web technologies and standards, delivering better performance and easier viewer access to online video.”

“The Opera Devices SDK provides an excellent end-user experience on Smart TV. With its support we have been able to fast-track the certification for premium content, encompassing specifications like Encrypted Media Extensions, and enabling superior rendering and rapid time to market,“ says Lou Schreurs, Senior Vice-President of Product Creation, Bang & Olufsen. “It has helped us to deliver the high-quality viewing experience that Bang & Olufsen customers have come to expect from our TVs.”

The Opera Devices SDK powers Bang & Olufsen’s BeoPlay V1 in the 32-inch and 40-inch models, as well as the BeoVision 11 in 40-, 46- and 55-inch models. These connected TVs are now shipping globally.