— The Smart TV Alliance added five new members and an updated SDK at CES this week, with Panasonic, ABOX42, TechniSat, IBM and Specific Media joining the club; founding members include LG Electronics, TP Vision (Philips), Toshiba, YuMe, Obigo and Qualcomm. The SDK’s features include richer apps due to upgraded HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript specs; 3D video; MPEG-DASH support with more reliable audio and video quality, less stuttering and freezing; and better content choices, with updated digital rights management (DRM) features that reflect DRM requirements from content owners. In addition, app developers get a new common emulator that can test an app once to help ensure it will work with smart TVs.

— Remote-maker SMK Electronics Corporation teamed with CSR plc to unveil Bluetooth smart-enabled advanced remote controls at CES that incorporate CSR’s CSR1001 and CSR8510 A10 chip solutions (single- and dual-mode Bluetooth low-energy solutions optimized for human interface devices) and SMK’s Bluetooth smart-enabled remote controls. The devices are capable of pointing gesture recognition, low-latency voice command and device-to-remote “back channel” communications. Additionally, SMK says its smart-enabled remotes are six times more energy-efficient than models using earlier Bluetooth technology, with batteries lasting as long as four years.

The Daily

Subscribe

Next Frontier: CableLabs Explores More than Speed Connectivity Era

Internet speed records are all the rage these days, with two separate breakthroughs making the headlines recently. One is more in the distant future, but the other hits closer to home.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Sep 11
2025 Faxies Awards Faxies Nominations Open! Final deadline: 4/4/25
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Carley Ashley, [email protected], for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.