New Web Site Delivers Linux For TV

Summary:

Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany - 29th August 2001. Century Embedded Technologies, a division of Century Software, Inc., and National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM) have announced the launch of a new website, Linux4.tv, dedicated to supporting Linux developers and promoting open-source projects for Interactive TV and Advanced Digital Set Top Box (STB) technologies. Designed for developers and system integrators, Linux4.tv will host freely available open-source software projects and applications for a variety of electronic devices including broadcast and digital TV, web browsing, gaming, and video on demand. A complete open-source set-top box solution is available for download immediately.

Full Text:
National Semiconductor and Century Software Launch Linux4.tv to Deliver Complete Embedded Linux Set-Top Box Solution

Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany - 29th August 2001. Century Embedded Technologies, a division of Century Software, Inc., and National Semiconductor Corporation (NYSE: NSM) have announced the launch of a new website, Linux4.tv, dedicated to supporting Linux developers and promoting open-source projects for Interactive TV and Advanced Digital Set Top Box (STB) technologies. Designed for developers and system integrators, Linux4.tv will host freely available open-source software projects and applications for a variety of electronic devices including broadcast and digital TV, web browsing, gaming, and video on demand. A complete open-source set-top box solution is available for download immediately.

Linux4.tv will advance the development and deployment of Linux-based set-top box technologies and standards. Several projects are immediately available for download, including WebMedia, Century´s set-top box front-end application that provides video middleware application programming interface (API) and enhanced Video 4 Linux (V4L2) API with rich features such as alpha blending, VIP overlay and Picture in Picture (PIP) support. These APIs will streamline the implementation of TV middleware and device drivers. In addition, the web site also includes a collection of technical documentation for National´s GeodeT hardware and platforms, video standards and source code.

The software available on Linux4.tv will be designed for National´s Geode SP1SC10 demonstration and development platform. Based on a National® Geode SC1200 processor, the Geode SP1SC10 includes a full set of multimedia functions, peripheral and network interfaces and two PCI expansion slots. The reference platform provides an ideal development environment for manufacturers seeking to design one or more advanced capabilities into a set-top box, including interactive TV broadcast services, Internet browsing and email, time-delay recording, multimedia gateway, video-on-demand and streaming video. National has developed Linux drivers and API for the platform that provide a foundation for open-source development.

"National is taking the leadership role to address our customers´ demands for an embedded Linux software solution for advanced set-top boxes," said David Pederson, set-top box business unit director for National Semiconductor. "National and Century are providing this forum to accelerate customer production schedules in this growing market."
"Open-source software development is a core part of Century's strategy and we are pleased to be joining National Semiconductor to provide an initial set of building blocks for advancing interactive digital TV set-tops for Linux. Developing a solid reference library of applications and libraries will help foster not only innovation but also reinforce consistent implementation between open-source and commercial software," said Gregory Haerr, CEO of Century Software.

The Linux4.tv project provides an open-source forum to develop open-standard specifications and software API definitions for next-generation set-top box systems. An active programming staff will accept and merge contributions targeting a variety of platforms and enhancements. The Linux4.tv Development Program is available for member companies and provides early access to new software releases, technology previews, whitepapers, and other tools for collaboration. More details on joining the Linux4.tv community are available at http://www.linux4.tv.

In addition to founding partners National Semiconductor and Century Embedded Technologies, Red Hat and Tuxia have joined the Development Partner Program.

About Linux4.tv Development Partner Program
The Linux4.tv Development Partner Program was founded to bring together developers, designers, content producers, broadcasters, cable operators, and associated technology suppliers in a united effort to rapidly deploy next-generation set-top box systems based on open-source software. To request a Linux4.tv Development Partner application, please send an email to partners@linux4.tv.

For more information on Linux4.tv, go to: http://www.linux4.tv.

Century Software will be demonstrating the Geode SP1SC10 running WebMedia on Red Hat Linux in the Red Hat booth (#653) at the LinuxWorld Expo at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, August 28-30.

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Contact:

Solveig Lösch
National Semiconductor GmbH
Tel: 00 49 8141 35 1 443
Email: solveig.loesch@nsc.com