| File:Tv yahoo 1.jpg Docked Widgets | |
| Developer | Yahoo! |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Yahoo!, Samsung, Sony, Vizio, Toshiba |
| Type | Digital media receiver |
| Release date | March 30, 2009 |
| Operating system | Linux |
| CPU | Intel Atom based CE3100 consumer electronics system-on-chip, MIPS |
| Online services | Flickr, Twitter, Amazon Video On Demand, Blockbuster, YouTube, etc |
| Website | connectedtv |
“’Yahoo! Connected TV”, is a Smart TV platform developed Yahoo! based upon the Yahoo! Widgets platform. Originally announced on August 20th, 2008 at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco as the Widget Channel[1], it integrates the Yahoo! Widgets Engine with a new television oriented user interface to enable internet connected applications to run and display on a 10-foot user interface
Development
editYahoo began porting the Konfabulator Widget Engine to an embedded Linux platform in 2007 as part of a joint venture with Intel corporation that resulted in an announcement of the Widget Channel in August of 2008.
On January 4, 2009 Yahoo! And Samsung announced that select models of Samsung’s new flat panel HDTVs would support the new TV Widget service[2].
On January 7, 2009 Yahoo! Followed up with a broader announcement of distribution partnerships with major television manufacturers Samsung, Sony, LG Electronics, and Vizio[3], with only a peripheral reference to Intel.
The following year, January 6, 2010, additional partnerships with Hisense, ViewSonic, MIPS Technologies, and Sigma Designs were announced at CES 2011 [4] bringing the Yahoo! Widget Engine to more televisions and consumer electronics platforms.
In September 2010 Yahoo! And the Vestel Group announced a partnership to deliver the platform that was now renamed to Yahoo Connected TV, to Europe[5]. Also later in September Toshiba announced Yahoo! Connected TV support on several models of their televisions[6].
WDK
editDevelopment of TV widgets is enabled via the Yahoo! Widget Development Kit or WDK, available for download from the Yahoo! Connected TV website.
Widget Distribution
editTV Widgets are distributed post sale of the television, via the Yahoo! Connected TV Store, scheduled for launch in Fall 2011. The store claims to reach 135 countries, and enables widget distribution to millions of TVs from Samsung, Sony, Vizio, and Toshiba. All Transactions are processed by Yahoo!, and widget prices range from 99 cents to 99 dollars, with developers getting 70% of the revenue after taxes and currency exchange.
Technology
editTV Widgets are developed using a combination of HTML and Javascript.