Intel Corporation and Yahoo have previewed plans for the Widget Channel, a television (TV) application framework optimised for TV and related consumer electronics (CE) devices using the Intel architecture. The Widget Channel will allow consumers to enjoy internet applications, while watching their favourite TV programmes.
This channel will be powered by the Yahoo Widget Engine, a fifth-generation applications platform that will enable TV watchers to interact and enjoy various TV widgets as well as small Internet applications designed to complement and enhance the traditional TV watching experience.
The Widget Channel also ensures to bring content, information and community features available on the internet that can be accessed via remote control. The Widget Channel will also allow developers to use JAVASCRIPT, XML, HTML and Adobe Flash technology for writing TV applications thereby extending the power and compatibility of PC application developer programs to TV and related CE devices.
The TV widgets will enable consumers to engage in a variety of experiences, such as watching videos, tracking their favourite stocks or sports teams, interacting with friends, or staying current on news and information. The TV widgets will also deepen the viewer’s enjoyment of different programmes, discover new content and services or share viewer’s favourites with friends and family. The TV widgets can be personalised as they will be based on various internet services such as Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Sports, Blockbuster and eBay that viewers have customised for use in daily lives.
By partnering with Intel, Yahoo plan to combine the internet benefits of open user choice, community, and personalisation with the performance and scale embodied in the Intel architecture to transform traditional TV into an exciting experience that has not been witnessed before. By using the Yahoo Widget Engine to power the Widget Channel, Intel intend to provide an opportunity for all developers and publishers to create new experiences that can reach millions of TV viewers globally. Yahoo also plan to enable the Cinematic Internet ecosystem suitable for consumers, device makers, advertisers and publishers.
Underlying the Widget Channel will be a powerful set of platform technologies, including the Yahoo Widget Engine and core libraries that expose the powerful functions enabled by the Intel architecture. The Widget Channel framework will use established internet technologies to dramatically lower the barrier of entry for developing applications optimised for TV. To help create new TV widgets for the Widget Channel, Intel and Yahoo also plan to make a development kit available to developers including TV and other CE device makers, advertisers and publishers. The Widget Channel will also include a Widget Gallery, to which developers can publish TV widgets across multiple TV and related CE devices and through which consumers can view and select the preferred TV widgets.