Trident and ARM Collaborate On Set-top Box Platform for Internet TV Services

Trident and ARM have collaborated to develop a new Set-top Box platform that according to both companies offers the best of Web 2.0 and media broadcasting.  Built on the ARM powerful Cortex-A Series processors, the new Trident Set-top Box, they said, will allow users to browse the internet, view TV programming, run rich internet applications and share various media content anywhere and anytime.  Also operators will be better able to target their content package to maximise advertising revenue.

According to both companies this initiative is to create a platform that provides developers with the most comprehensive platform to create solutions for internet connected STB applications.  At the heart of the Trident Set-top Box (STB) is the ARM Cortex-A9 processor.

"By combining an industry-leading STB platform with the powerful Cortex-A Series of processors, Trident and ARM bring the web-based runtime and user interface technologies traditionally found on PCs and mobile phones into the home entertainment system," said Tony Francesca, senior vice president and general manager of the Trident Set-top Box Business Unit.

In support of the internet connected Set-top Box platform ARM and Trident are working with other partners to integrate their software solution on the ARM processor chip. So far work as been done with Qt, Adobe Flash, ActionScript 3.0 JIT, HTML5 video playback and Google Android operating system to optimise them for the ARM/ARM Cortex-A9 processor architecture.

"Adobe is working with ARM & Trident to optimize the ARM JIT performance for ActionScript 3.0 which is used in the Flash Platform and provides the fundamental engine for driving our runtimes in digital home devices," said Jennifer Carr, senior director, business Development at Adobe.