You DIYers are gonna love this. Vidtonic's promising a "homebrew" hardware/software development kit to help bring apps to the TV screen. Yeah, it's Android-based IPTV. Like Google TV, we assume, but a little more fringe. With the kit you get a TV housing, cables, a 1080p LCD panel, power supply and ARM/DSP motherboard, along with the software tools to get your app up and running.
How usable will this be? And will it be more than a cool hobbyist device? We'll just have to check it out and see for ourselves, won't we? Check out the full presser after the break.
VIDTONIC INTRODUCES IPTV KIT POWERED BY ANDROIDTM AT 2011 INTERNATIONAL CES
Fort Wayne, IN, December 27, 2010 – Vidtonic will be introducing the HomeBrew IPTV Developer Kit at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV. The Homebrew platform is powered by the AndroidTM operating system and gives software developers the ability to create applications targeted for the television screen.
Matt Miller, Vidtonic co-founder says, “Our vision with Vidtonic is to empower Android developers to create for TV platforms. Let's level the playing field for TV application developers as it has been done in the mobile marketplace. Your skills as an Android developer in the mobile space can now translate directly to the consumer electronics and IPTV space. We want to help popularize the idea that Android isn't simply for smart phones and give developers the opportunity to create great things.”
The HomeBrew Kit:
- Is a hardware/software platform kit designed for AndroidTM developers to bring their applications to the TV screen.
- Includes television housing, cables, 1080p LCD panel in various sizes, power supply and a motherboard using an ARM/DSP microprocessor solution.
- Allows enthusiasts to build their own television, powered by AndroidTM.
- Gives developers the open platform they need to write their own made-for-TV AndroidTM powered applications.
The Homebrew platform is expected to launch in 2Q11 with early adopter releases rolling out in 1Q11. Vidtonic will be opening the HomeBrew user/developer forums immediately following CES in January.
Vidtonic, a Fort Wayne, Indiana-based company, is a consumer video product development company that specializes in using open source technologies such as Linux and Android.
