Austin, TX — (press release excerpt) — The TV Linux Alliance
today announced the availability of its specification version 0.8.
The TV Linux Alliance is a consortium of digital media technology
suppliers established to define a standards-based Linux environment
for the digital set-top box market. The TV Linux Alliance
specification defines a standardized set of programming interfaces
speeding the development of Linux-based set-top applications. This
specification version is an important milestone in the development
of a common set-top box environment and promises accelerated
delivery of enhanced content and services.This initial specification version provides developers with
basic functionality for tuner level and device definitions, and
standardized application programming interface (API) functions for
those devices. Future specification versions will define standard
API’s for additional digital media functionality.The specification simplifies the implementation of TV middleware
and device drivers for the Linux operating environment, allowing
network operators to select from a variety of vendors whose
offerings are interoperable with the common API. This initial
specification version gives technology vendors the opportunity to
begin development in a common set-top box environment standard and
paves the way to supporting worldwide, industry-standard content
specifications such as DVB-MHP and CableLabs OCAP.