Amino has ported Opera Software's Opera 8.5 browser for devices to an Intel XScale chip targeting digital video recorders (DVRs) and other multimedia equipment. Opera for Intel's CE 2110 media processor is initially available in Amino's Linux-based IntActT IPTV stack, with Opera also working on a port, it said.

Amino is probably best-known for its hardware products — diminutive, Linux-based IP (Internet protocol) set-top boxes that aim to bring Internet TV to real televisions, and deliver on-demand video and IPTV to hotel guests, hospice residents, and Internet video service subscribers. Based on low-power ARM-based SoCs and even standalone TI DSPs (digital signal processors) at the lower end, the company's Linux-based set-top boxes have long used Opera browsers as an integral component of the user interface.

In addition to actual hardware devices, Amino licenses its Linux-based IPTV software stack to other hardware manufacturers under the “IntAct” brand. The stack comes with the Opera browser, which customers can sub-license directly from Amino. Now, Amino has apparently ported IntAct, complete with Opera 8.5 for Devices, to Intel's CE 2100 media processor.

The CE 2100 media processor

Announced in April at Intel's Beijing developer forum, the CE 2110 is Intel's first specifically targeting digital set-top boxes (STBs) and media recorders. The chip combines a 1GHz XScale core with a peripheral mix aimed at “revenue-generating services,” Intel said, citing VoIP (voice-over-IP), videophone, interactive gaming, “enhanced karaoke,” and e-learning applications.

CE 2110 block diagram
(Click to enlarge)
Intel is sampling the CE 2110 with a Linux-based software development kit and reference hardware. That hardware was used to verify Amino's Opera port, running under Linux as part of Amino's IntAct IPTV stack, Opera said. The browser vendor also plans to develop its own “demonstration” port of Opera to the CE 2110, it said.

Scott Hedrick, Opera's senior VP of business operations stated, “Opera continues to support popular silicon and architectures.”

The Opera browser has been deployed in an impressive array of high-profile consumer devices, including Sony Bravia flat-panel LCD TVs, Nintendo Wii gaming consoles, and Archos 604 WiFi and 704 WiFi PMPs (portable media players). Opera is demonstrating these devices, as well as Amino's IntAct stack, at the IBC broadcasters show in Amsterdam this week.

Amino competitor Radvision also offers a Linux-based IPTV stack for the CE 2110, while hardware manufacturers ASUStek and Digeo offer hardware reference designs based upon the chip. “Content protection” software is available from Verimatrix, according to Intel.

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