Royal Philips Electronics announced a new digital multimedia reference platform based on Intel's PXA250 XScale architecture processors. The 'Pronto++ Software & Systems' platform, which is intended to help developers create next-generation interactive digital audio and video devices, consists of reference hardware, a complete stack of enabling software, and multimedia services, and is said to be geared… toward consumer simplicity and ease-of-use.

According to Sugata Sanyal, director of business for the Pronto++ platform, the initial operating system targeted by the platform is embedded Linux. Sanyal said the platform's embedded Linux OS implementation was developed by a third-party embedded Linux software provider, but he declined to name the specific embedded Linux vendor due to confidentiality constraints.

In support of device applications based on the Pronto++ platform, Royal Philips Electronics has developed a range of multimedia application software components. These apps, which are coded in PJava (Personal Java), support such functions as interface control, electronic program guide, browser, remote control, audio/video player, picture viewer, games, maps, navigation, and other home applications.

Philips has several embedded Linux based consumer electronics products currently in development based on the Pronto++ platform, Sanyal added. The first of these will be unveiled at the CEDIA Trade Show, Sept. 25-29, in Minneapolis, MN, he said.

A ready-to-use reference board and SDK (software development kit) based on the platform will be available by the end of the year, said Sanyal.

The Pronto++ Software & Systems platform will be demonstrated at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), Sept. 9-12, in San Jose, CA.

 
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