Comcast's Set-Top Accelerator Gains Traction
What's inside?
Much of the RDK is comprised of community-sourced elements, such as Gstreamer, a media management/playback framework originally developed for the Web that's since been adapted for set-tops, and Nokia Corp.'s Qt, a windowing framework that lets operators support multiple apps in the same runtime environment. It also supports the WebKit implementation of Qt, since some MSOs intend to build their new user interfaces with HTML5.
The RDK's common layer also includes the CableLabs reference implementation for the tru2way/OpenCable Application Platform middleware, and a Java Virtual Machine. There are also some optional, proprietary pieces, including the Adobe Systems Inc. Flash engine and the Microsoft Corp. PlayReady DRM. (See CableLabs Tru2way RI Exits Beta.)
The first box running on the RDK is the Pace plc -made X1, a hybrid QAM/IP box that features an Intel Corp. chipset and Comcast's cloud-based guide, which runs on the RDK stack. Comcast has launched the X1, a QAM/IP device, in Boston and Atlanta, with a handful of other markets on deck for launches later this year. (See Where Will Comcast's X1 Land Next? , Comcast's X1 Video Platform Lands First in Boston and Comcast's Cloud TV Service Rolls Into Atlanta.)
Next page: Building MSO support and the RDK ecosystem
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