RDK Management LLC, the joint venture running the Reference Design Kit for IP and hybrid set-tops and gateways, has launched a remotely-accessible app development and test environment in partnership with Metrological, a TV application company based in the Netherlands.
Metrological combined its application framework with the RDK to create Metrological’s RDK App Emulator, which will help developers build prototypes and test RDK apps remotely without requiring a physical RDK device or set-top box. Metrological will administer and distribute the new emulator to developers looking to create apps on top of the RDK, regardless of whether they are RDK licensees, the companies said.
RDK Management is a joint venture of Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Liberty Global, and has more than 200 licensees, including other MVPDs, chipmakers, set-top makers, system integrators, and test and measurement firms.
Metrological joins other vendors that have close ties to the RDK. In 2013, RDK Management tapped itaas (now part of Cognizant) to oversee community support services and technical support and training for licensees of the RDK, and S3 Group to handle J.V.’s code management function.
Metrological was announced as an RDK licensee last year. UPC Hungary, a unit of Liberty Global, offers apps from Metrological on the MSO’s high-end IP-based video platform and has adapted some to run on older non-IP set-tops.
“Supporting app developers to create apps on top of the RDK is a very important part of the RDK mission,” said Steve Heeb, president and GM of RDK Management. “Thanks to Metrological, the RDK can attract an even larger base of app developers that can provide apps to operators. Our long term goal is for the app developer community to view the RDK as the premier platform that brings new levels of innovation to the video industry.”
“This new developer environment gives app developers of any size the ability to develop and test new RDK applications on their own laptops, which will help extend innovative new app experiences to the TV,” added Metrological CTO Albert Dahan. “Metrological is proud to play such an important role in supporting the growing RDK app development community.”
