Version 1.2, Released: May 6, 2014
Connected TVs
An Overview of the Latest and Greatest in the OTT World
An emerging trend in the video encoding space is the influx and growth of OTT devices. There are many big players jumping into this space providing DVD players, video game consoles, set-top boxes, and TVs with built-in wireless connectivity. These devices use an existing wireless network, pull content from the Internet and deliver it to the TV set.
Digital TV Research estimates that number of television sets connected to the internet is expected to rise from around 300 million at the end of 2013 to almost 760 million by 2018. That will represent over a quarter of the television sets in the world. This includes smart televisions, games consoles, digital media adapter devices, network connected set-top boxes, and disc players. This landscape is a very fragmented and complicated, due to the fact that each device comes with its own unique set of requirements around video playback, front-end user experience (often involving a proprietary SDK) and content security.
That’s why we wanted to shed some light on the space and a few of the major providers and what we offer in terms of support.
Google TV
Google has gotten into the OTT game with their smart TV platform which they co-developed with Intel, Sony, and Logitech. The Android-powered interactive television system is integrated into some newer televisions and Blu-ray players, and consumers that don’t have Google TV built into their systems can purchase a separate set-top box that provides Google TV functionality. It utilizes an Adobe Flash-capable Google Chrome Web browser, which enables access to video-on-demand from content providers such as Netflix, YouTube, HBO and CNBC. Google TV users can also use their Android-powered or Apple iOS-powered smartphones as a remote control for the system. In 2011, Google launched Google TV 2.0, which features the Android 3.1 OS (“Honeycomb") as well as access to Google Play, which is the renamed and rebranded Android Market. In addition, Google created the Chromecast device which allows any users to connect their TV’s to the internet and download any music, movies or online content.
Apple TV
Apple’s OTT device, Apple TV, is a network device that enables users to use an HDTV to view photos, play music and watch video that originates from the Internet The device, a $99 digital media receiver, also has the ability to play movies from sources like Netflix, iTunes, YouTube as well as content on iOS devices via their AirPlay technology. AirPlay wirelessly streams content from – and can even mirror the screen of – devices like the iPad and iPhone. The third generation Apple TV device which was introduced in March 2012 offers full 1080p HD resolution, a new A5 processor and a redesigned user interface.
Microsoft xBox 360 and xBox One
In the gaming console world, Microsoft offers the Xbox 360 and the soon to be released xBox One (November 2013) as OTT devices. The xBox 360 was launched in 2005 and has been the leader in the game console OTT world. XBOX360 features an online service (called Xbox Live), used to download games (using Xbox Live Arcade) and game demos, music, and video content. It can also be used to play back media using Windows Media Center. The xBox S console, , released in 2010, is slimmer than the previous Xbox 360 model and features integrated 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, TOSLINK S/PDIF optical audio output, five USB 2.0 ports (compared to the three from older versions) and a special AUX port.
The Xbox 360’s successor, the Xbox One, is the third console in the Xbox family. It will directly compete with Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Nintendo’sWii U as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles. Microsoft and various publications have classified the device as an “all-in-one entertainment system", making it a competitor to other home media devices such as the Apple TV and the Google TV platforms.
The Xbox One places an increased emphasis on entertainment integration, offering split-screen multitasking of applications, the ability to overlay live television programming from other sources, and improved second screen support for additional devices. The console includes a newly upgraded Kinect motion sensing camera, previously an optional attachment for the Xbox 360. New gaming functionality will include an expanded Xbox Live service, improved Kinect functionality, cloud computing, the ability to automatically record and share video highlights from gameplay, and support for live streaming gameplay online.
Roku
Roku is an internet video streaming set top box and AppleTV’s biggest competitor. Their first version released in 2008 was a Netflix Internet video streaming receiver box, the Roku DVP. In 2011, Roku updated its product lineup with three new boxes. The Netflix application was revamped for the Roku 2 HD, Roku 2 XD and Roku 2 XS. The current models now provide the option of subtitles, when the program provides this aid. In 2012, the feature “Roku Search" was added. This feature allows users to search movie and TV show titles, actors and directors for multiple services on Roku such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and HBO Go. The feature is only available on Roku 2, Roku Streaming Stick, Roku LT and HD, due to technical constraints on earlier models.
This year an updated software interface was released for second generation Roku units. This is the same interface that was introduced with the release of their third generation player. BSkyB launched a Now TV-branded Roku LT, allowing users to stream Now TV content to their TV, as well as being able to access content from BBC iPlayer, Demand 5, Spotify and Sky News. The Now TV-branded Roku LT lacks access to Netflix, however.
Amazon Fire TV
Amazon has entered the OTT space with their new Fire TV set-top box. Always attempting to stay on the forefront of new technology, this new streaming media box has the potential customer base and content from Amazon’s, which should help with building its momentum. The Fire TV offers HDMI and optical audio, with support for Dolby Digital Plus and 7.1 surround sound pass-through, along with an Ethernet port and a USB 2.0 port. The 0.7-inch-thick box features a 1.7 GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, along with a dual-band wireless radio for 1080p streaming over 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. The device runs “Mojito," version 3.0 of the Android-based Fire OS which is compatible with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. According to Amazon, that will make it “simple for developers to port their services and games over to Fire TV. It has been confirmed that Amazon’s Fire TV will run other, native, ‘third-party’ applications such as XBMC. These need to be loaded to the device using the Android Developer Bundle.
Encoding.com Connected TV Support
Encoding.com can support any and all of your connected TV output needs. We offer specific XML support through our API for Apple TV, Boxee/TiVo, Nintendo Wii, Playstation, Roku and Xbox. You can access each setting/output format easily through our user interface. Simply select the output format you desire in the dropdown menu:
See below for our sample XML presets for each device:
Apple TV
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <query> <format> <size>0x480</size> <bitrate>1000k</bitrate> <audio_bitrate>128k</audio_bitrate> <audio_sample_rate>44100</audio_sample_rate> <audio_channels_number>2</audio_channels_number> <framerate>29.97</framerate> <keep_aspect_ratio>yes</keep_aspect_ratio> <video_codec>lib x264</video_codec> <profile>main</profile> <audio_codec>dolby_aac</audio_codec> <two_pass>no</two_pass> <turbo>no</turbo> <twin_turbo>no</twin_turbo> <cbr>no</cbr> <hard_cbr>no</hard_cbr> <deinterlacing>auto</deinterlacing> <video_sync>old</video_sync> <keyframe>300</keyframe> <audio_volume>100</audio_volume> <metadata_copy>no</metadata_copy> <strip_chapters>no</strip_chapters> <pix_format>yuv420p</pix_format> <file_extension>mp4</file_extension> <hint>no</hint> <drm>no</drm> </format> </query>
Boxee and Tivo
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <query> <format> <size>0x480</size> <bitrate>1000k</bitrate> <audio_bitrate>128k</audio_bitrate> <audio_sample_rate>44100</audio_sample_rate> <audio_channels_number>2</audio_channels_number> <framerate>29.97</framerate> <keep_aspect_ratio>yes</keep_aspect_ratio> <video_codec>libx264</video_codec> <profile>main</profile> <audio_codec>dolby_aac</audio_codec> <two_pass>no</two_pass> <turbo>no</turbo> <twin_turbo>no</twin_turbo> <cbr>no</cbr> <hard_cbr>no</hard_cbr> <deinterlacing>auto</deinterlacing> <video_sync>old</video_sync> <keyframe>300</keyframe> <audio_volume>100</audio_volume> <metadata_copy>no</metadata_copy> <strip_chapters>no</strip_chapters> <pix_format>yuv420p</pix_format> <file_extension>mp4</file_extension> <hint>no</hint> <drm>no</drm> </format> </query>
Nintendo Wii
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <query> <format> <size>0x480</size> <bitrate>1000k</bitrate> <audio_bitrate>128k</audio_bitrate> <audio_sample_rate>44100</audio_sample_rate> <audio_channels_number>2</audio_channels_number> <framerate>29.97</framerate> <keep_aspect_ratio>yes</keep_aspect_ratio> <video_codec>libx264</video_codec> <profile>main</profile> <audio_codec>dolby_aac</audio_codec> <two_pass>no</two_pass> <turbo>no</turbo> <twin_turbo>no</twin_turbo> <cbr>no</cbr> <hard_cbr>no</hard_cbr> <deinterlacing>auto</deinterlacing> <video_sync>old</video_sync> <keyframe>300</keyframe> <audio_volume>100</audio_volume> <metadata_copy>no</metadata_copy> <strip_chapters>no</strip_chapters> <pix_format>yuv420p</pix_format> <file_extension>mp4</file_extension> <hint>no</hint> <drm>no</drm> </format> </query>
Roku
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <query> <format> <size>640x480</size> <bitrate>1200k</bitrate> <audio_bitrate>192k</audio_bitrate> <audio_sample_rate>44100</audio_sample_rate> <audio_channels_number>2</audio_channels_number> <framerate>29.97</framerate> <keep_aspect_ratio>yes</keep_aspect_ratio> <video_codec>libx264</video_codec> <profile>roku</profile> <audio_codec>libfaac</audio_codec> <two_pass>no</two_pass> <turbo>no</turbo> <twin_turbo>no</twin_turbo> <cbr>no</cbr> <hard_cbr>no</hard_cbr> <deinterlacing>auto</deinterlacing> <video_sync>old</video_sync> <keyframe>200</keyframe> <audio_volume>100</audio_volume> <metadata_copy>no</metadata_copy> <strip_chapters>no</strip_chapters> <pix_format>yuv420p</pix_format> <file_extension>mp4</file_extension> <hint>no</hint> <drm>no</drm> </format> </query>
*Roku HLS Preset for Adaptive Bitrate output: quick setup to generate the index file (.m3u8) and h264 segments (.ts). When using the web interface, select “Roku HLS" from the Format drop-down menu to generate the necessary files for adaptive streaming:
For Roku HLS adaptive bitrate API jobs, please use this XML template:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <query> <format> <output>roku_hls</output> <destination>ftp://username:password@yourserver.com/output/filename.m3u8?passive=yes</destination> <size>0x480</size> <audio_bitrate>96k</audio_bitrate> <audio_sample_rate>44100</audio_sample_rate> <audio_channels_number>2</audio_channels_number> <keep_aspect_ratio>yes</keep_aspect_ratio> <video_codec>libx264</video_codec> <profile>roku</profile> <audio_codec>libfaac</audio_codec> <audio_volume>100</audio_volume> <bitrates>1200k,800k,600k,400k,200k,110k</bitrates> <framerates>29.97,29.97,29.97,29.97,15,10</framerates> <keyframes>90,90,90,90,45,30</keyframes> <pack_files>no</pack_files> <segment_duration>10</segment_duration> <add_audio_only>no</add_audio_only> <still_image>no</still_image> </format> </query>
Playstation
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <query> <format> <size>0x480</size> <bitrate>1000k</bitrate> <audio_bitrate>128k</audio_bitrate> <audio_sample_rate>44100</audio_sample_rate> <audio_channels_number>2</audio_channels_number> <framerate>29.97</framerate> <keep_aspect_ratio>yes</keep_aspect_ratio> <video_codec>libx264</video_codec> <profile>main</profile> <audio_codec>dolby_aac</audio_codec> <two_pass>no</two_pass> <turbo>no</turbo> <twin_turbo>no</twin_turbo> <cbr>no</cbr> <hard_cbr>no</hard_cbr> <deinterlacing>auto</deinterlacing> <video_sync>old</video_sync> <keyframe>300</keyframe> <audio_volume>100</audio_volume> <metadata_copy>no</metadata_copy> <strip_chapters>no</strip_chapters> <pix_format>yuv420p</pix_format> <file_extension>mp4</file_extension> <hint>no</hint> <drm>no</drm> </format> </query>
xBox
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <query> <format> <size>0x480</size> <bitrate>1000k</bitrate> <audio_bitrate>128k</audio_bitrate> <audio_sample_rate>44100</audio_sample_rate> <audio_channels_number>2</audio_channels_number> <framerate>29.97</framerate> <keep_aspect_ratio>yes</keep_aspect_ratio> <video_codec>libx264</video_codec> <profile>main</profile> <audio_codec>libfaac</audio_codec> <two_pass>no</two_pass> <turbo>no</turbo> <twin_turbo>no</twin_turbo> <cbr>no</cbr> <hard_cbr>no</hard_cbr> <deinterlacing>auto</deinterlacing> <video_sync>old</video_sync> <keyframe>300</keyframe> <audio_volume>100</audio_volume> <metadata_copy>no</metadata_copy> <strip_chapters>no</strip_chapters> <pix_format>yuv420p</pix_format> <file_extension>mp4</file_extension> <hint>no</hint> <drm>no</drm> </format> </query>
Video Formats/Codec Support
| wdt_ID | Google TV | Apple TV | Roku | xBox | Boxee | TiVo | Playstation (*3) | Nintendo Wii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | H.264, MP4 (SP and ASP), VP6, WMV9/VC-1 | MOV, MPG/MPEG, H.264, Motion JPEG, DivX | MP4/M4V, MKV | MOV, AVI, MPG/MPEG, Windows Media,H.264, VC-1, DivX | MOV, AVI, MPG/MPEG, FLV, Windows Media, MPEG1/2/4, MTS/MTS2/TS, MKV, WMv9, M4V, xViD | DivX | AVI, MPG/MPEG, AVC-HD, Windows Media, H.264, Motion JPEG, MPEG 2/4, TS, VC-1 (WMV9), DivX | MOV, AVI, MPG/MPEG, FLV/4V, AVC, MKV, DivX |
A full list of OTT devices and support can be found here.
There are many other OTT players in the space, and Encoding.com can work with you on each platform and content creation. Contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help.