Opera and MIPS: New Developments in a Long-Standing Collaboration

By Phillip Groenvold, Opera Product Manager and Frode Hernes, Opera VP Products, TV & Connected Devices

New developments are blooming this spring in the long-standing collaboration between Opera Software and MIPS Technologies. Together, our companies are taking the lead in bringing HTML5 specifications and bleeding-edge technologies like WebGL to MIPS-Based platforms.

Opera Mobile Browser for MIPS-Based Tablets and Smartphones

At Mobile World Congress in February, Opera Software and MIPS Technologies together announced the launch of a labs release of the Opera Mobile browser: The premier browser for Android, now available for MIPS-Based Android mobile devices.

The reception in the press to this joint effort was very positive: "That's great news for those of you who own a low-cost Android tablet (think $100 on eBay) that run a MIPS processor...," said Lee Mathews from Geek.com.

For Opera Software, this represented the next level of collaboration with MIPS Technologies, as well as a great step forward in reaching the millions of Android mobile devices already rolling out to consumers.

Opera TV SDK solutions for MIPS TV chipsets

Fresh from demonstrating the Opera Mobile browser running on MIPS-Based platforms in Barcelona, Opera Software announced availability of Opera TV SDK solutions for MIPS-Based digital entertainment chipsets.

MIPS then showed off the Opera Devices SDK solutions running on MIPS-Based home entertainment devices during the China Content Broadcasting Network (CCBN) Exhibition in Beijing. At the same time, Opera demonstrated its enhanced TV Store and new TV browser for Android and Linux platforms on the MIPS-Based BCM7425 SoC from Broadcom at the IP&TV World Forum in London.

As a result of the close cooperation between MIPS and Opera, companies can now take advantage of the Opera TV Store and the Opera TV browser with WebGL support for MIPS-Based DTVs, set-top boxes and other digital home devices. These solutions are already shipping in volume from manufacturers. The SDK solution for MIPS TV chipsets will also be found in the latest generation of out-of-the-box solutions for open Internet browsing.

The Opera TV Store is an HTML5-based solution of high-quality web apps designed expressly for HDTVs and standard remote control devices. The Opera TV browser delivers the full-featured web experience provided by Opera’s mobile browser to TV, with special consideration paid to the specific content and shared-screen nature of television.

Thanks to the strong integration of features such as Opera's just-in-time JavaScript compiler and WebGL graphics, the Opera browser engine delivers a premium content experience on MIPS-Based devices. Users will enjoy smooth animations and fluid interfaces in applications ranging from operator portals to video-on-demand and even games on TVs.

Lars Boilesen, CEO of Opera Software, applauded the addition of support for MIPS-Based chipsets to the Opera TV SDK. He said, "The vision of Opera is to make the web available via any device, any platform, any bandwidth, absolutely anywhere in the world. We are excited to work together with MIPS to help deliver on this vision. The double effort we've seen this spring, on both mobile and TV, has really pushed Opera on to MIPS-Based platforms."

People have a long, familiar relationship with TV making it an ideal platform to deliver information and enertainment. The web has established itself as the supreme platform for services, while TV remains the touchstone for delivery of content. We also believe that, with the rollout of the Opera TV browser along with the Opera TV Store, we have positioned ourselves to take advantage of the continuing evolution of television as it unfolds through HbbTV and IPTV, as well as TV content delivered through digital consumer devices running on the MIPS architecture.

A Continuing Collaboration

MIPS and Opera Software have a long and productive history with a wide range of devices. Given Opera's 15-year dedication to expanding the web, this spring’s developments with MIPS are tremendously gratifying for all of us at Opera Software. MIPS helps us to reach the largest possible audience with our products. Right now, more than quarter of a billion people are using the Opera browser in one way or another, with an ever-increasing percentage on MIPS platforms and MIPS-Based devices.