Chapter 2. Overview

This document describes:

  • The TV Widget Device Inteface
  • How to Develop a TV Widget
  • The TV Widget Event Lifecycle

Developers creating widgets for a connected TV device will be able to:

  • Develop widgets that run on the Yahoo! Widget Engine.
  • Deliver the best possible widget experience for widescreen televisions.
  • Support a design that is independent of a particular brand or manufacturer.

TV Widgets Overview

In the context of this document, TV Widgets are rich Internet applications that run on connected TV devices and take advantage of Internet services to deliver dynamic content to a video or television-viewing audience. TV Widgets can be developed by device partners and 3rd party developers using the Yahoo! TV Widget KONtx Framework which provides component user interface elements and behaviors.

Some examples of TV Widgets on a connected device include:

  • The Yahoo! Weather widget, which provides updates on your local and favorite weather locations. This widget dynamically changes with weather conditions.
  • The Yahoo! Finance widget, which allows you to monitor your portfolio activity while you watch TV or a DVD.
  • A Yahoo! Video widget, which plays your favorite web clips.
  • The Flickr widget, which provides a television-viewing experience while watching slideshows of family and friends’ photos.

Each user in the home maintains his or her personal list of favorite widgets and can configure his or her own widget and TV experience.

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