Samsung, Yahoo announce Internet@TV widgets

5 January 2009 17:15 GMT / By Amy-Mae Elliott

Samsung and Yahoo have announced a new internet-based service to Samsung televisions that will be available in the spring of 2009.

Select models in Samsung’s 2009 flat-panel HDTV line-up will be powered by the Yahoo! Widget Engine, a fifth-generation applications platform that enables TV watchers to use "TV Widgets".

The companies say the Widgets (Javascript and XML applications) bring content, information and community features available on the Internet "within easy reach of the remote control".

Some models in Samsung's 2009 lines will support the new TV Widget service, called "Internet@TV - Content Service" that will be offered as an open platform SDK for those who'd like to develop for the service.

According to the PR blurb, users will be able to "track their stock portfolio and stay on top of headline news, but they may also browse through videos, share photos and interact with friends".

Samsung HDTVs with the Yahoo! Widget Engine and TV Widgets will be available in 13 countries in 2009 including the US, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

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