Inuk Networks announces launch of igloo set-top box

At the IBC2007 event in Amsterday, Inuk Networks announced the commercial launch of its igloo virtual set-top-box software solution. Igloo provides all the functionality of a standard IPTV set-box box and is now available as a stand-alone product.

Inuk provides the UK’s Freewire IPTV to PC service, which is available to students at 49 UK universities.

The company developed igloo because of the unwillingness of universities to fund the cost of set-top boxes. It was assumed that students would not be willing to pay for a set-top box either.

Igloo allows IPTV services to be delivered to a computer using standards-based, technology-agnostic software.

It recreates a television experience on a PC. In contrast to the usual player-with-surrounding-graphics formats seen on computers, Igloo presents a user interface similar to a typical set-top-box on a Windows PC or Mac. On screen-information and controls are overlayed on the video image.

Igloo supports MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 encoded viewing, in windowed and full screen modes. It has integral infra-red USB remote control and Electronic Programming Guide functionality. It provides PVR features using a PC’s existing internal hard disk.

The system supports Widevine’s Cypher Virtual SmartCard CA/DRM and Industria’s Zignal Entertainment Delivery Platform.