Mirics, the software-based TV receiver firm, has announced availability of client software for Apple iOS devices, supporting live European DVB-T broadcast TV on computers.
The firm's FlexiTV software-based TV receiver has been introduced to Japan by IO Data.
The IO Data GV-TV 100 USB dongle supports HD TV reception in Japan, now the country has switched from analogue to digital broadcasting.
The transition has been completed in all of Japan, except three prefectures, and 95% of Japanese households can now receive free HD TV programs, which will increase appetite for content.
“This exciting new, cost effective product will open up the live TV viewing market on the PC to a wider audience, by making quality HD viewing more affordable and a less passive experience," said Simon Atkinson, chief executive of Mirics.
"Now the switchover to digital has taken place, Japanese households can now access multiple HD TV channels on their PCs as well as living room TVs,” said Atkinson.
The product supports ISDB-T Full-seg (for HD TV), One-seg (mobile reception at QVGA resolution), One-seg dubbing to iPad, iPod touch, iPhone and Android mobile.
The GV-TV100 also supports the new SIM-sized form factor BCAS smart card, used instead of the credit-card sized BCAS card used in set-top boxes. With such a smart card, available free in Japan, the IO Data GV-TV100 is effectively a set-top box packed into a USB key.