Hardware
Witbe to highlight 4K-compatible Android TV testing technology at BroadcastAsia 2023
Mumbai: At BroadcastAsia 2023, part of the Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) event, Witbe will showcase its powerful automated testing and proactive monitoring technology. Highlighted in Booth 6G1-03 will be the Witbox lineup, Witbe’s family of powerful and easily deployed testing devices capable of testing 4K video services on OTT devices and Android TV OS, along with the powerful abilities of a recently opened local Witbe Cloud network. On the show floor in Singapore, Witbe will demonstrate how these products and technologies help video service providers measure the true quality of experience (QoE) that their customers receive.
“BroadcastAsia is always one of our favourite shows for meeting new people and sharing our automated testing and monitoring technology,” said Witbe president & co-founder Marie-Véronique Lacaze. “After the successful opening of Witbe’s own Singapore office earlier this year, I know our local team is excited for a shorter commute to BroadcastAsia and a great opportunity to meet new video service partners in the region.”
In the spotlight at BroadcastAsia 2023 will be Witbe’s automated testing and monitoring technology, capable of testing 4K video services on the same real, physical devices that customers use. Set-top boxes (STB) and OTT devices can be tested, including ones running on Android TV OS, as well as smart TVs and mobile devices. Witbe has a specific use case designed for STB and OTT device manufacturers that are working on Google’s Android TV OS, helping them measure true QoE, monitor performance across OS updates, and verify that their content is being properly indexed in the search and voice control functions of Android TV. With over 150 companies worldwide using Android TV as their operating system of choice, specialised testing and monitoring is essential to delivering consistent performance and staying ahead of the competition.
Witbe’s automated testing technology is also popular with QA teams, delivering the endurance, stress, and performance testing that cannot be achieved manually. Several recent updates to the Witbe Software Suite have been focused on improving ease of use for QA teams, including new AI algorithms that allow test scenarios to be scripted up to 10 times faster than previously possible. The new “Smart Navigate” algorithm makes navigating STBs and app menus as easy as dragging and dropping one block, while the updated “Smart Search” algorithm simplifies text input. At BroadcastAsia 2023, Witbe will showcase the accessibility, interconnectivity, and technical power its testing and monitoring technology delivers for video service providers.
Witbe Highlights at BroadcastAsia 2023 Will Include:
New Witbe Cloud APAC Data Center
While Witbe has had a presence in APAC since 2006, BroadcastAsia 2023 marks the first show in the region since Witbe opened its new permanent Asia headquarters in Singapore. In addition, the company has opened a Witbe Cloud network point of presence in APAC to deliver cloud services at the highest possible quality and to work more closely with video service providers in the region.
Updates to the REC
Witbe’s Remote Eye Controller (REC), which provides remote access to real testing devices, is regularly updated with new features to expand its technical capabilities and ease of use. Recent updates came with several major enhancements, including a “request control” feature that allows team members to easily swap access to remote testing devices and a “smart search” tab that allows team members to take control of testing devices by simply searching for the city they are in. In addition, the update increased the Witbe Software Suite’s interconnectivity by further integrating the web-based Remote Eye Controller application into Smartgate, the company’s application for service outage alerts.
New Additions to the Witbox Testing Device Lineup
Witbe’s Witbox family of devices packs the company’s automated testing and monitoring technology into a compact, accessible package that is simple to set up. Last year, Witbe completed the Witbox lineup with the scalable Witbox+, the most powerful testing device on the market, and the specialized WitboxNet, designed for web testing. They will both be on display at BroadcastAsia 2023, alongside the flagship WitboxOne, demonstrating the full line of reliable and accessible video testing devices.
Hardware
Specs Inc. partners with Qualcomm for next-generation smart glasses
Snap subsidiary to power future Specs with Snapdragon XR platforms.
MUMBAI: Snap’s Specs are about to get a serious upgrade and this time, they’re teaming up with Qualcomm to make sure the future looks crystal clear. Specs Inc., a Snap subsidiary, has announced a multi-year strategic agreement with Qualcomm Technologies to power future generations of its advanced smart eyewear with Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology.
This marks the first flagship engagement for Specs Inc., which is preparing to launch its standalone, see-through smart glasses for consumers later this year. The Specs are designed to seamlessly blend digital experiences into the physical world, allowing users to see, hear, and interact with digital content as if it were part of their real surroundings.
By integrating Snapdragon XR platforms, the glasses will benefit from edge AI and high-performance, low-power computing. This combination enables intelligent, context-aware experiences to run directly on the device, delivering faster and more private interactions.
The partnership builds on more than five years of collaboration between Snap and Qualcomm, during which Snapdragon platforms have powered multiple generations of Snap’s Spectacles.
Snap Inc., co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel said, “We believe the future of computing will be more human and grounded in the real world. Our work with Qualcomm provides a strong foundation for the future of Specs, bringing advanced technology and performance that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Qualcomm Incorporated president and CEO Cristiano Amon added, “The next era of computing will be defined by devices that understand what you see, hear and say, and respond instantly to the world around you. Our collaboration on Specs will enable power-efficient interactive AR devices that feel natural and intuitive.”
The agreement establishes a scalable foundation for developers and partners building experiences for Specs, supporting a predictable product roadmap and increasingly sophisticated digital interactions over time.
In a world racing toward augmented reality, Specs Inc. and Qualcomm are ensuring that the next pair of smart glasses doesn’t just look good on paper, they perform brilliantly in real life. The future of wearable computing just got a powerful new lens.
