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DLNA Extends Codec Support

A tiered certification programme has been created by the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), providing more options for consumer electronics makers seeking to certify their products. Certification for v3.0 is open today, while plans for v4.0 are being developed.

The new certification will be based on how CE vendors plan to differentiate their products in the marketplace. The new version of the DLNA specification (v3.0) adds new features and capabilities for playback and response time to those already included in v2.0. The planned v4.0 will, says DLNA, ensure that products support the broadest possible set of media formats and advanced features for optimum performance across a range of use cases.

Key new features include:

  • Improved media interoperability. The updated guidelines eliminate differences between media formats for different devices, i.e. PCs, TVs, STBs and mobiles;
  • Support for HEVC;
  • Improved power efficiency. The low power mode already described in the guidelines is now mandatory for mobile digital media server and digital media renderer devices;
  • Digital media player becomes digital media renderer. Guidelines now mandate that all DMPs are also DMRs, ensuring a more consistent user experience;
  • IPv6. DLNA now supports the IPv6 suite.