The Fraunhofer MultimediaPlayer software is the first in the industry to include MPEG Surround, which enables an immersive, high-quality surround audio experience to consumers at stereo bit-rates. The software also incorporates data services such as the advanced text service for news, sports results, local weather forecasts, or background information on the current show. Program accompanying information adds song titles, station information and graphics, for example weather maps or cover art. In addition, radio stations can offer a simple multimedia download service. The software also makes Hybrid services a reality by linking the added-value offerings of the Digital Radio broadcast platform with individual communication media such as the Internet, telephony, or navigation, available at the listener’s fingertips. All of these services are displayed in a clearly arranged user interface.

The NOXON DAB Stick by Terratec, released in August 2011, is one of the first commercially available receivers with MultimediaPlayer software to play back digital radio in 5.1 surround sound based on MPEG Surround. It is also the first DAB receiver solution worldwide that displays Journaline, the international advanced text information standard for highquality, up-to-date news over digital broadcast systems.

“With all of the entertainment options available in the industry, high-quality solutions that add true value to the listener experience are key to staying competitive,” said Alexander Zink, digital radio expert and project manager at Fraunhofer IIS. “Fraunhofer’s MultimediaPlayer software is a flexible and easy-to-integrate solution that provides manufacturers with the technology needed to enable the best possible audio experiences along with all of the features digital radio has to offer.”

The Fraunhofer MultimediaPlayer software is currently available for a variety of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. There are also plans to support mobile platforms in the future. The user interface is based on HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and can therefore easily be adapted to the customer’s platforms and existing product designs. The software is available as a desktop and a server version. While the desktop version is suitable for integration into devices, the server version supports remote access through a regular web browser to the full user interface including audio playback. Thus, it is ideally suited for professional monitoring and archival solutions, for example.

Fraunhofer will showcase the MultimediaPlayer at IFA Berlin Sept. 2. – 7. at the Fraunhofer booth in hall 11.1 and at IBC in Amsterdam Sept. 9 – 13, at the Fraunhofer booth in hall 8, B80.