*UPDATE – Updated Yahoo! Widget Developer Kit v1.2 is now available!

UPDATE: We have released an update to the WDK fixing a few issues with the precious release. The new version is v1.2.16 from v1.2.15. You may download the new WDK directly at: http://bit.ly/c677Zd We fixed a couple of minor issues including:

1. Playback of video lists has been fixed.

2. Issues with closing the simulator before the terminal completes has been fixed.

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Using Time Index Seeking to Approximate FF and REW

The media players developed by the current device manufacturers are optimized to support seeking using time index values that are passed between the widget and the media server. Supporting true fast forward and rewind functionality is resource intensive and not yet available on current Connected TV devices. An alternative approach is to use time index seeking to enable consumers to skip forward and skip backward within in a stream in multi-second increments from a relative or absolute time index. This workaround is very useful when playing videos that are longer than a few minutes.

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Connect Your Phone and Tablet to your TV

Nielsen and Yahoo! published a study in May of 2010, that showed that three out of four online Americans use the Internet and TV at the same time.

This happens frequently with 50% of consumers multi-tasking daily and 90 % multi-tasking at least once a week. At CES 2011 in Las Vegas Jan 6-9, Yahoo! Connected TV showcased some ground breaking features to expand the ability for consumers to combine Internet content with Television viewing.

The cornerstone is Broadcast Interactivity, a ground breaking capability that automatically presents Internet content related to what you are watching.  This could be any broadcast TV show or advertisement. In addition to providing this capability directly integrated into the television, Yahoo also demonstrated the ability to make your phone and tablet interactive companion devices to the television.

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