Are you a video content creator who is planning to hop on the OTT bandwagon? If so, wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to expand your reach beyond your existing followers and skyrocket your revenue?
If you responded with a thunderous “yes” to any of the above questions, it’s high time you consider leveraging Tizen app development for your OTT platform.
But if you’re new to the world of Tizen OS app development, it’s going to seem like a herculean task. Navigating Tizen IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and finding your way amidst various APIs and SDKs can be daunting.
Here, you will find a step-by-step guide for developing your first Tizen app. But let’s first delve deeper into Tizen OS and understand why it’s important.
Tizen: A Quick Overview
Tizen is the operating system that powers smart TV sets by Samsung. It’s an open-source operating system based on the Linux kernel. Apart from Smart TVs, Tizen OS is also used to build smartphones and wearables.
Image Source: Tizen
What sets Tizen apart is that it’s the leading smart TV platform in the market, with a market share of nearly 13%. That means launching your OTT app on Samsung and Tizen Stores will help you reach a larger audience.
How to Build a Tizen App for Smart TVs
Developing a Tizen app is a complicated and technical process. You can either hire a Tizen app developer or create your OTT app using a turnkey SaaS solution, such as MAZ Systems.
In either case, you must have a clear idea of the Samsung TV app development workflow.
Here’s a brief overview of the steps involved in Tizen app development:
1. Install Tizen Studio
Start by checking the OS and device configuration required for installing Tizen Studio. Then head to Tizen’s App Developer site and download the Tizen Studio toolkit on your computer.
Run the installer and follow the subsequent steps to install the IDE on your device.
Once you’ve installed the Tizen Studio, head to Package Manager and install the following:
- SDK and TV-related packages
- TV extension tools
- Samsung certificate extension
2. Create Your Project
Next, you need to create a new project on Tizen Studio. Open the IDE and select New > Tizen Project under the File menu.
Select the custom section, and choose “web application” on the next screen. If you’ve already created a project, you can import that to Tizen Studio as well.
3. Get Your Certificates
Creating the right certificates is necessary for connecting your device to a smart TV. Also, certificates come in handy for installing your app on the smart TV and publishing it on Tizen Store.
Tizen app development requires you to get two kinds of certificates:
- Samsung certificate
- Tizen certificate
Both types of certificates can be obtained from the Certificate Manager section of Tizen Studio. But first, you’ll need to create an account in Samsung’s Seller Office portal.
4. Connect Your TV
This is the most crucial step of Tizen TV app development. Turn on the TV, go to the Apps section, and press “1,2,3,4,5” on the remote. It’ll switch your television set to Developer Mode.
Next, enter the IP address of the device on which you’ve installed Tizen Studio. Make sure both devices are connected to the same LAN or WiFi network.
Check your TV settings to find its IP address. Use the Device Manager section of Tizen Studio to enter your TV’s IP address and connect your device to the TV. Also, you’ll need to install the necessary certificates at this stage.
5. Run Your App
Once you’ve connected your TV to the device with Tizen Studio, you can run your OTT app on the TV. You can choose to run it with or without a debugger.
6. Publish Your App on Tizen Store
This step requires you to submit the necessary logos, icons, screenshots, and documentation to Tizen Store. Check Tizen’s UX manuals for a better idea of all the files you need to submit.
After you register your application, Samsung’s internal team will manually test your app before publishing it on Samsung and Tizen Stores.
Final Thoughts
Tizen app development involves various steps and requires thorough knowledge of coding. Make sure you choose the right programming language for building your app. Also, you’ll likely need to hire a Tizen app developer to develop, test, and deploy your app.
The best bet, though, is to leverage MAZ to go about it. Using it, you can build your Tizen app without any technical knowledge. Contact us for a free demo of MAZ today.