We’ve covered Hillcrest Labs many times, such as here. Today the company introduced its latest offer, a web browser. At first sight it may seem like a new browser is the last thing the market needs, but this one has a key difference: it’s not designed to be used on the PC screen. It’s aimed at that growing band of consumers who connect their PCs to a TV so they can surf and watch web video from the comfort of their couch or armchair. Some browsers can be set for TV display but these options are often unsatisfactory. Hillcrest’s Kylo browser is offered free of charge. From the early demonstration we saw the company seems to have done a good job of presenting web pages more appropriately for the big screen and video consumption. As our Digital Home Observatory research has shown that connected TV viewers see the control device as a key impediment to a satisfactory experience. Using a standard PC keyboard and mouse on the couch is inconvenient at best. Onscreen keyboards can be offered for entering URLs but these are often slow and cumbersome compared to the real thing. As we’ve noted before Hillcrest’s Loop pointer deploys an impressive combination of technologies to make pointing at a screen more accurate than other motion controllers. Hillcrest’s business model is not changing as a result of the Kylo launch. While it is packaging certain web video services, it is not currently seeking to turn this into a revenue stream, although the company will watch for opportunities. Hillcrest’s primary aim and business model focus is to increase sales of its control devices. David Mercer Client Reading: Touchscreen Controllers Set to Drive the Connected TV Experience