| ELJonline: Nokia Media Terminal |
Phil Hughes (November, 2000)
Take a peek at Nokia's newest offering in home entertainment.
At the International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam on September 8, nokia announced their Media Terminal. To the average Linux geek, it's just another Linux system. To the consumer, it is the guts of a system that offers entertainment as well as Internet connectivity. For the embedded systems enthusiast, it is a great example of the use of Linux in an embedded system. And, for a developer, it is a platform just waiting for applications.
 In the press release, you can read all the expected buzzwords including Digital TV, DSL, Ethernet, MP3, World Wide Web, ISDN, cable modem and a few more. But, what does this really mean? To anser that question, let's take a quick look under the hood.
What we find inside is an Intel Celeron CPU, 20GB of disk and Linux. Add to that Mozilla and support for all the usuals such as HTML, JavaScript, GIF, JPEG, MIDI, PDF and Macromedia, and you are well on your way to a complete Linux system built to be an appliance.
On the outside, you will find a while assortment of interfaces. Actually, rather than an assortment, it could better be called a complete set. On the back, you will find up to two antenna inputs, DVB common interface, V.90 modem, two Multist A/V connectors, Analog HQ stereo audio, S/PDIF digital audio, two IEEE 1394 interfaces and 10/100Mb Ethernet. Moving to the front, you find a Smart Card slot and IR receiver. Finally, on the left, you find two USB ports and a PCMCIA slot.
While you can't plug in your favorite ISA SCSI controller card from five years ago, it certainly seems like expandability isn't an issue. Basically, if it has to do with audio or video and is state of the art, the Media Terminal is ready to talk to it.
Besides a typical entertainment-style remote control, Nokia has a keyboard-based remote. It is specifically designed for web browsing.
This product was just announced and we haven't had a chance to see one "in the flesh". Once they are available, you will see a detailed review -- inside as well as outside.
 About the author: Phil Hughes is the publisher of Linux Journal and Embedded Linux Journal.
Copyright © 2001 Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Embedded Linux Journal Online is a cooperative project of Embedded Linux Journal and LinuxDevices.com.
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
FUEL Database on MontaVista Linux
Whether building a mobile handset, a car navigation system, a package tracking device, or a home entertainment console, developers need capable software systems, including an operating system, development tools, and supporting libraries, to gain maximum benefit from their hardware platform and to meet aggressive time-to-market goals.
Breaking New Ground: The Evolution of Linux Clustering
With a platform comprising a complete Linux distribution, enhanced for clustering, and tailored for HPC, Penguin Computing¿s Scyld Software provides the building blocks for organizations from enterprises to workgroups to deploy, manage, and maintain Linux clusters, regardless of their size.
Data Monitoring with NightStar LX
Unlike ordinary debuggers, NightStar LX doesn¿t leave you stranded in the dark. It¿s more than just a debugger, it¿s a whole suite of integrated diagnostic tools designed for time-critical Linux applications to reduce test time, increase productivity and lower costs. You can debug, monitor, analyze and tune with minimal intrusion, so you see real execution behavior. And that¿s positively illuminating.
Virtualizing Service Provider Networks with Vyatta
This paper highlights Vyatta's unique ability to virtualize networking functions using Vyatta's secure routing software in service provider environments.
High Availability Messaging Solution Using AXIGEN, Heartbeat and DRBD
This white paper discusses a high-availability messaging solution relying on the AXIGEN Mail Server, Heartbeat and DRBD. Solution architecture and implementation, as well as benefits of using AXIGEN for this setup are all presented in detail.
Understanding the Financial Benefits of Open Source
Will open source pay off? Open source is becoming standard within enterprises, often because of cost savings. Find out how much of a financial impact it can have on your organization. Get this methodology and calculator now, compliments of JBoss.
Embedded Hardware and OS Technology Empower PC-Based Platforms
The modern embedded computer is the jack of all trades appearing in many forms.
Data Management for Real-Time Distributed Systems
This paper provides an overview of the network-centric computing model, data distribution services, and distributed data management. It then describes how the SkyBoard integration and synchronization service, coupled with an implementation of the OMG¿s Data Distribution Service (DDS) standard, can be used to create an efficient data distribution, storage, and retrieval system.
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed