LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Newsletter -- Jan. 10, 2002


Welcome to the LinuxDevices.com
Embedded Linux Newsletter

January 10, 2002

by Rick Lehrbaum
Executive Editor, LinuxDevices.com



TOP STORIES

Royal unveils $299 Linux/Microwindows based PDA at CES -- Royal Consumer Information Products unveiled a new Linux-powered PDA earlier this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, NV. Royal's new "Lin@x" PDA sports a full-color graphic LCD display and is based on a 206MHz Intel StrongARM processor with 16MB of Flash ROM and 32MB of system RAM. This latest Linux-based PDA is expected to hit store shelves by mid-2002 and be priced at $299. Story includes specs and a photo of the device. Story

Using Embedded Linux in a High Speed Gated Intensified Camera -- This technical article describes the use of Embedded Linux in the design of the Elphel Model 303 High Speed Gated Intensified Camera. The device combines a fast gated micro-channel plate (MCP) image intensifier, a CMOS image sensor, and an embedded computer based on an Axis ETRAX RISC processor running Embedded Linux. These three ingredients made it possible to create a compact, ultra-fast (10 ns exposure, +/- 0.8 ns jitter) camera complete with an Ethernet interface and built-in webserver. Story

Network Booting of a diskless Linux device with PXE -- PXELINUX can be used to boot a diskless Linux device over a network. Matt Butcher, who uses PXELINUX to boot set-top boxes, explains how PXELINUX works and how to use it in this interesting technical "HOWTO" article. Story


OTHER NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Embedded Linux Journal announces third contest -- Embedded Linux Journal (ELJ), announced the third embedded Linux development contest. The new contest is based on Linux4.TV, a completely open-source, open-architecture, set-top box platform with support for digital and audio tuners, DVD, streaming video and interactive services. Story

The Linux Terminal Server Project releases LTSP Version 3 -- The LTSP package has become the standard for running thin client computers on a Linux server. Using LTSP v3, all the heavy work takes place on a server. Due to the efficiency of the underlying operating system, a business class server can serve hundreds of desktops -­ far more than a comparable Windows system. Story

Embedded Linux speeds development of wireless gateways -- NewsForge.com reports that Bluesocket's new wireless gateway contains an embedded Linux operating system. In the article, Bluesocket's CTO explains why they selected Embedded Linux rather than, for example, QNX, and what the perceived benefits of that decision were. Story

New Linux-based multimedia STB "blows you away" -- ZDNet reports that after two years of secrecy, start-up Rearden Steel has entered the home entertainment market this week by announcing its first product (Moxi MC, an Embedded Linux based set-top entertainment system) and a name change at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Story

Embedded Linux Journal and LinuxDevices.com launch ELJonline.com -- SSC Publications, publisher of Embedded Linux Journal (ELJ), announced a partnership with LinuxDevices.com to provide ELJ's exceptional editorial content to visitors of the popular LinuxDevices.com web site. ELJonline.com, a subsidiary of LinuxDevices.com, will feature the complete contents of each issue of Embedded Linux Journal, including all issues released to date (over a hundred articles on Embedded Linux). Story

New joint venture will support Motorola Linux-based TV STB -- Lineo, Metrowerks, and Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector announced that they have formed a joint venture called Triarc Content Labs. The venture will facilitate the design and development of Linux-based, advanced-interactive television software applications on Motorola's DCT5000 family of advanced-interactive digital set-tops. Story

Examining Main Memory Databases -- A recently published article by McObject CEO Steve Graves describes a Linux-based benchmark of different approaches to real-time, memory-resident data management. Story

Insight into Microsoft's post-PC "Windows everywhere" vision -- During this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Microsoft unveiled prototype products leveraging Windows XP and infrastructure from the company's .Net software-as-a-service strategy. This article from CNET provides some useful insight into Microsoft's vision of "Windows everywhere". Story

"Calling all willing Linux gurus" -- Borland is getting ready to release C++ Rapid Application Development (RAD) support for Linux and is looking for beta testers. Story

Embedded Linux cheaper, more flexible for industrial controller -- A hardware company that for 25 years has been making industrial automation controllers designed to function in harsh environments ranging from dusty assembly lines to outdoor pumps, is changing most of its product line from running on proprietary software to Embedded Linux, according to an article at NewsForge.com. Thanks to Embedded Linux, the company has been able to reduce costs, improve the product's flexibility, and speed up the entire product development process. Story

First Look: Axis 9010 Wireless Access Point -- Designtechnica has reviewed the Axis Bluetooth access point, finding it to be a promising product in a largely open market. The device's Embedded Linux OS is perceived as a key benefit. Story

Microsoft memo to staff: Clobber Linux -- Several news sites published portions of a leaked internal Microsoft memo that provides an interesting glimpse into the software giant's growing battle with Linux.


POPULAR TOPICS IN OUR DISCUSSION FORUM


FREQUENTLY UPDATED EMBEDDED LINUX QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES


THE 2001 EMBEDDED LINUX MARKET SURVEY

As part of our continuing efforts to support the rapidly growing Embedded Linux Market, we are pleased to announce the online 2001 Embedded Linux Market Survey. The survey, which is structured in three parts, asks developers of Linux-based embedded systems and intelligent devices to anonymously provide information about their applications, their embedded Linux OS requirements and preferences, and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of using Linux in embedded applications.

Please vote here!


MISSED A RECENT NEWSLETTER?

Read them here:   Jan. 3, 2002,   Dec. 20, 2001,   Dec. 13, 2001,   Dec. 6, 2001,   Nov. 29, 2001,   Nov. 22, 2001,   Nov. 15, 2001,   Nov. 8, 2001,   Nov. 1, 2001,   Oct. 25, 2001,   Oct. 18, 2001,   Oct. 11, 2001,   Oct. 4, 2001,   Sep. 27, 2001,   Sep. 20, 2001,   Sep. 13, 2001,   Sep. 6, 2001


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