LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Newsletter -- March 22, 2001


Welcome to the LinuxDevices.com
Embedded Linux Newsletter
March 22, 2001

by Rick Lehrbaum -- Executive Editor
ZDNet's LinuxDevices.com


*** FEATURE ARTICLES ***

GtkFB: GTK+ for the Linux Framebuffer -- in the upcoming GTK+2.0 release, GTK+ will support rendering directly to the framebuffer instead of using the X Window System. This is good for embedded systems such as PDAs and other systems with very limited resources, because they are able to run without the overhead of an X server while still taking advantage of the power of GTK+ and the large base of existing programs. story

An interview with Ericsson's "blip" project R&D manager -- Ericsson recently announced the BLIP, a small self-contained Linux-based device that communicates wirelessly with mobile phones, PDAs, and other kinds of mobile devices that are equipped with Bluetooth short-range wireless technology. The BLIP is actually a tiny computer system, based on an ARM7TDMI system-on-chip processor running uClinux. In this interview, we learn about the BLIP's internal architecture and functionality, and how practical it will be for developers to customize and modify its operation. story

The status of the Linux ACPI support -- to learn more about the ongoing development of ACPI support for Linux, LinuxDevices.com contacted Guy Therien, a Software Architecture Manager with Intel's TRL/Mobile Architecture Lab, who is serving as a spokesperson for the Linux ACPI project. story

Opinion: Why Linux is like pizza -- would you like anchovies with your source code? ZDNet columnist Evan Leibovitch compares the incredible diversity available through Linux -- and its potential benefits -- to a favorite food. story

*** SPECIAL REPORT ON MIDORI LINUX ***

As reported last week, Transmeta, the company that employs Linux creator Linus Torvalds, has finally launched their long-awaited mobile Linux distibution. Midori Linux supports Transmeta's Intel-alternative Crusoe processors and also introduces some important new technologies for running Linux within mobile devices like Web pads and PDAs. LinuxDevices.com is pleased to bring you this coverage on Midori . . .

*** OTHER NEWS ***

Sharp unveils new Linux based PDA -- at CeBit in Hannover, Germany, Sharp showed off a handheld computer called the MultiMedia Tool. The new Linux-based PDA can play MPEG4 videos and MP3 music. story

3Com pulls the plug on Kerbango & Audrey -- Ouch! 3Com announced that it is discontinuing the Kerbango (Linux-based) and Audrey (QNX-based) Internet appliances due the company's mounting losses. story

Real-time VMAlloc patch available for Linux 2.4 kernel -- Oops! It turns out that the new Linux kernel (2.4.0+) causes problems for RTLinux. FSMLabs has released a fix based on a kernel patch. story

Berlin forum to feature talks on real-time and embedded Linux -- the Real-time and Embedded Systems Forum being held Germany this April will include several talks of interest to the Embedded Linux market. Paolo Mantegazza, RTAI project leader, will make a presentation about the Real Time Application Interface (RTAI), and Manfred Hollstein will provide Red Hat's perspective on Embedded Linux standards, challenges, and obstacles. story

New Hyundai ARM system-on-chip runs Embedded Linux -- Hyundai Electronics America announced its second generation system-on-chip processor. The device is a low power, high performance processor suitable for Internet appliances, wireless Internet terminals, PDAs, smart cellular phones, and music players, and will be supported by Embedded Linux. story

Grass roots PDA enters prototype debug phase -- for those following the progress of the collaborative MyLinux PLW project, the prototype electronic circuit boards have now been assembled and are in the process of being debugged. In addition to status, we have several pictures of the prototype hardware. story

New release of white dwarf linux supports embedded SBCs -- EMJ Embedded Systems released version 1.1 of white dwarf linux. The distribution runs on x86 single board computers (SBCs) that have at least 8MB of RAM and an IDE disk interface, and also supports both CD and network installs. story

Hands-on Embedded Linux Developers' Workshop, Wash. DC -- Kevin Dankwardt's excellent 4-day workshop is coming to the mid-Atlantic area in early April. Learn how to build a complete custom version of Linux which includes an embedded application. story

Streaming into your living room (via Embedded Linux) -- PC Magazine's Cade Metz reports on plans by HP and RealNetworks to produce a Linux-based streaming media appliance for consumer environments. story

New PC/104-based Embedded Linux starter kit -- SSV announced a new PC/104 Embedded Linux "starter kit" that consists of a single board computer (SBC) with a pre-installed Embedded Linux in its on-board Flash memory. The SBC is based on an AMD 486DX5 and has 16 MB DRAM, 2-4M Flash, 2 serial ports, IDE, keyboard, floppy, and 10Base-T Ethernet. story

Linux Trace Toolkit now supports PowerPC and RTAI -- Opersys and Lineo announced a new version of the Linux Trace Toolkit (LTT) that supports PowerPC processors running Linux along with the Real-Time Applications Interface (RTAI), in addition to the previously supported x86 processors. story

New SDK for Linux based hand-held devices -- Esfia announced an SDK and Desktop Emulator for development of Linux-based PDAs designed around MIPS, ARM, or StrongARM processors. story

Open RTLinux v3.0 CD now available -- based on Red Hat 6.2 for x86 processors, FSMLabs' new CD contains the RTLinux hard real-time kernel, the floppy disk-sized MiniRTL (for small footprint embedded applications), and the RTIC Lab real-time graphical interface, as well as a complete Linux distribution. story

BusyBox 0.50 is released -- this release adds several new applets including ifconfig, route, pivot_root, stty, and tftp, and also fixes tons of bugs. A tarball is now sitting on the BusyBox ftp site waiting for developers to grab it while its hot. story

Announcing JFFS2 -- improved embedded Linux flash file system -- David Woodhouse, project leader of the Linux Memory Technology Device (MTD) project, announced the arrival of "JFFS2" -- version 2 of the Journaling Flash File System (JFFS) for Embedded Linux based systems. story

New PDA-oriented SOC to support Embedded Linux -- NeoMagic announced that their new system-on-chip (SOC) platform for smart handheld devices will be supported by LynuxWorks' BlueCat Linux OS. The new 1-chip system is meant to meet the graphics, multimedia, power consumption, and cost targets of consumer hand-held computing products. story

*** LINKS OF THE WEEK ***

The ACPI4Linux project -- the goal of this project is to get the "Advanced Configuration and Power Interface" (ACPI) on the Linux operating system up and running. story

C++ support for uClinux -- this work provides C++ support for the uClinux project. story

Linux Home Automation -- this website provides an extensive resource of source code and links to home automation and home control software. story

Galeon -- a fast, light, standards-compliant browser -- Galeon is light weight GNOME Web browser based on gecko, the mozilla rendering engine, that should prove useful for resource constrained embedded systems. story

*** FREQUENTLY UPDATED 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.

Note: Please participate in this new survey, even if you already did so in 2000. Thank you!

VOTE HERE!

*** VISIT THESE OTHER ZDNET LINUX RESOURCES ***

Missed a recent LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Weekly Newsletter?   No problem!   Read them here . . .

Mar 15, 2001,   Mar 8, 2001,   Mar 1, 2001,   Feb 22, 2001,   Feb 15, 2001,   Feb 8, 2001,   Feb 1, 2001,   Jan 25, 2001,   Jan 18, 2001,   Jan 11, 2001,   Jan 4, 2001

Want to subscribe, unsubscribe, change your address . . . ?    use this online tool

Be sure stop by LinuxDevices.com -- "the Embedded Linux Portal" -- for the latest news, articles, forums, products, companies, jobs, and buzz in the fast-moving "post-PC" world of Linux-based intelligent devices, Internet appliances, and embedded systems.

You can contact us here.