LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Newsletter -- March 29, 2001


Welcome to the LinuxDevices.com
Embedded Linux Newsletter
March 29, 2001

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


*** FEATURE ARTICLES ***

Device profile: Galleo Linux-based "Mobile Multimedia Communicator" -- Galleo announced a new multifunction mobile device at CeBit. Like several other recently introduced handheld computers with wireless connectivity, Galleo's product combines the functions of a PDA, Web appliance, and cellular phone -- all running on top of an Embedded Linux OS. story

Device profile: HNT's Linux-based Handheld Multimedia PCs -- HNT announced a family of Linux-based handheld multimedia PCs in two form-factors -- a PDA-sized unit with a 3.8-inch 320x240 LCD, and a heftier device (one inch thick) with a backlit 4-inch TFT 640x480 LCD and the option of a built-in video camera. story

LG demonstrates wireless Linux Web pad at CeBIT -- Korean electronics powerhouse LG Electronics unveiled a new Linux-based wireless Web pad aimed at home users and offering Internet connectivity and a built-in multimedia player. story

Mitac unveils Bluetooth-connected Linux-based PDA -- Taiwan manufacturing giant Mitac unveiled a Linux-based bluetooth-connected handheld computer called the "CAT." It has a 4.1-inch 320 x 240 pixel backlit monochrome LCD and is amply endowed with interconnection ports -- including Bluetooth, IrDA, RS232, and USB. story

*** OTHER NEWS ***

Update on ELC ESC "Technical Interests Meeting" -- the Embedded Linux Consortium asks . . "Is embedded Linux losing the positioning war to FUD? Not according to 60+ registered delegates for our Technical Interests meeting on Monday, April 9 at ESC2001. Standards AND Conformance are developing substantial steam . . . Do you need to be there?" story

iDragon SCX501 system-on-chip gains Embedded Linux support -- REDSonic announced an embedded Linux support package for Rise Technology's iDragon SCX501 x86 system-on-chip. The SCX501 integrates a 66 MHz 64-bit x86 core, PC motherboard core logic, SVGA CRT controller, video input port, TV output port, IDE drive interface, PCI and ISA bus expansion, and power management. story

Spain orders 250,000 of Intel's Linux-based Web appliances -- Intel will supply a quarter million of their Embedded Linux based Dot.Station Web access devices to Spain's biggest bank. The devices will be used to offer America Online services to the bank's clients. story

ADSL chipset maker adds Linux support -- Integrated Telecom Express announced Linux support for its Apollo family of ADSL chipsets, which are used in PCI NIC cards, gateways, and embedded systems. story

New Linux-based residential gateway reference design -- Jungo Software Technologies and ADSL chipset manufacturer Conexant Systems are jointly developing a Linux-based hardware/software reference design for makers of integrated access devices and residential gateways. Supported capabilities will include VoIP, voice over DSL, HomePNA phoneline networking, and VPN. story

Former SCO exec becomes MontaVista's new Marketing VP -- MontaVista has a new chief marketing officer. Sheila Baker comes to the company with more than 20 years experience in managing marketing, sales, and engineering activities. story

Hands-on Embedded Linux training comes to Texas -- TrainingCity's 4-day hands-on vendor neutral Embedded Linux training workshop is coming to cowboy and cowgirl country. The class takes place April 24-27 in Austin. story

IBM clocks in with Linux wrist watch update -- IBM showed off a second-generation Linux wrist watch at CeBit. This one is smaller than the original, and features a bright yellow OLED (organic light-emitting diode) 640 x 480 pixel display. The watch face is now 0.65 x 0.87 inches in size and battery life has been increased to between four and six hours, as a result of some tweaking of the kernel by IBM. Let's see . . . that means the watch only needs to have six hour marks, instead of the usual twelve . . . right? story

Indrema faces funding challenge -- Indrema, the company which announced a Linux-based TV set-top gaming system early last year, is apparently struggling to complete its development cycle and bring its product into production. CEO John Gildred provides a description of his company's current situation. story

New high integration WebPad system-on-chip ships -- National Semiconductor has begun volume shipments of the Geode SC3200 system-on-chip, along with a software development platform and reference schematics for WebPAD designs. The chip features a 32-bit x86 CPU, LCD controller, core logic, super I/O functions, and a CCIR-656 video input port. story

New SDK supports embedded Linux on TI dual-core SOCs -- RidgeRun announced a new DSPLinux Software Development Kit (SDK) for the Texas Instruments OMAP1510 and TMS320DSC21 dual-core processors. The TI chips combine an ARM7 or ARM9 RISC core with a TI C5X DSP core. DSPLinux is optimized for embedded devices and provides the means to manage both the RISC and DSP processors. story

New Java-based UPnP SDK supports embedded devices -- Metro Link's new EnableWorks UPnP Software Development Kit (SDK) for the Java Platform consists of a UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) Device SDK and a UPnP Control Point SDK. The SDKs can assist developers in creating Linux-based devices such as set-top boxes, residential gateways, Web pads, wireless devices, and consumer entertainment systems. story

*** LINKS OF THE WEEK ***

OpenCores.org -- OpenCores.org is a repository of open source, free IP synthesizable blocks, and supplemental prototype boards. Most of the proposed cores are currently under development, but some are already available. The project's initial goal is to design and build the prototype of a computer system on a PCI card that runs Linux. story

GPL ACPI CA reference implementation -- Intel provides this open source ACPI CA reference implementation of software components that enable OS support for interfaces defined in the ACPI 1.0b specification. Functions included are: AML interpreter and debugger, Namespace Management, ACPI hardware support, and basic OSPM, including a device power management framework. 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!

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