Click here to learn
about this Sponsor:
Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum

Keywords: Match:
Century upgrades Linux PDA software stack
Nov. 20, 2001

Salt Lake City, UT -- (press release excerpt) -- Century Embedded Technologies today announced the release of PIXIL PDA v1.1, a commercial-ready PDA solution based on Linux, Microwindows, and Century's PIXIL Operating Environment (PIXIL OE). Significant enhancements include a new look-and-feel, Bluetooth support, and a companion desktop Personal Information Manager (PIM). PIXIL PDA also includes support for email, web browsing, and games.

PIXIL PDA v1.1 advances standard applications for organizing personal and business information. All applications interact through Centurys PIXIL Applications Registry and Interprocess Communications Mechanism, allowing applications to share and search data without having to use the same data format. "Our inter-applications communications technology allows new applications to be added to the PIXIL platform and have their data shared between all applications, regardless of the new applications data formats," said Gregory Haerr, CEO of Century Embedded Technologies and Microwindows project leader.

PIXIL PDA v1.1 is based on the recently announced open source PIXIL OE that easily adapts to modern pervasive devices with multiple form factors and connectivity requirements. Providing a base platform for solutions, PIXIL OE offers developers a Linux standard for smart connected devices. The complete PIXIL PDA v1.1 flash memory requirement is less than 6.5MB.

Applications Management

PIXIL's screentop applications manager, which provides application launching, file management and the registry, has been enhanced to allow complete customization of the screentop, with settings stored in an XML-compatible format. Handwriting recognition has been enhanced, along with a graphical system configuration utility, providing user access to newly included power management, time/date, and display settings.

The new PIXIL Desktop boasts a complementary set of applications that share data with their PIM counterparts resident on the handheld device. PIXIL Desktop provides a comprehensive solution that will maintain addresses, scheduled appointments, a to-do list, and notes, synchronizing the user data between the PIM suite and desktop. The PIXIL Desktop also has a graphical update utility that allows the PDA system to load updated software and facilitates the addition or removal of programs with simplicity and ease.

Connectivity

PIXIL PDAs new connectivity options include support for Bluetooth, a graphical network configuration utility, and enhanced support for 802.11b. Most Compact Flash and PCMCIA wireless networking cards are supported. The graphical network configuration utility simplifies connectivity and allows quick configuration to multiple wireless Internet connections as well as a direct connection to a network. Internet connectivity via serial PPP is supported through direct line or modem. Ethernet connectivity is supported through Compact Flash adapters with dynamic DHCP or fixed addressing. Network system startup and shutdown is enabled through the graphical interface, allowing easy connectivity for novice users.

Internet connectivity and email access is also supported in PIXIL PDA 1.1. The included ViewML Internet Browser offers a lightweight, small footprint web browser with a runtime memory requirement of less than 2.5 MB.

Configurations and Availability

Century offers two configurations for PIXIL PDA v1.1. A binary-only configuration provides commercial-ready deployment capabilities on top of the open source PIXIL OE platform. A second configuration, known as the PIXIL PDA Certified Platform, includes porting to a new environment by Century Embedded Technologies, producing a supported system image with complete source code for a fixed fee.

PIXIL PDA 1.1 is available now. Supported architectures include x86, PowerPC, StrongARM, MIPS, and SH.



Related stories:


(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.

 


Got a HOT tip?   please tell us!
Free weekly newsletter
Enter your email...
Click here for a profile of each sponsor:
PLATINUM SPONSORS
(Become a sponsor)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

Check out the latest Linux powered...

Mobile phones!

MIDs, UMPCs
& tablets

Mobile devices

Other cool
gadgets



BREAKING NEWS

• iPhones to xhost Linux apps
• Tactical Linux computer muscles up
• Virtualization technology targets multi-core ARM
• Die-shrunk x86 SoC draws 2 Watts at 1GHz
• Webinars explore RTOS-to-Linux driver migration
• Open phone goes robotic
• MontaVista touts Android readiness
• USB Linux key targets netbooks
• Via panel PC resists shock, liquids
• Linux provider touts support award
• World's smallest humanoid robot can run Linux
• Linux connects TVs to 'Net video
• Mot camera-phone runs widgets
• Linux-ready MILS kernel gains POSIX
• Multimedia processor plays H.264 video


Most popular stories -- past 90 days:
• Open source phone goes mass-market
• Tinest Linux system, yet?
• Garmin Nav devices run Gnome Linux
• ARM9 board boots Debian in 0.69 seconds
• Low-cost laptop runs Linpus Linux
• Linux-friendly Beagle fetches $150
• Mini Linux PC breaks $100 barrier
• Open source camera records geotagged video to SATA HDD
• Open set-top box ships
• First $100 laptop runs Linux


DesktopLinux headlines:
• "Moonlight" ready to shine
• Adobe unleashes 64-bit Flash
• Debian Lenny installer arrives
• Ubuntu announces ARM port
• Amazon offers Linux XOs
• Windows 7 "no threat" to netbook Linux
• Creative frees Sound Blaster driver code
• Linux, netbooks threaten Microsoft's fat profits
• Ibex inspires GNOME switch
• Linux to outship Windows in 2009?


Also visit our sister site:


Sign up for LinuxDevices.com's...

news feed

Home  |  News  |  Articles  |  Polls  |  Forum  |  About  |  Contact
 

Ziff Davis Enterprise Home | Contact Us | Advertise | Link to Us | Reprints | Magazine Subscriptions | Newsletters
Tech RSS Feeds | White Papers | ROI Calculators | Tech Podcasts | Tech Video | VARs | Channel News

Baseline | Careers | Channel Insider | CIO Insight | DesktopLinux | DeviceForge | DevSource | eSeminars |
eWEEK | Enterprise Network Security | LinuxDevices | Linux Watch | Microsoft Watch | Mid-market | Networking | PDF Zone |
Publish | Security IT Hub | Strategic Partner | Web Buyer's Guide | Windows for Devices

Developer Shed | Dev Shed | ASP Free | Dev Articles | Dev Hardware | SEO Chat | Tutorialized | Scripts |
Code Walkers | Web Hosters | Dev Mechanic | Dev Archives | igrep

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.