All About Linux-powered Devices

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Design contest launched for tiny Linux net server —

Lantronix announced a design contest based on its recently introduced XPort Pro, touted as the "world's smallest Linux networking server." Lantronix will award prizes of $6,000 and $3,000 to the two top entries for Best Linux Design, plus a separate $3,000 prize for the Best Student Linux Design, says the company. ...

Smartphone SoC brings high-speed uplink to low-end phones — Broadcom announced an ARM11-based SoC (system-on-chip) intended to provide low- and mid-range smartphones with HSUPA (high-speed uplink packet access networking). Providing data uploads at up to 5.8Mbps, the BCM21553 runs Android or Windows Mobile, includes a "high performance 3D graphics core," and supports cameras up to eight megapixels, the company says. ...

Atom-powered military PC works to 161 deg. F —

Aitech Defense Systems announced a rugged PC aimed at defense and industrial applications. The fanless NightHawk RCU (rugged control unit) employs an Intel Atom processor, sealed military connectors, SSD (solid-state disk) storage, and a built-in surge protector, according to the company. ...

Wind River Hypervisor rev'd for new Intel chips — Wind River released a new version of its Linux-compatible embedded virtualization software for single and multi-core processors. Wind River Hypervisor 1.1 adds support for Intel Nehalem and Core i5/i7 processors, enables new inter-virtual machine communications, and debuts virtual board debugging via the newly revised Wind River On-Chip Debugging, says the company. ...

Google's phone struggles but wins convert in Linus Torvalds —

Google's Nexus One Android phone is selling at a much slower rate than the Droid, according to a research firm -- but happy customers include Linux creator Linus Torvalds, who endorsed the phone. Last week, meanwhile, the Torvalds-directed Kernel.org announced that Android code has been deleted from the Linux kernel. ...

Sony devices will talk to themselves wirelessly —

Sony announced a high-speed wireless technology designed for data transfer within electronic products. To be shown off this week at a conference in San Francisco, millimeter-wave transmission will increase reliability and decrease circuit board size, the company claims. ...

Samsung phone offers AMOLED screen, Android 2.1 —

Samsung has announced its first Android phone for the Korean market, the Android 2.1-ready SHW-M100S phone, says SamsungHub,. In other Android news, several sites have tipped an HTC-made "Incredible" phone, and Acer reports hot sales of its "Liquid" smartphone. ...

Core i7 module handles temperature extremes —

Adlink announced a Core i7-equipped COM Express module featuring Intel's embedded-specific Core i7 processor along with the QM57 Express chipset. The "Ampro by Adlink Express-CBR" features up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, CRT and LVDS display support, an optional SSD (solid state disk), and PCI Express Graphics (PEG) or PCI Express expansion, the company says. ...

ARM: More than 1.3 billion served in Q4 2009 —

ARM Holdings announced that more than 1.3 billion chips based on its designs were sold during the fourth quarter of 2009. Reporting better-than-expected financial results, the company added that it's signing up licensees for three new designs, code-named "Eagle," "Heron," and "Merlin." ...

Intel to acquire virtualization firm and embed software in Wind River — Intel has signed an agreement to acquire Virtutech, and Intel subsidiary Wind River will add the Virtutech product line, including its Simics virtualization and simulation software, to an embedded software product portfolio that already includes Wind River Linux. Intel's acquisition of Virtutech is expected to close this quarter, says Wind River. ...

NFC stack goes open source —

Inside Contactless, a manufacturer of near field communications (NFC) chips, is releasing "Open NFC," an open source version of its NFC protocol stack for mobile platforms including Linux and Android. Meanwhile, Juniper projects that NFC will play a growing role in a mobile-ticketing market that will reach 15 billion tickets by 2014. ...

Linux-based networking middleware rev'd for GMPLS — Access subsidiary IP Infusion announced a new version of its Linux-based, Next Generation Network (NGN) carrier-grade middleware. ZebOS Network Platform 7.8 adds support for Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS), Data Center Bridging, and MPLS resiliency for wireless backhaul and Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) implementations, says the company. ...

Rackmount automation PC has four PCI slots —

Moxa announced a rackmount automation computer, with four PCI expansion slots and four gigabit Ethernet ports. The DA-710 has a 2GHz Intel Celeron M processor, a CompactFlash slot, SATA and IDE interfaces, two serial ports, plus four USB 2.0 ports, and runs Debian Linux 5.0, says Moxa. ...

Baseboard fits Pico-ITX into DIN slots —

Via Technologies announced a baseboard designed to integrate a previously released, Linux-ready Pico-ITXe board into a car's instrument panel. The Epia-P710-D offers three Mini PCI Express slots, a SIM slot, SD card reader, plus USB, IDE, and SATA ports, according to the company. ...

Smartphone sales reach record level, IDC says —

IDC says smartphone sales reached a "new record level" during the fourth quarter of 2009, increasing 39 percent year-over-year to reach 54.5 million units. Meanwhile, Motorola's 4Q sales increased 56.3 percent compared to 4Q 2008, with 80 percent attributed to Android, the research firm added. ...

Symbian open sourced ahead of schedule — The Nokia-backed Symbian Foundation announced it has open sourced the world's leading smartphone operating system, with the release of Symbian 3. Released under an Eclipse Public License (EPL), Symbian 3 adds improved graphics, HDMI support, and better multimedia streaming capabilities, says the Foundation. ...

Bluetooth 3.0 chips, phones start shipping — Broadcom announced broad adoption of Bluetooth 3.0 across its silicon, software, and combo chip solutions. Separately, Samsung is set to release what appears to be the world's first Bluetooth 3.0-equipped phone, according to the Bluetooth SIG (special interest group). ...

Android netbook runs on new ARM9 CPU —

China-based HiVision is readying an Android-based "PWS700CA" netbook with a 600MHz Rockchip ARM9 processor and a 7-inch, WVGA touchscreen, and according to one preview, it's likely to sell for under $100. HiVision also recently introduced a Linux-based "PWS700B" netbook, as well as an "EB-0600S" e-reader, says the company. ...

Android phone brings MotoBlur UI to Verizon —

Motorola and Verizon Wireless announced a mid-range Android phone sporting the former's MotoBlur UI. Due for a March launch, the "Devour" offers a 3.1-inch HVGA capacitive touchscreen, a side-slider keyboard, three-megapixel camera, CDMA/EVDO 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a full complement of apps, including Google Maps Navigation, says Motorola. ...

LinuxCon opens for registration, paper submission — The Linux Foundation announced a call for papers and open registration for its second annual LinuxCon conference, scheduled for August 10-12 in Boston. Priority topics for submitted papers include "Linux in mobile devices," and the show will feature mini-summits for wireless and power management technologies, the nonprofit Linux advocacy organization says. ...

Cortex-A8 COM runs Linux —

U.K.-based Anders Electronics announced a Linux-ready ARM Cortex-A8 COM (computer on module) with up to 256MB of RAM, 512MB of flash storage, 10/100 Ethernet, and integrated WiFi. The CM-T3530 comes with Texas Instruments OMAP3503 or OMAP3530 CPUs clocked at up to 720MHz, has a touchscreen controller, includes a camera interface, according to the company. ...

Google spins multi-touch for Nexus One and tips Chrome OS tablet —

Days after a hacker broke open the inner multi-touch capabilities of Google's Nexus One, Google announced it is now offering pinch-to-zoom capability on the Android phone via a software update. In other Google news, the company has posted pictures of the Linux-based Chrome OS running on a tablet prototype. ...

Compact tactical PC taps Atom CPU —

Eurotech subsidiary Parvus announced an Intel Atom-based version of its rugged, Linux-ready tactical mission computer. The DuraCOR 820-A offers an Atom Z530 1.6GHz processor with gigabit Ethernet and optional MIL-STD-1553 databus connectivity, as well as lower power consumption, and additional memory and storage compared to the previous model, says Parvus. ...

COM Express module can be frozen, baked —

Kontron announced a single board computer (SBC) using the 95 x 95mm microETXexpress format and an Intel Atom Z520PT processor. The "microETXexpress-XL" features gigabit Ethernet, PCI and PCI Express Graphics, an optional SSD (solid state disk), and an industrial operating range from -40 to 85 deg. C (-40 to 185 deg. F), the company says. ...

Wind River tool suite upgraded for multi-core —

Wind River has rev’d its embedded development tool-suite for Linux and VxWorks. Upgraded software is said to include: the Wind River Workbench 3.2 integrated development environment, now synchronized with Eclipse 3.5; the JTAG-based Wind River On-Chip Debugging 3.2, which adds multi-core and multi-target support; and the Wind River Compiler 5.8. ...

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