New Linux based OS for handhelds touts ease of use -- Lycoris will ship a version of its desktop Linux operating system (OS) designed specifically for handheld devices in Q2, 2004. The OS, dubbed Desktop/LX Pocket PC Edition (DL-PPC), will provide a "commercial-ready" and user-friendly OS that Lycoris hopes to license to device designers as well as market directly to consumers.
"LDK" public beta supports kernel 2.6 on IA32, PPC8260 -- TimeSys claims to have made the first commercial release of Linux 2.6 for PowerPC, releasing a beta version of its "Linux Development Kit" (LDK) for the Motorola PPC8260. A 2.6-based LDK beta is also available for IA32 processors, with more architectures to follow. Betas of both LDKs may be freely downloaded, for a limited time.
Linux gets embedded on Ninetendo GameCube -- The GameCube Linux project on Groundhog Day released an alpha version of Linux running on the Nintendo GameCube. The busybox-based release supports screen output, networking code, a telnet server, and a webserver. The project aims to enable GameCube use as a thin client, multimedia terminal, server, or runtime environment for "homebrew" development.
Company forming around gumstick-sized Linux SBC -- A new single board computer (SBC) company plans to form around a chewing gum-sized SBC running embedded Linux currently being prepared for market. "Gumstix" plans to launch as a company within two to three weeks, according to sources close to the Gumtix project. Its first board will target wearable, smartphone, and PDA applications.
Tiny StrongARM SBC combines open source software AND hardware -- Aleph One is shipping a one-ounce, one-watt, 206MHz StrongARM-based single-board computer (SBC) that comes pre-installed with embedded Linux and features an "open source" hardware design. Aleph One encourages device designers to freely use the design, and contribute back implementation details useful to others.
Hong Kong chipmaker takes on Wintel via embedded Linux -- A company based in Hong Kong reports growing sales of a $15-$30 CPU chip that, in conjunction with embedded Linux, it believes can help replace costly Wintel systems in China, the world's second-largest PC market. For now, Culturecom Holdings will target its inexpensive V-Dragon chip at embedded Linux devices and special-purpose computers, but hopes one day to challenge Wintel in the Chinese general purpose computing market.
IDC: smartphone market nearly doubled in 2003 -- Key findings from IDC's Worldwide Mobile Phone QView research service show handset sales for the year 2003 exceeded half a billion units for the first time in the market's history. "Converged mobile devices" (smartphones) in particular showed "significant growth and future promise" in 2003, according to IDC, growing over 180% year-over-year.
Eclipse tools consortium converts to non-profit corporation -- The Eclipse Board of Stewards announced that Eclipse has re-organized, changing from an industry consortium to a not-for-profit corporation with a full-time management organization, breaking at least partially away from founder IBM. A board of directors will be formed to oversee and staff the management organization. The board expects to announce an Executive Director in the coming weeks.
Open letter from Sun to Eclipse members calls for unification -- Java originator and owner Sun Microsystems last week sent an "open letter" to members of Eclipse.org congratulating the organization on its "transition to independence" from founder IBM (see related story), and challenging it to work with Sun toward the common, "big picture" goal of promoting the Java platform. At the same time, Sun expresses concern that rival IBM will continue to dominate Eclipse.
MontaVista helps found, steer non-profit Eclipse corporation -- MontaVista Software today announced that CEO Jim Ready will serve on the board of directors of the newly formed not-for-profit Eclipse corporation, of which MontaVista will be a founding "Strategic" member. Additionally, MontaVista is sponsoring and presenting a session at this week's "Eclipse.con" trade show in Anaheim, Calif.
Eclipse-based embedded dev tools support any 2.4 or 2.6 kernel -- TimeSys has updated its Eclipse-based TimeStorm Linux Tool Suite, adding support for any 2.6 Linux kernel and lowering the price of the TimeStorm IDE to $795 per seat. The company claims that TimeStorm is the first development tool based on Eclipse to support 2.6-series kernels.
World's largest telco joins OSDL -- The world's largest telecommunications conglomerate, with 430 companies and 200,000 employees, has joined the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and will participate in the Lab's Data Center Linux and Carrier Grade Linux working groups.
Other newsworthy items and announcements from the past week . . .
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