Welcome to LinuxDevices.com's Embedded Linux Newsletter May 6, 2004 by Rick Lehrbaum Editor-in-chief

Linux in "battle of the century," computing pioneer says -- This interview with embedded pioneer and MontaVista CEO Jim Ready explains why Ready is preparing his small, privately held company for the "battle of the century." It reveals Ready as a big thinker willing to extemporaneously discuss today's computing trends within their historical context. Ready describes the emergence of Linux as an end-to-end operating system spanning from enterprise servers to embedded devices, the emergence of embedded Linux as a standard platform for cellphones, the competitive landscape in the embedded Linux and larger embedded markets, the work of Linux standards organizations, MontaVista's specific market strategies and plans, and more.

Red Hat launches broad Linux initiative -- devices to desktops -- Red Hat has revealed ambitious plans to simplify enterprise software development and IT by pushing a single Linux-based operating system across enterprise systems, from servers to desktops to single-purpose clients to handhelds and other embedded devices. The strategy reveals a growing role for embedded Linux devices in the enterprise.

IDC: growing role for Linux, embedded Linux on the desktop -- A whitepaper published this week by IDC describes profound changes in enterprise computing that could bring a proliferation of embedded Linux devices to an IT department near you. The paper, which was written by IDC analysts Dan Kusnetzky and Al Gillen and sponsored by Red Hat, also examines Red Hat's evolving desktop and embedded Linux strategy in the context of this sea change. Our news item provides an informative synopsis of the IDC whitepaper, along with a link for downloading the full document.

Real-time Linux powers automotive diagnostic tool -- Daimler-Chrysler has used real-time embedded Linux in a portable automotive diagnostic tool currently shipping to dealers and repair shops. The StarScan tool enables shops to work on 2004-model year and later Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep vehicles incorporating CAN (controller area network) buses. Find out more about the automotive test tool, CAN buses, and why StarScan designers chose to use a real-time Linux operating system, in our complete Device Profile.

Linux PDA framework project preps next major release, invites testers -- The Open Palmtop Integrated Environment (Opie) project has released a developer preview release in hopes of attracting testers for a pending stable release. The Opie 1.1.3 release previews a "vastly improved" version of the free graphical application environment for Linux handhelds and webpads, project leaders say. The pending 1.2.0 release will be the first stable Opie version since the August, 2003 release of Opie 1.0. It will feature a new PIM (personal information manager) database backend based on SQLite.

Mono project achieves beta release, invites developer input -- Novell released the first beta of Mono 1.0, an open source alternative to Microsoft's .Net framework. This week's Mono release provides the first opportunity for developers outside the Mono community to evaluate the technology, and is the first of two betas scheduled to precede the planned June 30th release of Mono 1.0. The release includes pre-compiled packages for select platforms, including current Red Hat, Novell (SuSE), and Windows OSes.

OTHER NEWSWORTHY ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE PAST WEEK . . .

• Wind River sponsors embedded Linux seminar
  
• Global media company snaps up Linux-based IP-TV vendor
  
• Linux PDA shipments down, report finds
  
• Wireless multimedia networking chips support standards, Linux
  
• O'Reilly book explains wireless networking under Linux
  
• Linux browser adapts Web, multimedia content to TV displays
  
• Linux-like licensing aims to expand chip's horizons
  
• Report: Handheld, automotive apps to fuel rapid Bluetooth growth
  
• Eight from IBM -- Embedded SQL, J2ME, Eclipse, Grids, Clusters . . .
  

. . . and that's not all. Click here for the latest breaking news.

• Article talkbacks
  
• Linux on PDAs
  
• Embedded Linux Q&A
  
• Real-time Linux
  
• GPL issues & discussion
  
• Embedded Java+Linux
  
• Little Linux systems
  
• General discussion
  

• Introduction & Overview ("start here")
  
• Embedded Linux Distributions
  
• Real-time Linux
  
• GUI/Windowing Software
  
• Java on Embedded Linux
  
• System-on-Chip Processors
  
• Single Board Computers
  
• Little Linux Systems
  
• Linux-Based "Cool Devices"
  
• Linux-PDAs and PDA-Linux
  
• Embedded Linux Market
  

You can access 2004's newsletters here:   Apr. 29,   Apr. 22,   Apr. 15,   Apr. 8,   Apr. 1,   Mar. 25,   Mar. 18,   Mar. 11,   Mar. 4,   Feb. 26,   Feb. 19,   Feb. 12,   Feb. 5,   Jan. 29,   Jan. 22,   Jan. 15,   Jan. 8

Be sure to stop by LinuxDevices.com -- "the Embedded Linux Portal" -- for the latest news, articles, links, 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.

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