Welcome to LinuxDevices.com's
Embedded Linux Newsletter
May 13, 2004
by Rick Lehrbaum
Editor-in-chief
|
Welcome to LinuxDevices.com's Embedded Linux Newsletter May 13, 2004 by Rick Lehrbaum Editor-in-chief |
Snap-on Linux skins add games, music to mobile phones -- Linux will power a customizable GSM/GPRS mobile phone, set to launch in July, that will support "SmartSkins," snap-on covers that contain tiny embedded Linux subsystems that add games, music videos, or other content or functions. The phone will be marketed by Korean handset manufacturer Curitel under the name "Identity," but was designed by a company called "Wildseed" (formerly GitWit). Both the Identity phone and the SmartSkins run embedded Linux on XScale processors.
Linux powers emergency mesh walkie talkie -- NexGen City has embedded Linux into what is claimed to be the first VoIP push-to-talk handset for emergency workers and "first responders." The "NexPaq" is currently undergoing testing in the first NexLink mesh network, which is nearing completion in Garland, Texas. The Garland network covers 57 square miles, and is the first deployment of mobile mesh networking technology for use by a public safety organization, according to NexGen. Read our Device Profile for more details (includes photos).
Coding examples illustrate dual-kernel real-time Linux programming -- This whitepaper by Matt Sherer provides simple coding examples that show how to achieve worst-case response times of a few milliseconds -- or even a few hundred nanoseconds -- with RTLinuxPro, a tiny real-time kernel that runs Linux as its idle task. The whitepaper includes examples of using RTLinuxPro's processor reservation, interrupt control, and real-time response capabilities.
GPL'ed guide to Booting ARM Linux available -- Debian/ARM developer Vincent Sanders has published a detailed, technical guide to booting ARM Linux. Sanders was sponsored by UK single board computer designer and ARM Linux consultancy Simtec in the project, and assisted by ARM Linux creator Russell King, Wookey, and a host of ARM and Linux kernel developers. Sanders handles kernel issues and maintains the installer system ("boot-floppies") for Debian's ARM Linux port.
TCP Reset Attacks serious, article series explains -- KernelTrap.org has published the first of two planned articles about a serious vulnerability in the TCP/IP networking protocol. The TCP/IP protocol underlies most networks, including the Internet. TCP/IP hosts using large TCP windows were recently shown to be highly vulnerable to TCP Reset Attacks by users with even moderately high-bandwidth connections.
Linux's journaling filesystems tested, compared -- LinuxGazette has published an article that compares the various journaling file systems available in Linux. The comparisons are based on "real-world" tests, such as creating thousands of files, and then running "find" over them. However, no data recovery testing, or disaster simulations such as power interruptions, were attempted.
Report: Home Networking market to reach $17.1 Billion in 2008 -- Home networking entered the mainstream in 2003 and early 2004, as large numbers of broadband users installed home networks to share Internet connections, and electronics vendors delivered new products to send high-value entertainment content over the network. According to market analyst firm In-Stat/MDR, the continued need for broadband sharing and a growing interest in entertainment networking will drive the total value of equipment with a home networking connection of some type from $8.3 billion in 2004 to $17.1 billion by 2008.
IDC: Worldwide smartphone market grows 85 percent year-over-year -- The worldwide market for mobile phones slowed slightly in the first quarter of 2004 due to expected seasonal effects, but still managed to post impressive growth year-on-year, according to IDC. Of note, the nascent market for converged mobile devices -- or "smartphones" -- posted a whopping year-over-year gain of over 85 percent.
Microsoft's smartphone strategy could succeed, analyst says -- A recently published market research report suggests that Microsoft's smartphone strategy may yet succeed, despite tiny marketshare figures for smartphone versions of Windows CE. The finding argues that smartphones are a strategic part of Microsoft's .NET initiative, and should be evaluated in that context.
OTHER NEWSWORTHY ITEMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE PAST WEEK . . .
. . . and that's not all. Click here for the latest breaking news.
You can access this year's previous newsletters here: May 6, 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
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