Update on "Where's the free beer?" -- Never one to have his thirst for "free beer" quenched, LinuxDevices.com contributing editor Kevin Dankwardt sets off on a quest to determine just how much freely downloadable embedded Linux software flows from the taps of commercial embedded Linux vendors' websites -- and discovers that there's a lot more available than you might realize. Story
New Sony router mixes broadband, Wi-Fi, multimedia services -- Sony Japan has announced a new Linux-powered "audio-visual router" that combines the functions of a "traditional" gateway/router with those of a home multimedia server and Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless access point. The device connects home computers, media centers, and the Sony Playstation 2 to each other and the Internet, using both wired and wireless connectivity. Story
Linux-powered mobile robot communicates by email, webserver -- Smart Robots demonstrated a new Linux-powered autonomous mobile robot platform at a recent robot competition. The SR4 can travel at a speed of approximately 1.5 ft/sec -- which may not sound fast, but at that speed it can traverse a distance equivalent to the length of three football fields in 10 minutes. It also sends and receives emails, and can host data pages on its built-in webserver. Story
Sharp announces Linux-based IC card reader/writer -- Sharp announced that it has developed an intelligent, standalone contactless IC card reader/writer device that uses Linux as the basis of its embedded intelligence. Sharp says the device is useful in environments ranging from ordinary homes, to large building control systems, to parking lots and garages, and can operate either standalone or as one of multiple reader/writers under the control of a centralized server. Story
Embedded Linux powers "first hand-held software radio" -- Vanu, Inc. demonstrated what it calls "the first hand-held software radio" at a conference this week in Washington, DC. The demonstration consisted of an iPAQ PDA with a prototype 100-475MHz radio transceiver housed in an attached iPAQ expansion pack. Vanu's "Software Radio" technology, which implements the required signal processing functions directly on the iPAQ's XScale processor, ran on top of Linux on the iPAQ. Story
Oh no! . . . "Embedded Linux" doesn't exist -- Karim Yaghmour, author of "Building Embedded Linux Systems," has published an interesting opinion column at O'Reilly Network (the publisher of his book), in which he suggests that "Embedded Linux" doesn't really exist, other than within the "hype" fostered by "marketoids." "Embedded Linux is the stuff of glitzy announcements, hype, and other marketing mumbo jumbo," writes Yaghmour, a strong advocate of open source software. Story
NewsFactor asks: "Where are all the cool embedded-Linux gadgets" -- Writing at NewsFactor Network, Vincent Ryan notes that much secrecy often surrounds the technologies used in consumer devices, with the result that consumers may be unknowingly using gadgets containing embedded Linux. Story
New HMIs bring Linux "power and flexibility" to industrial automation -- Eason Technology's Linux-based intelligent host-machine interfaces (HMIs) are used in industrial automation applications requiring operator input and prompting, process monitoring, and connection to other control and process equipment. Eason promotes the use of Linux as a key selling point, saying "the new 5000 Family of Intelligent Operator Interfaces brings the power and flexibility of Linux to Industrial Automation." Story
Embedded Linux in the Queue: interview with Jim Ready -- The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Queue magazine interviewed Jim Ready, founder and CEO of MontaVista Software, to learn where Ready thinks the embedded market is heading, and what the likely role of Linux will be. Story
Free Linux application development kit supports automation hardware -- SIXNET announced a free, downloadable Linux application development kit for developers wanting to create programs to run inside its small, Linux-based intelligent controller and remote terminal unit modules. The kit's cross-compiler generates code compatible with the modules' embedded PowerPC processors. Story
Linux distro supports embedded, educational uses -- According to its developer, Eagle Linux 2.2 is useful for embedded Linux applications and educational purposes. The distribution is provided in the form of a freely available, open source document that includes detailed information on how to create a standalone floppy, CDROM, or embedded Linux system image. Story
Yet another review of the Sharp Zaurus 5600 -- In case you're eager to read another review of the Sharp Zaurus 5600, here's one from the PDA Buyer's Guide. The reviewer describes the unit thoroughly and points out some key strengths and weaknesses of the 5600 implementation. Story
A developer-oriented intro to grid computing -- This brief article on IBM's developerWorks website provides a developer-oriented introduction to grid computing including what it is, and how to learn more about it. Story
SCO threatens Linux vendors and commercial users -- In our continuing efforts to provide potentially pertinent information to our readers, we provide, without further comment, an excerpt from a letter sent today by SCO Group CEO Darl McBride to SCO's "TeamSCO Partner Program" . . . Story
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Read them here: May 8, 2003, May 1, 2003, Apr. 24, 2003, Apr. 17, 2003, Apr. 10, 2003, Apr. 3, 2003, Mar. 27, 2003, Mar. 20, 2003, Mar. 13, 2003, Mar. 6, 2003, Feb. 27, 2003, Feb. 20, 2003, Feb. 13, 2003, Feb. 6, 2003, Jan. 30, 2003, Jan. 23, 2003, Jan. 16, 2003, Jan. 9, 2003, Jan. 2, 2003
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