Linux CD turns Opteron PC into "gaming console on steroids" -- A new 64-bit Linux CD can instantly turn an AMD Opteron-equipped PC into the ultimate gaming console, according to Super Computer Inc. (SCI). The company has created a distribution of the popular America's Army multi-player strategy game on a bootable Linux CD, that it says was developed in partnership with AMD, nVidia, and the US Army. According to SCI, the GameStorm CD boots directly into a gaming-console-like environment that maximizes hardware access for the game software and cuts out legacy operating system overhead, resulting in the feeling of "a gaming console on steroids." Story
Software tweak boots Linux in under 200 ms -- Real-time Linux vendor FSMLabs reports that it has created a version of Linux that radically speeds up system boot time -- to less than 200 milliseconds (ms) from power-up to application code startup. The techniques are processor independent, and boot times of under 100 ms are expected in the future. "Normally Linux takes a leisurely 5 seconds or more to complete the boot process," according to FSMLabs CEO Victor Yodaiken. "This is unacceptable to many embedded device makers who need end-users to see little perceptual delay from the moment a device is switched on to the moment it operates," he added. Story
SnapGear embedded Linux distro boasts 2.6 kernel, merged uClinux -- Version 3.0 of SnapGear Embedded Linux is claimed to be the "world's first production Linux system powered by the 2.6 kernel" -- but is also a watershed release in that for the first time, commercial developers can use a stable mainstream Linux kernel distribution, without patching, to build deeply embedded systems on devices without a memory management unit (MMU). Story
Innominate wins prize for tiny embedded Linux security device -- A tiny network security device running embedded Linux has earned Innominate the Wolfsburg AG Competence Prize, this year awarded for the IT category in the field of "Network Embedded Systems." Judges in the 25,000 Euro annual prize for industry co-sponsored by Volkswagon and the city of Wolfsburg praised Innominate for building a security device on an open architecture, for filling a market niche, and for the ease of use of its Linux-based "Innominate mGuard" security appliance. The device runs a hardened Linux kernel based on Debian 2.4 that Innominate developed in-house. Story
New Linksys Wireless AP runs third-party embedded Linux -- Residential gateway software specialist Jungo Software Technologies reports that its "OpenRG for Wireless Gateways" embedded Linux distribution and application stack was used by Cisco division Linksys in the recently launched WRV54G Wireless-G VPN Router and access point (AP). The new Linksys Wireless-G router enables sharing a broadband connection and establishing a home or very small business network over Wireless-G (802.11g/54Mbps), or Wireless-B (802.11b/11Mbps) and Ethernet. The device provides 802.1x authorization and authentication, and a RADIUS client. Story
Tiny linux-mips system runs on 3 watts -- German embedded multimedia company Mycable has released its XXS1500 embedded Linux system based on AMD's Alchemy Au1500 MIPS23 architecture system-on-chip processor. The 3-watt system is fully supported by the linux-mips kernel tree and can be used out-of-the-box in a variety of capacities, according to Mycable. Story
Caching proxy server system lightens up X -- Nomachine.com is working on software it hopes will enable remote computer use from embedded devices with slow Internet connections such as GSM modems. The company claims its NX software compresses the X protocol by 50 times, making graphical applications usable over connections as slow as a 9.6Kbps modem. The company is reaching out to the open source software community to help improve its technology further. Story
Linux 2.6 (or 3.0?) -- a big step for enterprise and embedded -- A technical article on IBM's DeveloperWorks site characterizes the pending new stable Linux kernel as "a big step for Linux on enterprise servers as well as for embedded systems," and reviews some of the reasons. And yes, discussion suggests the new kernel could arrive with a major release number. Story
ELC seeks speakers for CES track on embedded Linux -- Want to speak about embedded Linux at the largest trade show of any kind in the US? The Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC) is sponsoring a "Knowledge Track" on embedded Linux at the International CES 2004 computer electronics trade show Jan. 8 - 11 in Las Vegas, and is soliciting proposals from speakers and panelists on a number of topics related to embedded Linux. You need not belong to the ELC to submit a proposal. Story
Other noteworthy news items and announcements from the past week . . .
. . . and that's not all. Click here for the latest breaking news.
You can access 2003's newsletters here: Sep. 25, Sep. 18, Sep. 11, Sep. 4, Aug. 21, Aug. 14, Aug. 7, Jul. 31, Jul. 24, Jul. 17, Jul. 10, Jul. 3, Jun. 26, Jun. 19, Jun. 12, Jun. 5, May 29, May 22, May 15, May 8, May 1, Apr. 24, Apr. 17, Apr. 10, Apr. 3, Mar. 27, Mar. 20, Mar. 13, Mar. 6, Feb. 27, Feb. 20, Feb. 13, Feb. 6, Jan. 30, Jan. 23, Jan. 16, Jan. 9, Jan. 2
Be sure to stop by LinuxDevices.com -- "the Embedded Linux Portal" -- for the latest news, articles, 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.
This newsletter is copyright © 1999-2003 DeviceForge LLC. All rights reserved. DeviceForge, LinuxDevices, and LinuxDevices.com are trademarks of DeviceForge LLC. The LinuxDevices.com logo is a service mark of DeviceForge LLC. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other marks are the property of their owners.