"World's largest display" lights Paris skies (and runs Linux) -- Project Blinkenlights has transformed the Bibliothèque nationale de France (in Paris) into what is claimed to be the world's largest computer screen. The 520 pixel display, called Arcade, consists of a matrix of 20 x 26 of the building's windows -- resulting in a giant computer screen having an area of 3370 square meters. Every night from now through October 5, Arcade will present an ever-changing kaleidoscope of animations and interactive apps including Tetris, which can be played by calling up the system from a mobile phone. Those of us not fortunate enough to be located in Paris can view the nightly antics of Arcade via a live Internet feed. Story
Are non-GPL loadable Linux drivers really not a problem? -- This article by Kevin Dankwardt explores the issue of whether non-GPL loadable Linux drivers are really not a problem. While many Linux developers assume that binary-only drivers are acceptable, there are growing technical reasons to avoid them. New features in tools and in the Linux kernel hamper the acceptability of non-GPL loadable modules. Also, the widely held belief that non-GPL loadable modules do not violate the Linux kernel's GPL license, due to an exception authorized by Linus Torvalds, is called into question. Story
A comparative analysis of RTLinux and RTAI -- This technical whitepaper by Ismael Ripoll is intended to provide a detailed comparison between RTLinux and RTAI. Ripoll set out to put together all of the relevant facts about both implementations, in order to assist developers in deciding which approach better fits their specific application's requirements. Story
VxWorks to Embedded Linux: a success story -- In this ELJonline article, Andreu Moreno and Agusté Fontquerni chronicle their success in switching a student lab on industrial embedded system development from VxWorks to Linux. The authors created a customized embedded Linux distribution starting from Red Hat 6.2, with the addition of a range of open source software components and tools such as Busybox, TinyLogin, Etherboot, Boa, etc. Story
Visualizing data in real-time -- In this ELJonline article, Bruce Johnson explains how real-time data monitors differ from traditional debugging tools and are powerful allies in the process of real-time software development. Story
Toshiba unveils Linux-based home entertainment gateway platform -- Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) has disclosed details of a complete integrated TX49 RISC processor-based reference platform for entertainment home gateway applications. Five leading companies cooperated in the development of the reference platform: Lineo, Systemonic, Sigma Designs, Vweb, and Wipro. Story
New YOPY Linux PDA adds backlight, memory, and more -- The European distribution partner of the Korean manufacturer G.Mate has announced a new YOPY Linux PDA model, the YP3500. Compared to the earlier YP3000, the new YP3500 increases Flash memory from 16MB to 32MB, RAM memory from 64MB to 128MB, and adds a backlight to the device's full-color quarter-VGA display. Story
VDC's Embedded Systems Industry Bulletin -- September 2002 -- This complimentary research bulletin issued by Venture Development Corp. (VDC) provides a glimpse some of VDC's recent research findings regarding the global embedded software market. Charts show the relative use of free vs. commercial vs. home-grown operating systems, choice of compilers for generating smallest code size, processor word-width, and software methodology. Story
Other noteworthy news items and announcements from the past week . . .
Read them here: Sep. 26, 2002, Sep. 19, 2002, Sep. 12, 2002, Sep. 5, 2002, Aug. 29, 2002, Aug. 22, 2002, Aug. 15, 2002, Aug. 8, 2002, Aug. 1, 2002, Jul. 25, 2002, Jul. 18, 2002, Jul. 11, 2002, Jul. 4, 2002, Jun. 27, 2002, Jun. 20, 2002, Jun. 13, 2002, Jun. 6, 2002, May 30, 2002, May 23, 2002, May 16, 2002, May 9, 2002, May 2, 2002, Apr. 25, 2002, Apr. 18, 2002, Apr. 11, 2002, Apr. 4, 2002, Mar. 28, 2002, Mar. 21, 2002, Mar. 14, 2002, Mar. 7, 2002, Feb. 28, 2002, Feb. 21, 2002, Feb. 14, 2002, Feb. 7, 2002, Jan. 31, 2002, Jan. 24, 2002, Jan. 17, 2002, Jan. 10, 2002, Jan. 3, 2002
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