Nordic trains, buses, and ferries run on Linux -- In Nordic countries, Volvo telematics division Volvo Mobility Systems (VMS) is computerizing public transit by adding rugged, radio-connected Linux systems that keep buses and trains running on time and forecast arrival times for waiting passengers. VMS's latest unit, ITS4mobility, is an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) integrated with a Real-Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system that enables tracking of bus locations, two-way messaging, bus arrival forecasts, and other valuable functions. It can even provide "traffic control" capabilities, by signaling to traffic lights and requesting priority treatment! Read our device profile for more details. Story
CF II + MMC + X GUI = 1 flexible Linux PDA -- G.Mate's $450 Yopy YP 3700 PDA is a flip-open PDA with retro-futuristic styling that features an X windows GUI and fairly ample system resources, making it possible to use a wide variety of open source programs on the device. The YP 3700 includes CompactFlash II (CF II) and MMC slots. It runs an embedded Linux distribution called "Linupy," which comes stock with a Personal Information Manager (PIM) suite and applications for file management, web browsing, multimedia, office, and game playing. Read our device profile for more details. Story
Linux-based expert system device does network analysis -- Netcordia's Netcordia's Periscope "network analysis appliance" is a standalone expert system built on Linux and other open source software. The Periscope is plugged into a network and let to run for a day or so, at which point it should begin to display meaningful, concise, prioritized data on its "issues" interface: versions of Cisco IOS with memory leaks, duplex-mode errors between PCs and switches, and unclean switch trunking, for example. Read our device profile for more details. Story
Linux powers sophisticated closed circuit TV system -- BraddaHead Ltd. is a UK start-up that designs, develops, and manufactures advanced digital Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) based security and surveillance control systems. Braddahead's first product, Second Sight, is a CCTV system built around Linux that launched Sep. 10, 2003. We contacted BraddaHead's CTO Pete Diamond and Senior Software Engineer Alex Bennee to find out more technical details about Second Sight (SS); and as a bonus, came away with lots of great insights about strategic operating system selection (i.e., real-time vs. not, proprietary vs. free, vendor-supported vs. roll-your-own). Read our device profile for more details. Story
Detailed how-to: Cross-compiling for Sharp Zaurus -- Cross compilation occurs when a compiler running on one system produces executables for another system -- this is an important concept when the target system doesn't have a native set of compilation tools, or when the host system is faster or has greater resources. This how-to article discusses the initial setup of a cross compilation environment (using the Sharp Zaurus handheld as focus) and covers the installation of tools, basic compilation, installing programs on the handheld, and such advanced issues as building programs that use configure scripts. Story
TimeSys secures $8M second-round funding -- TimeSys Corp. reports that it has concluded an over-subscribed $8M round of funding that it will use to pursue its long term strategy of building embedded Linux development tools. The company previously raised $15.5M of equity funding in Mar. of 2002. Story
Embedded Linux company gets $2M in financing -- Esfia Inc. announced that it has received $2M in its first major round of financing, from four key investors. Esfia's CEO says the company has expanded its business from embedded Linux software and middleware to embedded RISC-based SBCs with integrated development environments (IDEs). Story
Free mobile robot design -- This article on LinuxDevices.com's new sister site (DeviceForge.com) introduces the "PC-bot" -- a mobile robotics demonstration platform design expected to run embedded Linux soon. The PC-bot design is being made available for free download from Roboteq. PC-bot was designed to be highly flexible and extensible so that it can serve as the basis for a wide range of customized mobile robot designs featuring web cameras, motion detection software, and more. Story
Motorola reveals "revolutionary" cellphone-on-module technology -- Motorola's semiconductor division (Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector, "SPS") has unveiled an approach to implementing multimedia mobile devices that it calls "revolutionary." SPS says its new "Mobile Extreme Convergence" (MXC) architecture will squeeze all the functions required by high-performance mass-market mobile devices into a module the size of a postage stamp -- a significant space reduction from today's smallest approaches that are the size of a business card. Get all the details at LinuxDevices.com's new sister site (DeviceForge.com). Story
Other noteworthy news items and announcements from the past week . . .
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You can access 2003's newsletters here: Oct. 16, Oct. 9, Oct. 2, 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
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