New Zaurus Linux PDA rumored to debut in January -- Sharp will introduce a new model Zaurus in the U.S. in Jan. 2004, according to a post at ZaurusUserGroup.com. The Zaurus SL-6000 will be slightly larger than previous Zauri and will have a tablet shape with pull-out keyboard, VGA screen, and USB and dual-wireless connectivity. Our news item includes a list of details and photos of the new PDA. Story
Industrial automation gizmo features dual Linux kernels -- Quest's Automation Network X-Change (AN-X) family of embedded Linux devices attaches PCs and other devices to various kinds of automation networks. Our "Device Profile" includes a description and photos of the embedded computer hardware and also spotlights the developer's interesting dual-kernel design and candid comments about developing with Linux as compared to other embedded OSes. Story
How to boot Linux faster -- Everyone wants to boot their OS faster, but quick power-up is especially important to developers of appliance-like embedded devices, which are expected to turn on and start running instantly. This article shows how to improve the boot speed of your Linux system without compromising usability. Essentially, the technique involves understanding system services and their dependencies, and having them start up in parallel, rather than sequentially, when possible. Story
Linux powers secure PIN entry pad for credit cards -- Payment infrastructure and transaction management specialist Trintech Group Plc reports that its Linux powered PIN Entry Device (PED) has been certified by VISA as a secure PED. The device is based on an embedded Linux OS running on an ARM processor. Story includes photos. Story
How to build deb packages for Debian GNU/Linux -- Debian ranks as the fourth most-used distribution for embedded development, according to LinuxDevices.com's annual Embedded Linux Market Survey, with a rising rate of adoption. Developers wishing to distribute software binaries and source for use with Debian systems will want to learn the basics of creating Debian packages (.deb's). This detailed how-to shows all the necessary components of a package and how to put them together to end up with a final product. Story
ARM embraces CELF -- Low-power processor core specialist ARM announced its associate membership in the Consumer Electronics Linux Forum (CELF), a group started in June to improve and promote Linux for use in consumer electronics. ARM says it will participate in the Forum's various working groups, addressing and collaborating on embedded technology changes such as kernel design, size constraints, performances rates, and power management issues within microprocessor cores. Story
Consumer electronics Linux seen as threat to Microsoft -- An article at Tech News World takes a bullish view of embedded Linux in consumer electronics (CE) compared with the outlook for Microsoft operating systems in the same space. The story features some great quotes from Scott Smyers, vice president of the network and systems architecture division at Sony and chairman of the CE Linux Forum's steering committee, who alludes to some "incredible" devices based on embedded Linux hitting the market in Q4, 2003. Story
Torvalds: Last call for input on Linux kernel 2.6 -- This week's release of Linux kernel 2.6.0-test9 offers the "last big chance" for input on the next stable Linux kernel, according to Linux originator Linus Torvalds as quoted in a press release from the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL). This suggests that Torvalds will produce just one more test release -- 2.6.0-test10 -- which, if no show-stoppers emerge, he will likely rename as 2.6.0 and turn over to stable kernel maintainer Andrew Morton. This news item includes a list of key new features included in the 2.6 kernel. Story
MontaVista named 5th fastest-growing private company in Silicon Valley -- MontaVista Software ranked fifth among the fastest growing privately held companies in the Silicon Valley in 2002, according to an article in the Silicon Valley and San Jose Business Journal. The company's 2002 revenue grew 612.42% over 2000, placing it behind only Open Harbor, Speedera Networks, Sidestep, and Comergent Technologies. Story
IP-based set-top box market taking off -- The recent ITU conference in Geneva demonstrated that telecommunications companies and broadband providers have more viable choices than ever before to compete against cable's "triple play" of video, voice, and data. The Internet Protocol (IP) set-top box (STB) market, still small compared to the size of the digital cable STB market, is ready to take off. Technology research firm ABI estimates that the market for IP STBs will grow at a rate 6 times faster than that for digital cable STBs in the next 3 years, worldwide. Find more details of ABI's report at LinuxDevices.com's sister site, DeviceForge.com. Story
IDC: worldwide PDA sales to decline this year -- The worldwide market for handheld devices grew in the third quarter of 2003, but overall sales for 2003 are likely to end up lower than 2002, according to market analyst IDC. The news comes as part of IDC's "Worldwide Handheld QView" quarterly report released this week. Find more details of IDC's report at 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. 23, 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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