Please forgive us for this weekly newsletter that is bursting at the seams with content -- there is so much activity in the embedded Linux market at this time, that we can barely keep pace with it!
Motorola ships much-anticipated A760 Linux/Java smartphone -- Motorola has begun shipping its much-anticipated A760 Linux/Java smartphone to the Asian market. The A760 represents the first fruit of Motorola's strategy of basing high-end handsets and smartphones on embedded Linux with Java middleware. Read more about the A760 and Motorola's embedded Linux strategy in LinuxDevices.com's updated Special Report. Story
Embedded Linux puts sump pump on the Web -- Tad Truex grew tired of his basement filling up with water each spring. So, he installed a sump pump and an online pump monitor based on embedded Linux (and a neat custom electronic sensor gizmo). With the stated primary goals of "not in any way burning the house down," "not stopping the pump from working," and "learning something," Tad acquired a Net4501 from Soekris Engineering and set about his work, which he has described in detail in an article published in the Linux Journal. Story
MIZI takes on Microsoft with 3G Smartphone Linux -- MIZI Research appears to be taking on the largest players in the emerging third-generation smartphone software market with an integrated solution based on its MIZI Linux 2.0 distribution. Furthermore, the Korean embedded Linux specialist is rumored to have a development deal with an unidentified major consumer electronics powerhouse that, if true, could result in 3G smartphones based on MIZI Linux 2.0 receiving aggressive worldwide development, distribution, and marketing soon. Story
Volvo bus tracking system built on MontaVista -- Volvo Mobility Systems, a telematics unit within the Volvo Group, is using MontaVista Linux Professional Edition on its ITS4mobility product, an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for public transportation organizations that provides traffic control and travel information. Story
EDC embedded developer survey updated -- Evans Data Corp. (EDC) has released new data and observations of interest to the embedded Linux community from its recently completed survey of nearly 400 embedded developers. Findings discussed in the EDC whitepaper at LinuxDevices.com now include . . .
VDC: Embedded Linux growing, but long-term projections down -- Venture Development Corp. (VDC) has reduced its five-year forecast for the growth of embedded Linux. This article based on VDC's latest findings itemizes key factors impacting the worldwide Embedded Linux Market forecast, provides a graph of estimated 2000-2002 revenues, and includes a dozen other observations of interest. Story
EMF redux -- Linux or Windows, that's the question -- Software Development Times provides further perspective -- and debate -- about the recently released market research report from Embedded Market Forecasters (EMF) which concluded that projects based on Windows Embedded operating systems are completed 3-4 times faster than Linux-based projects. Opinions critical and supportive of the EMF study are cited. Add your own thoughts on the subject using the talkback thread. Story
Fingerprint recognition provided by Linux-based embedded kit -- Embedded Solutions AG has released a uClinux-based developer's kit that includes all hardware and software needed to add biometric fingerprint recognition to embedded applications such as access control equipment. The kit includes an ARM7TDMI-based embedded computer module along with a baseboard, a Fujitsu MBF200 fingerprint sensor, alphanumeric display, keypad, Ethernet interface, and RS485 interface. The software includes a licensed, binary distribution of IKENDI fingerprint recognition software. Story
Writing portable, adaptable code using CompLib -- There may be no such thing as completely portable code, but with the release of a new Linux version of a component library, writing portable, adaptable code just got easier. This article, written by two Intel software engineers, examines a noncommercial product, the Intel operating system independent (OSI) library implementation called CompLib, that is available to any software engineer wanting to create more portable, flexible, robust applications. Story
gcc / glibc cross toolchains for embedded development -- Building a gcc / glibc cross-toolchain for use in embedded systems development used to be a scary prospect, requiring iron will, days if not weeks of effort, lots of Unix and Gnu lore, and sometimes willingness to take dodgy shortcuts. At Ixia, Dan Kegel had been maintaining a toolchain by starting with a commercial free embedded linux toolchain, and overlaying it with newer versions compiled from scratch as needed to fix problems. This became harder to maintain as time went on. In this article, Kegel discusses how he solved this problem. Story
MontaVista on SCO-gate: an embedded perspective -- MontaVista has published an excellent paper entitled "MontaVista Software, Embedded Linux, and the SCO-IBM Lawsuit." The work presents MontaVista's perspective on "SCO-gate," along with a detailed and valuable summary of events citing many primary sources and references. As a leading supplier of Linux for embedded devices, MontaVista makes points that apply to much of the embedded market. The MontaVista paper probably deserves a close reading by any embedded industry executives or developers looking to assess the potential impact of the SCO lawsuit upon them. Story
What does SCO-gate mean for embedded developers? -- Few embedded systems are likely to use non-uniform memory access (NUMA) and other technologies being disputed in SCO's lawsuit against IBM over Linux ownership. Still, according to a recent survey by Evans Data Corp., almost two-thirds of embedded developers are looking into the intellectual property ramifications of using Linux. For its part, SCO has demanded licensing fees of $32 per embedded Linux device, which it calls a "promotional" rate. 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: 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.