News Archive (1999-2012) | 2013-current at LinuxGizmos | Current Tech News Portal |    About   

Archive for December, 2008

Browser for Linux devices hits second alpha

December 23, 2008

Mozilla Labs has released the first version of its “Fennec” mobile device browser that can be tested on PC desktops. Available for Linux, Windows, Macintosh, Maemo, and Windows Mobile, the “alpha 2” browser boasts extension hooks, faster panning and zooming, and improved look and feel, the project says. (more…)

OpenSUSE changes licenses

December 23, 2008

With its recent 11.1 release, OpenSUSE has changed the end-user license agreement (EULA) users must accept in order to install the distribution. The new, more Fedora-like license could increase the distribution's appeal among those wishing to redistribute the software, including engineers assembling filesystems for embedded Linux devices. (more…)

“…and I’m Linux” contest nears

December 23, 2008

The Linux Foundation will launch a contest in late January aimed at getting users to create 60-second videos showcasing what Linux means to them. In the finest tradition of open source, the contest riffs off of existing videos developed by commercial software firms. (more…)

COM Express module sports Atom

December 22, 2008

Aaeon announced a COM Express module powered by Intel's N270 Atom processor. The new “COM-945GSE” targets “leading-edge applications” including gaming, entertainment, and industrial automation, with a 1.6GHz CPU, eight USB ports, two SATA ports, CRT, LCD, or TV video outputs, and gigabit Ethernet,… (more…)

Half-U net appliance runs Linux

December 22, 2008

Lanner Electronics has announced a space-saving, “half-rack” network appliance that runs Linux on a Core2Duo or Celeron M chip. Targeting network security and acceleration applications, the FW-7872 has five Ethernet ports, a serial port, two internal SATA ports, and two external SATA connectors, the company says. (more…)

Targeting virtual hardware

December 22, 2008

This article describes setting up an embedded Linux cross-development environment targeting a virtual machine running on the development host. It covers installing Qemu and using it to debug applications and kernels, both with supplied test-images and with custom… (more…)

Getting started with an embedded Linux system emulator

December 22, 2008

Foreword — This article describes setting up an embedded Linux cross-development environment targeting a virtual machine running on the development host. It covers installing Qemu and using it to debug applications and kernels, both with supplied test-images and with custom kernel/filesystem images… (more…)

Samsung to ship Android phone in Q2?

December 19, 2008

Samsung Electronics will ship its first Android phone in the second quarter of of 2009, says a Korea IT News story. The phone will be released in North America by Sprint Nextel and T-Mobile USA, and Samsung's Android team reportedly now has 80 developers. (more…)

ARM, x86 duel in MID warfare

December 19, 2008

The market for MIDs, netbooks, and other devices that straddle the notebook and smartphone formats will turn into a battleground between X86 and ARM architectures, says ABI Research. (more…)

Development bounties offered for open source STB

December 19, 2008

Neuros has announced its first “bounties” for developing Ubuntu-based Linux software on its Neuros LINK open-source set-top box (STB) (pictured). The cash bounties cover Netflix, Move Networks, and iTunes integration, as well as projects on networking, video resolution, error reporting, and GUI upgrades, says… (more…)

Ultra-light ebook reader runs Linux

December 19, 2008

PDF software company Foxit is readying an electronic book reader that weighs 6.4 ounces, measures 0.4 inches thick, and runs Linux. The Foxit eSlick offers E Ink's low-power electronic-paper display, ships with an MP3 player, and sells for $100 less than an Amazon Kindle. (more…)

Appliance distro broadens Linux options

December 18, 2008

rPath announced that its rBuilder “build and release” customizaton and management system for ISVs (software vendors) building hardware appliances and/or virtual appliances is adding support for Ubuntu and CentOS Linux. rPath previously supported Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise, as well as its own rPath Linux “software appliance” distribution. (more…)

Smartphones up in down mobile market

December 18, 2008

Smartphone shipments will rise 8.9 percent worldwide, and 3.1 percent in the U.S. next year, forecasts IDC. Meanwhile, “traditional” mobile phone sales are forecast to slump 3.5 percent globally and 11.5 percent Stateside, off-setting smartphone growth for an overall shipments drop of 1.9 percent, the industry's first decline since 2001. (more…)

Atom-on-ETX runs Linux

December 18, 2008

Adlink announced a Linux-friendly ETX computer-on-module (COM) using Intel's Atom N270. Targeting “truly fanless or deeply embedded systems,” the “ETX-AT” offers up to 2GB of memory, 10/100 Ethernet, dual IDE/PATA channels, two SATA ports, four USB ports, plus serial, parallel, PS/2, and audio interfaces, says Adlink. (more…)

New Linux distro targets device resellers

December 18, 2008

An open source project has released a new, more “hackable” Debian-based Linux distribution for the Openmoko NeoFreerunner phone. The Hackable:1 group hopes to build a well-maintained, developer-friendly codebase for use by VARs (value-added resellers) building products on top of Openmoko's open hardware… (more…)