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Archive for December, 2008

Open Source project races to the Moon

December 17, 2008

This article describes an all-volunteer science project's use of a donated Linux camera for the Jaluro rover it hopes to field in Google's Lunar X PRIZE competition. It discusses several advantages that patent-free Open Source software like Linux and Theora offer for scientific research projects. (more…)

GbE “switch-on-a-chip” runs eCos

December 17, 2008

Vitesse Semiconductor announced a second generation of its ARM9-based “switch-on-a-chip” that runs the open source eCos RTOS (real-time operating system). The 24-port SparX-II-24 and 16-port SparX-II-16 target networking applications requiring “content-aware” security, failover protection, and quality-of-service (QoS) filtering, says the company. (more…)

ARM9 development kit runs Linux

December 17, 2008

Hiteg announced a Linux-ready, hardware/software development kit for Samsung's ARM9-based S3C2440 microprocessor. The 100mm-square Mini2440 board features the workhorse S3C2440 processor clocked to 533MHz, and targets embedded development training applications, industrial control equipment, and consumer… (more…)

Linux-friendly multi-core SPARC dev kit ships

December 17, 2008

Sun Microsystems is shipping an UltraSPARC T2 Reference Design Kit (RDK) for developing and testing embedded systems designs using the UltraSPARC T2 multicore processor. The RDK is available now for Solaris, with a Wind River Linux version due in early 2009, says Sun. (more…)

Linux camera launched at Lunar X PRIZE

December 17, 2008

Foreword — This article describes an all-volunteer science project's use of a donated Linux camera for the Jaluro rover it hopes to field in Google's Lunar X PRIZE competition. It discusses several advantages that patent-free Open Source software like Linux and Theora offer for scientific research projects. (more…)

Linux devices gain multimedia “Octopus”

December 16, 2008

Movial has joined the Khronos Group, and released an interesting “media engine” under the LGPL. The “Movial Octopus Media Engine” targets Linux devices such as MIDs and netbooks equipped with players, voice/video call applications, and other media applications. (more…)

MIPS-like 32-core SoC runs Linux

December 16, 2008

Tilera is shipping a 36-core version of its 64-core Tile64 SoC (system-on-chip). Aimed at graphics-intensive embedded applications and networking devices, the TilePro36 clocks from 600MHz to 900MHz, consumes 9-13 Watts (typical), and runs Linux on each, some, or all cores. (more…)

“Price-sensitive” CompactPCI board uses Celeron

December 16, 2008

Kontron announced a 6U CompactPCI (CPCI) board for “price-sensitive” automation and IP switching applications. The CP6001-V has a 1.86GHz Intel Celeron M440, up to 4GB of RAM, four gigabit Ethernet interfaces, 2.5-inch hard disk support, CompactFlash, and a PMC (PCI mezzanine card) expansion site, says Kontron. (more…)

Linux SDK straddles DIY, commercial approaches

December 16, 2008

Linux professional services and consulting firm Embedded Alley (EA) is edging into the embedded Linux tools business with its own software development kit (SDK). EA's “Embedded Alley Development System for Linux-based Devices” combines open-source software and services, and “facilitates build and integration of in-house and third-party commercial software,” says EA. (more…)

Microkernel OS spins ARM Cortex support

December 15, 2008

Open Kernel Labs (OK Labs) announced that its microkernel for processor virtualization will support devices using ARM Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 MP Core multi-core CPUs. The OKL4 microkernel's multi-core support might allow Linux to co-exist on Cortex-A8 and -A9 processors with Windows Mobile or other legacy RTOSes (real-time operating systems). (more…)

Virtualization vendor names new chairman

December 15, 2008

VirtualLogix, which sells Linux-compatible “VLX” virtualization software designed for embedded devices, announced the selection of a new executive chairman after the departure of CEO Peter Richards. Former Oracle and IBM executive Mike Seashols will act as interim CEO, and chair the advisory board of strategic investors, says the company. (more…)

Debug tool targets PowerQUICC processor

December 15, 2008

Ronetix announced the availability of new PowerPC firmware for its Linux-friendly JTAG/BDM emulator and flash programmer. The PEEDI JTAG/BDM Emulator and Flash Programmer now supports the Freescale PowerQUICC II Pro MPC83XX processor, says the vendor. (more…)

MontaVista adds big-endian ARM11 port

December 15, 2008

[Updated: 3PM] — MontaVista announced what it calls the “first-ever” support in a Linux environment for ARM11 processors in big-endian mode. Presumably, the big-endian port of MontaVista Linux opens the door to more IPv6-friendly mobile devices, or greater use of ARM in telecommunications, where big-endian has long been standard. (more…)

TI adds ARM9, Linux to sound chip

December 15, 2008

[Updated: 1PM] — Texas Instruments (TI) is shipping a third-generation “Aureus” digital audio processor platform with a Linux software developer's kit (SDK). Available with an evaluation module (pictured) from Spectrum Digital, the DA830 and DA828 system-on-chips (SoCs) combine ARM9 cores with digital signal… (more…)

Android app offers remote medical diagnostics

December 15, 2008

An open source project at MIT has developed a Linux- and Android-based remote medical diagnostics application aimed at developing nations. The “Moca” software integrates an Android app for remote diagnostics, a back-end Linux server application, and the OpenMRS medical records database, says the group. (more…)