IDG News Service reports that Sharp is planning to announce new Linux-based PDAs next Tuesday. According th the IDG story, one of the new devices will be a commercial version of a prototype shown recently at the Ceatec and World PC Expo shows. That device (see photo) boasts a landscape-format LCD screen and what appears to be a substantially larger keyboard than that of the current Zaurus model SL-5500. (more…)

Leesburg, VA and Socorro, NM — (press release excerpt) — A 3-day “hands-on” training class is planned for San Diego, December 11-13, 2002. Combine your visit to the Military & Aerospace Electronics West show with some “hands on” RTLinux training. (more…)

This online article at IBM's developerWorks website provides best practices and how-to guidance on how to build a working Linux system for resource-constrained systems with limited memory and storage. The article was written for the purpose of explaining how to make use of older, less resource-rich hardware — but it offers some sage advice on doing more with less, by using Linux along with some… (more…)

In five straightforward steps, this article on IBM's developerWorks website shows you how to build an LSB-certified application. The Linux Standard Base is a big step toward ensuring binary compatibility among Linux applications, and it should greatly reduce the amount of testing and validation required for operation on multiple platforms. (more…)

New York City -- (press release excerpt) — Wasabi Systems announced that Frank G. Logan III has joined the Company as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Logan will lead the Company in all facets of corporate and strategic development, including sales growth and product development. (more…)

This LinuxDevices.com 'device profile' introduces a unique Linux-based 'secure PDA' co-developed by IBM and Consumer Direct Link, Inc. (CDL; Costa Mesa, CA). The Paron MPC combines the functions of a PDA, Bluetooth wireless access, cellular telephone, and biometric fingerprint recognition, along with a security-oriented… (more…)

IBM and Consumer Direct Link, Inc. (CDL; Costa Mesa, CA) have co-developed the Paron MPC, a unique handheld PC which combines the functions of a PDA, Bluetooth wireless access, cellular telephone, and biometric fingerprint recognition, along with a security-oriented hardware/software architecture. (more…)

In this LinuxDevices.com guest editorial, veteran embedded industry analyst Paul Zorfass considers the pros and cons of using Linux in embedded applications from the perspective of non-technical, pragmatic considerations such as development models and business practices. Zorfass postulates that although embedded developers want and can greatly benefit from open source, royalty-free software and the many… (more…)

Open source advocate Eric Raymond has reviewed a copy of what is purported to be an internal Microsoft document that was presented at a Microsoft internal Linux Strategic Review held at the Microsoft offices in Berlin during Sept. 2002. In this article, Raymond comments on the memo and provides some tactical advice for open-source advocates based on what has been learned from the memo. (more…)

Cypress Semiconductor has unveiled a low-cost wireless RF solution designed for interfacing computers with local peripheral devices such as mice, keyboards, and gaming consoles. The new chip, CY694X WirelessUSB, operates at 2.4 GHz, can connect up to seven devices which are up to 30 feet apart, and is said to be compatible with operating systems that already support USB. (more…)

Tokyo and Sunnyvale, CA — (press release excerpt) — MontaVista Software announced today that Advanced Communications Co. Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) has based the software platform of their next generation MPEG-4 TV set-top box on MontaVista Linux. The ECCLE5000 features an MPEG decoder that enables home TVs to replay MPEG-1/2/4 high quality video streams distributed via the Internet or cable. (more…)

Linux is rapidly emerging from its GNU background to have an impact on embedded solutions. There is great interest and planning for the use of Linux by various segments of the embedded software community. Since embedded software adoption is generally a function of product cycles and design wins, adoptions and changes in practices and products occur carefully and take longer to implement for these product… (more…)

Fremont, CA — (press release excerpt) — Insignia Solutions announced that a new version of the Insignia Mobile Foundation Java-enabling Software supports and leverages the new MIDP2.0 Java specification and also adds a number of new features and capabilities for mobile operators and device manufacturers. (more…)

[Updated Nov. 5, 2002] In an article published by the New York Times, John Markoff reports that Vivato, a San Francisco startup, has unveiled new antenna technology that is claimed to extend 802.11b wireless connectivity to up to four miles. That added distance is gained through use of a phased-array antenna. (more…)

Tempe AZ — (press release excerpt) — Forward Concepts has published a new research report on the market and technology of the worldwide cellular infrastructure. The new study, “Wireless Infrastructure Technology & Markets: The Challenge of 3G,” details infrastructure markets through 2006 and the technology changes necessary as cellular evolves from the circuit-switched, voice-only digital… (more…)