Although low replacement rates and slow shipments have been paralyzing the PDA industry for some time, the emergence of converged devices — such as the “Connected PDA” — may provide the relief the industry has been seeking, reports analyst firm Allied Business Intelligence (ABI). (more…)

Those following the beta test releases of the 2.6-series Linux kernel can save lots of time and bandwidth by patching rather than replacing their kernel sources, and by re-using their kernel configuration with make oldconfig. This strategy makes kernel upgrades almost trivial, provided you already have a configuration well-targeted to your hardware, and provided that you… (more…)

Cogent Computer Systems Inc. is offering a board support package (BSP) for running the RTEMS open source real-time operating system on its CSB337, a single board computer (SBC) based on the Atmel AT91RM9200 ARM920T system-on-chip (SOC). (more…)

Opera Software says its browser technology, along with Linux, can reduce the price of set-top boxes (STBs) in the promising interactive television (iTV) market. Opera claims that Linux/Opera STBs can be sold at a third of the price of systems based on Microsoft operating systems, which typically cost iTV operators $300. (more…)

DSS Networks is shipping its MetroSwitch Model 8261 12-port gigabit Ethernet backplane switch blade for embedded and real-time telecom or datacom applications. The switch is aimed at OEMs and systems integrators doing embedded broadband work, and is available now with an OEM Developers Kit… (more…)

Jim Buzbee has lead the creation of a mini Linux distribution for Linksys wrt54g wireless access points. The rudimentary embedded implementation is not for deployment on the Internet, but provides a few basic Linux tools and network analysis packages such as snort, as well as capability of telneting into the… (more…)

Linux 2.6 introduces many new features that make it an excellent operating system for embedded computing. Among these new features are enhanced real-time performance, easier porting to new computers, support for large memory models, support for microcontrollers, and an improved I/O system. (more…)

PC/104 originator Ampro Computers Inc. unveiled a new low-end PC/104-compliant processor module today, based on a 133MHz STMicroelectronics “STPC Elite” x86-compatible system-on-chip processor. The module is supported by embedded Linux from TimeSys Corp. (more…)

SciTech Software, Inc. announced a collaboration with Trolltech that it claims will bring “desktop quality 2D graphics acceleration and chip level compatibility to embedded Linux.” (more…)

Updated Dec. 11, 2004 — Vastly improved real-time capabilities in Linux kernel 2.6 are expected to hasten Linux's adoption in real-time computing. This Special Report tracks the adoption of the 2.6-series kernel, currently in beta testing, by embedded Linux distributors. (more…)

LynuxWorks' BlueCat Linux 5.0, based on a 2.6-series Linux kernel, is now available for public beta testing, with a projected final release date set for November. LynuxWorks claims this to be the first public availability of embedded Linux based on the new kernel, and touts the system's improved realtime responsiveness. (more…)

Linux 2.6 introduces many new features that make it an excellent operating system for embedded computing. Among these new features are enhanced real-time performance, easier porting to new computers, support for large memory models, support for microcontrollers, and an improved I/O system. (more…)

Sharp announced a tiny new CCD digital camera module for use in handheld device applications such as smartphones and PDAs. According to Sharp, the LZ0P3721 measures just .53 x .43 x .38 inches thick. Additionally, the company announced a second model, the LZ0P3726, approximately the same size, which features built-in “macro”… (more…)

This article introduces a free online course in embedded Linux that author Richard A. Sevenich hopes could someday save students buying a textbook, enabling them to buy an inexpensive device instead and thereby gain hands-on embedded programming experience. (more…)

Quorum Tools Ltd has shipped its first product, an elegant electronic group whiteboard for collaboration based on embedded Linux. (more…)