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Archive for October, 2004

Report: IP STBs poised for major growth

October 22, 2004

ABI Research says it expects the market for IP set-top boxes (IP-STBs) to grow at least four times faster than that for cable or satellite-based boxes. While the CAGR of worldwide cable and satellite STB shipments is forecast at a modest 13-14 percent over the next five years, IP-STBs will (more…)

XScale-based “PC” runs Debian ARM-Linux

October 22, 2004

Developers targeting the ARM platform may be interested in an ARM-based desktop PC style system that can run Debian Linux. The Iyonix PC is based on an Intel XScale 80321 processor. A variety of models and configurations are available. (more…)

Tiny “DSP Stamp” runs uClinux on a DSP

October 22, 2004

[Updated 1 P.M.] — Cambridge Signal Processing (CSP) is shipping a 1-inch-square module based on a digital signal processor (DSP) that runs uClinux natively. The DSP Stamp comes preinstalled with a serial bootloader and uClinux, and a development board is also available. A Bluetooth camera reference (more…)

TimeSys ships first Carrier Grade Linux 2.0 registered distro

October 21, 2004

TimeSys has delivered on its earlier commitment to ship a Linux distribution compliant with version 2.0 of the Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) specification by Q3 of this year. The company says that in doing so, it is the first Linux vendor to ship “CGL-Registered” Linux, and that CGL-Registered TimeSys Linux (more…)

ARM7/9 tools target Linux drivers, modules, apps

October 21, 2004

First Silicon Solutions (FS2) and Viosoft have collaborated on a hardware-assisted toolsuite targeting embedded Linux driver, module, and application development for ARM7 and ARM9 targets. The suite includes Viosoft's Arrriba embedded Linux development environment and FS2's System Analyzer for ARM cores. (more…)

ARM9 Linux gains 3D audio

October 21, 2004

SRS Labs has announced that its audio “enhancing” technology supports a MontaVista Linux distribution optimized for ARM9-based consumer electronics devices including mobile phones. The company says WOW XT for Mobile on MontaVista Linux Consumer Edition (CE) will bring 3D stereo imaging and heavy bass performance to music, ring tones, and (more…)

Intel upclocks Pentium M

October 21, 2004

Intel is shipping a new mobile processor built on 90nm process technology that clocks up to 2.1GHz. The Pentium M 765 includes 2MB of integrated L2 cache and a “power optimized” 400MHz system bus and enhanced “Speedstep” power saving technology. The 765 appears in Centrino laptops that launch this (more…)

New ARM 32-bit PrimeXsys platform includes Linux

October 21, 2004

ARM Ltd. has released the PrimeXsys Platform that supports its ARM1176JZF-S 32-bit processor core, and has disclosed that the first licensee of the platform is STMicroelectronics (ST), which will incorporate it into ST's Nomadik family of multimedia application processors. The ARM1176JZF-S PrimeXsys Platform will also be implemented in (more…)

Major flash boost for SIM cards coming

October 20, 2004

Flash memory pioneer M-Systems — famous for its DiskOnChip and DiskOnKey solid state disk replacements — has revealed plans to produce mobile phone SIM cards with a significant amount of built-in flash memory storage. The cards, dubbed MegaSIM, will be available in the second half of 2005, with flash storage capacities initially ranging from 16 to 256 MB. (more…)

Atmel ships $3-$4 SoCs. But will they run Linux?

October 20, 2004

Atmel is officially shipping the first two chips in its very-low-cost line of ARM7-based SoCs. Atmel's 32-bit SAM7S-series SoCs target the 8-bit microcontroller (uC) market, where Atmel says it can offer better real-time performance and “secure operation functions” such as watchdog timers. The question is, though: will they run Linux? (more…)

Sharp kills US Zaurus

October 19, 2004

InfoSync is reporting that Sharp will no longer sell Linux-based PDAs in the US, and has end-of-lifed a US model introduced here less than a year ago. If true, the decision will affect mainly corporate users developing solutions around the SL-6000. (more…)

ARM aims son of Thumb at uCs, ASSPs, SoCs

October 19, 2004

[Updated Nov. 1, 2004] — ARM Ltd. unveiled a new 16/32-bit CPU instruction set technology, called “Thumb-2,” at the Fall Processor Forum on October 19. Thumb-2 aims to bring uniformity to a broad swath of processors, from ultra-low-cost microcontroller (uC) level chips to high-end “application specific standard processors” (ASSPs) and system-on-chip (SoC) processors. (more…)

Intel samples die-shrinks of edge/access networking SoCs

October 19, 2004

Intel is sampling die-shrinks of two SoCs (system-on-chip) for access and edge networking equipment. The XScale IXP2325 and IXP2350 are built on 90nm technology, and target applications that use a single chip for both data plane and control plane processing, Intel says. (more…)

New Intel SoCs target control and networking, run Linux

October 19, 2004

Intel is sampling two chips in a new ARM-based family of SoCs (system-on-chip) for network devices. The IXP46x family targets industrial automation, as well as communications and embedded networking devices for small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). A development board and Linux support package (LSP) are available for the chips. (more…)

Low-cost XScale PXA255 CPU module runs Linux

October 18, 2004

CompuLab is shipping embedded Linux with a tiny low-cost processor module based on a 400MHz Intel PXA255. The ARMcore-GX measures 2.6 x 1.7 inches (66 x 44mm) and costs $51 in quantities of 1,000, and is available with a PC/104 carrier board. (more…)