An annual conference of Debian developers has published dozens of videos from this year's event, held last week in Helsinki, Finland. Several DebConf2005 videos might interest embedded developers, including one from emDebian's project leader, Wookey. (more…)

Empower Technologies has appointed Wipro as the authorized service provider and system integrator for its hardware/software Linux development kit for a Texas Instruments (TI) SoC. Wipro will provide third party development and support services to customers of Empower's LDK5910, based on TI's OMAP5910 dual-core RISC/DSP chip. (more…)

IBM has published the following technical articles, tutorials, and downloads on its DeveloperWorks website. They cover a range of interesting (though not necessarily embedded) technical topics, primarily related to Linux and open source system development. Some require free registration. Enjoy . . . ! (more…)

Venture capital (VC) has returned to open source software, writes Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols in an eWEEK editorial published today. However, VCs today are more discriminating than in the go-go 90s, limiting investments to companies with solid fundamentals, especially those in markets such as development and deployment tools, telecom, and embedded. (more…)

A biometrics company has launched a consumer products division that is shipping its first product — a 256MB USB Flash drive loaded with Debian Linux. Bionopoly's FingerGear division will follow up next month with a Computer-on-a-Stick (COS) model incorporating a fingerprint scanner and LCD display. (more…)

Axiomtek's latest SBC is a very expandable 3.5-inch form-factor board with an ultralow-power Intel Celeron M processor for fanless applications. The SBC84810's capable complement of I/O includes four USB 2.0 ports, two or four COM ports, and one or two LAN ports. (more…)

Micro/sys is shipping a (single-board computer) based on an STMicroelectronics STPC Atlas processor, and built in a custom, 5 x 5 inch form-factor. The SBC0489 offers standard PC ports, plus PC/104 and PC/104-Plus expansion and lots of digital I/O and timers. (more…)

The Pepper Pad, a Linux-based webpad and remote control, is too limited in functionality and costs too much, says Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal. Before panning the Pepper Pad, however, Mossberg pans the concept of webpads in general, making his review a little suspect. (more…)

The Open Group is accepting registrations for a new POSIX certification for operating system real-time predictability. The “PSE54 Multipurpose Realtime 1003.13-2003 System” certification was developed in conjunction with the IEEE, and is based on the criteria for bounded response times in Application Profile PSE54, part of the IEEE's 1003.13-2003 standard. (more…)

Octagon is shipping a new EPIC form-factor single-board computer (SBC) targeting transportation, security, military, communications, SCADA, and other harsh environment applications. The XE-700 is powered by a 32-bit 5×86-class CPU, and is available with a Linux OS Embedder kit. (more…)

ThinLinx has launched a line of Linux-based thin-clients that access Ubuntu Linux desktops and commercial Linux applications hosted on ThinLinx's grid network. The Hot-E initially offers Firebird database, Compiere and OpenCRX ERP/CRM software, E-GroupWare, and LinuxCanada POS/accounting software. It uses caching X proxies to improve performance. (more…)

ThinLinx will launch a line of Linux-based thin-clients that access Ubuntu Linux desktops and commercial Linux applications hosted on ThinLinx's grid network. The Hot-E initially offers Firebird database, Compiere and OpenCRX ERP/CRM software, E-GroupWare, and LinuxCanada POS/accounting software. (more…)

A Debian ARM hacker has published a detailed HOWTO on installing Debian Linux on Linksys's NSLU-2 NAS (network-attached storage) gadget. Peter Korsgaard's HOWTO explains some neat tricks in dealing with endian issues on ARM processors, which have both little- and big-endian modes. (more…)

NASA has contracted the University of Queensland, Australia, to collaborate on a version of Linux for use in the Agency's $18M Reconfigurable Scalable Computing (RSC) project. The project aims to increase the speed and flexibility of computers used in planetary rovers, mining vehicles, cameras, and sensors. (more…)

Last week, LinuxDevices.com profiled the Aeronix Zipit, a $99 instant messaging device marketed to teenagers, but appropriated by Linux hackers for a variety of embedded projects. Today, we're pleased to offer a followup conversation with Ralph Heredia, who conceived and led the creation of the Zipit. (more…)