China's Academy of Electrical Power, a state research group, has used Linux and a real-time database from McObject to build a Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) aimed at preventing widespread, cascading power failures, such as the one that blacked out much of the northeastern United States and parts of Eastern Canada in… (more…)

Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) is shipping a reference design for Linux-based DVD players, IP-STBs, and digital media players. The design includes a MIPS-based TAEC SoC along with a Sigma Designs decoder chip, and can decode MPEG-2/4 or WMV9 video at standard or high definitions, the company says. (more…)

Lippert is shipping a rugged, low-power PC/104-Plus SBC (single-board computer) targeting harsh environment and extended temperature applications. The Linux-capable “Cool FrontRunner” is based on an AMD x86-compatible SoC, draws a claimed 6 Watts, and can operate from -40 to 185 degrees (-40 to 85 C). (more…)

The OSDL plans to create a legal entity to administer patents pledged to the open source community, as well as patents held or pending on behalf of the open source community. The OSDL's “patent commons project” is still being planned, but aims to encourage and facilitate patent pledges. (more…)

i3 and Espial have integrated Espial's “Evo” middleware with i3's Linux-based “Mood” IP set-top box platforms, and have signed a strategic partnership agreement around the combined product. The companies say the combination offers operators an integrated, interoperable platform for low-cost IPTV applications…. (more…)

Efforts to establish a 100 Mbps WLAN standard have stalled, according to ABI Research. Development of the 802.11n WiFi standard was already mired in a “two-camp battle” over the specifications to be submitted for IEEE approval. Now, the emergence of a third alternative may delay it until mid-2007, says ABI. (more…)

MRV Communications says its LX-series console servers are the “most secure available,” and that revised Linux-based firmware allows them to meet mandatory US and Canadian government security requirements. (more…)

Macraigor Systems has added support for Freescale's i.MX31 and i.MX31L to its line of hardware assisted debuggers. Additionally, it has added sample configurations for Freescale evaluation boards to its collection of free, pre-built GNU toolchains, and pledged to support forthcoming boards. (more…)

Linux WiFi specialist Sputnik is shipping uClinux-based firmware for LinkSys routers free-of-charge. The firmware allows WRT54-G and -GS models to be deployed in wireless networks managed by Sputnik's “carrier class” software and services. (more…)

[Updated Oct. 13, 2005] — Anders Electronics has launched a custom development and manufacturing service for display-oriented applications using XScale processors and either embedded Linux or Windows CE. (more…)

Simtec is shipping a tiny board-level computer targeting commercial and home project designs. The EB675001DIP module measures 1.55 x 3.65 inches (40 x 93mm) and is powered by a 60MHz ARM7-based processor. (more…)

Windows CE stalwart Bsquare is shipping a Linux version of its SDIO stack, saying the move could double product revenue. The “SDIO Now!” stack supports MMC (multimedia card) and SD (secure digital) storage devices, as well as SDIO (secure digital input/output) peripherals like cameras and GPS, WiFi, and RFID radios. (more…)

Evalue Technology is shipping a fanless EPIC form-factor SBC (single-board computer) based on a Pentium M processor. The ECM-3720 runs from a single +12V source, supports Linux, and is aimed at POS, kiosk, medical, gaming and other embedded applications with price, performance, thermal, and space constraints, according to the… (more…)

Panasonic Ventures has opened an embedded Linux incubator at its Digital Concepts Center in San Jose, Calif. The Technology Collaboration Center (aka Linux Collaboration Center) hopes to host and collaborate with four or five consumer electronics Linux startups, in exchange for first right-of-refusal on up to 10 percent of the startup's next institutional funding round. (more…)

InHand Electronics has introduced the fourth generation of its tiny (2.4 x 3.4 inches) Fingertip single-board computer (SBC). The Fingertip4 runs Linux on an Intel PXA270 processor, and features a new peripheral expansion scheme based on a variety of parallel and serial interfaces. (more…)