Belkin is shipping a WiFi phone based on Linux and Skype's proprietary VoIP (voice-over-IP) client. The Belkin WiFi Phone for Skype can use open or encrypted WiFi networks, and connects seamlessly at commercial hotspots and hot zones operated by Boingo, Belkin says. (more…)

A company in Israel claims to have solved the problem of enabling computers to parse natural human language. Linguistic Agents says its “NanoSyntax” technology translates normative human language into a formal computer language, potentially improving search interfaces, application interfaces, text-message-based network APIs, and phone trees. (more…)

The Khronos Group is launching an open set of royalty-free, cross-platform APIs aimed at standardizing the way native applications deliver media, games, and graphical user interfaces on mobile devices. (more…)

The 2.6.20 Linux kernel will include a driver aimed at allowing user-space processes to exploit virtualization capabilities in modern 64-bit x86 Intel and AMD processors. The KVM (kernel-based virtual machine) patch was submitted in late October by Avi Kivity, and committed by Linus Torvalds to the 2.6 tree this week. (more…)

Devicescape Inc. is beta-testing a free service claimed to automatically connect devices to supported hotspots and municipal WiFi networks. The Devicescape service currently supports Nokia's 770 tablet, WiFi-enabled Windows Mobile 5.0 devices, and PCs running Windows XP SP2. It can access FON, Google WiFi, and T-Mobile HotSpot USA public hotspots. (more…)

India-based outsourcing specialist eInfochips will ship a prototyping board for streaming media devices later this month. The DVPB (“DaVinci prototyping board”) is based on a Texas Instruments (TI) “DaVinci” dual-core RISC/DSP SoC (system-on-chip), and features “all commonly used video system peripheral interfaces,”… (more…)

The Security Enhanced Linux (SELinux) Symposium has announced speakers and session topics for its third annual event, set for Mar. 12-16 in Baltimore, MD. The symposium will feature business, government, and academic speakers sharing experiences, research, and product plans, organizers say. (more…)

MontaVista is offering existing customers a peek at its next-generation embedded Linux distributions, to be based on a 2.6.18 kernel and released in mid-2007. The company's 5.0 series “technology preview” aims to help developers begin porting and testing applications, or begin development of next-generation devices that exploit newly available features. (more…)

Three researchers at Microsoft Research have created an innovative handheld pointing device that works in mid-air. “Soap” — which resembles a bar of soap — is based on hardware found in a common wireless optical mouse, and is relatively easy to make, according to its inventors. (more…)

FSMLabs says its commercial, real-time Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) software now supports an Opteron-based AdvancedTCA blade from Pinnacle Data Systems (PDSi). “Carrier Grade RTLinux” on PDSi's AdvancedTCA blade targets VoIP, IPTV, and other applications in which data and control planes must coordinate tightly, according to… (more…)

This thoughtful essay by Dr. Ari Jaaksi, Nokia's director of open source, explores Nokia's experience developing a commercial software environment based two-thirds on open-source software. (more…)

Foreword: This thoughtful essay by Dr. Ari Jaaksi, Nokia's director of open source, explores Nokia's experience developing a commercial software environment based two-thirds on open-source software. (more…)

Sysgo is offering a live online demo of its embedded Linux distributions and tools. The European embedded software vendor's “Live Experience Server” lets registrants use VNC (virtual network computer) to connect to a development host running ELinOS or ELinOS Real-Time, and pre-configured with… (more…)

IBM has published the following new 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. (more…)

Embedded Linux specialist TimeSys Corp. has a new CEO. Larry Weidmen has resigned as President/CEO, in order to pursue other interests, and TimeSys boardmember Joseph Raffa (pictured), a semiconductor industry veteran, has been appointed acting CEO by the company's board of directors, according to the company. (more…)