Garz & Fricke is readying a tiny, low-cost, ARM11-based SBC (single-board computer) that will be offered with a Linux BSP (board support package). The Adelaide is based on a Freescale i.MX31 processor, and targets harsh environments, such as industrial handhelds, marine applications, and special purpose vehicles, the company says. (more…)

Hexago has released its IPv6 client stack under a “BSD type” licensing agreement. The free “Gateway6” stack automatically creates authenticated IPv6 tunnels through existing IPv4 infrastructure, when used with Hexago's free “Freenet6” online service or its Gateway6 server (pictured at left) on the local… (more…)

D2 Technologies says its software-only VoIP (voice-over-IP) signal processing stack has been adopted by E28, a Linux smartphone pioneer based in China. E28 plans to use D2's “vPort” embedded VoIP engine software in a new line of dual-mode smartphones featuring “fixed mobile convergence” (FMC) capabilities, according to the companies. (more…)

Global IP Solutions (GIPS) has ported and optimized its VoIP (voice-over-IP) signal processing stack to an Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) digital signal processor (DSP). The companies are demonstrating GIPS VoiceEngine Embedded on uClinux atop ADI's Blackfin BF537 development board, at the Spring VON Conference in San Jose, Calif. this week. (more…)

Standard Microsystems Corp. (SMSC) is sampling its second “network multimedia co-processor.” The LAN9132 essentially adds a dedicated, Linux-based processor that offloads the processing of multiple high-definition (HD) streams, software protocol stack management, and security, enabling devices to stream multiple HD channels over 100Mb/s Ethernet, according to the company. (more…)

Muse Research used Linux and the open-source WINE Windows API emulator to build a virtual instrumentation and effects box used by the Rolling Stones, U2, Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, and others. (more…)

Symbian's share of the smartphone market will drop from 73 percent in 2006 to 46 percent in 2012, largely due to strong competition from Linux, predicts ABI Research. Lower average selling prices (ASPs) make Linux's impact inevitable, as vendors look to cut software bill-of-material costs, the research firm suggests. (more…)

Trolltech says its development framework and software stack for mobile devices was selected by Skype as the preferred platform for Skype-certified VoIP (voice-over-IP) phones. Additionally, the Qtopia framework/stack has been used in about 40 VoIP devices, making it the “dominant Linux development platform for VoIP/WiFi… (more…)

Muse Research used Linux and the open source WINE Windows emulator to build a virtual instrumentation and effects box used by the Rolling Stones, U2, Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, and others. The 2U rackmounted “Receptor” runs VST-format audio effects and virtual instruments on commodity PC hardware, using a… (more…)

An open source project maintaining an embedded board simulator has achieved a noteworthy release. SkyEye 1.2.2 adds support for a Freescale ColdFire microcontroller and for an Analog Devices Blackfin DSP (digital signal processor), along with improved support for an ARM-based family of Samsung boards. (more…)

ARM is shipping its first-ever processor core designed for synthesis onto the programmable elements of FPGAs (field-programmable gate arrays). The company hopes its “soft” Cortex-M1 processor will help device designers standardize on a single architecture for ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits), ASSPs (application specific standard parts), and FPGAs. (more…)

As Debian moves inexorably (glacially?) toward “Etch,” its next release, ARM support keeps improving. Debian hacker Martin Michlmayr reports that Release Candidate 2 of the Etch installer, available now, adds support for Intel's… (more…)

Italian start-up Mazatech is shipping the first stable release of its hardware-accelerated commercial 2D vector graphics library for small-screen embedded devices. (more…)

Commercial Linux OS and tools vendors are being challenged by increasingly sophisticated competition from purely open-source software alternatives, according to Venture Development Corp. (more…)

Yoggie Security Systems has introduced inexpensive personal and small-business versions to its line of tiny, Linux-based firewalls for laptops and PCs. The Yoggie Gatekeeper “Personal” and “SOHO” models can detect and prevent intrusions, give parents control, and thwart viruses, spyware, SPAM, and phishing,… (more…)