Embedded Planet is shipping a credit card-sized single-board computer (SBC) powered by a highly integrated 440EPx PowerPC system-on-chip (SoC). The EP440xS SBC, together with a similarly-sized I/O expansion board, target space-constrained yet performance-hungry applications, and are supported by a “complete”… (more…)

The Linux Foundation (LF), the nonprofit group dedicated to accelerating Linux's growth, announced on July 24 that it had tapped long-time Linux executive Marcus Rex to serve as CTO. Rex “will help drive new standardization and technical initiatives around Linux and promote Linux adoption more broadly,” the LF said. (more…)

Kontron has unveiled a proposal for a next-generation, small form-factor, embedded computer-on-module (COM) standard. Dubbed nanoETXexpress, it has a footprint just 39 percent of the PICMG (PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group) COM Express standard. (more…)

NASA has selected an SGI Altix supercomputer to help it meet future high-performance computing requirements. The new system will be the first supercomputer to operate 2,048 processor cores and 4TB of memory under control of one Linux kernel, creating the world's largest single-kernel Linux system, NASA and SGI announced… (more…)

Renesas Technology Corp. and MPC Data Ltd have introduced a uClinux-based board support package (BSP) and tool chain for the SH7203, a “high performance” Renesas microcontroller with built-in USB, graphics, and other system controllers. MPC's uClinux BSP “fully” supports the functions implemented on the SH7203's “RSK7203plus” development board, according to the companies. (more…)

Fluffy Spider Technologies (FST) and Open Kernel Labs (OKL) are readying a jointly-developed software stack that targets Linux-based embedded systems and devices. Due for release by year end, the combined stack integrates the former's “FancyPants” lightweight GUI (graphical user interface) platform with the latter's “OKL4” microkernel and virtualization technology. (more…)

A la Mobile has added advanced security features to its embedded Linux stack for mobile phones. New security-oriented features in its Convergent Linux Platform (CLP) are said to include pre-boot OS signature checks, filesystem encryption, application sandboxing, and secure OTA (over-the-air) firmware upgrade capabilities. (more…)

Intel has released a multicore development library under the “GPLv2 with runtime exception” license. Intel Threading Building Blocks is a cross-platform, portable library aimed at improving the performance of C++ applications on multicore processors, without requiring deep developer understanding of parallel programming theory. (more…)

TimeSys says its online service for embedded Linux developers now supports a Freescale PowerQUICC III SoC (system-on-chip) aimed at networking, communications, and industrial control applications. The newest “LinuxLink” subscription includes a distribution for Freescale's MPC8544E reference board, along with processor-optimized 2.6.21 Linux kernels, optional IDE and testing tools, and ongoing updates. (more…)

Levelstar used embedded Linux to create a PDA (personal digital assistant) for visually impaired users. The “Icon” has a custom hardware design with built-in 30GB hard drive, WiFi, Bluetooth, and USB, and comes with a full complement of “life managing software,” much of it written from… (more…)

Wind River is shipping a new version of its application hot-patching and remote debugging product for software and device testing facilities. Lab Diagnostics 2.1 adds features aimed at speeding up automated testing, as well as better support for large, complex test builds, the company said. (more…)

Levelstar used embedded Linux to create a PDA (personal digital assistant) for visually impaired users. The “Icon” has a custom hardware design with built-in 30GB hard drive, WiFi, Bluetooth, and USB, and comes with a full complement of “life managing software,” much of it written from… (more…)

This article describes how to build your own silent, fast, eco-friendly Linux-based PC for use in the living room. The PC is based on a high-end Via mini-ITX board, passively cooled Serener case with heatpipe cooling, Debian Linux, and a little creative embedded elbow grease. (more…)

An industry group comprised primarily of NEPs (network equipment providers) has gained eight members, swelling its ranks to more than two dozen. New Scope Alliance members include providers of virtualization software, high availability middleware, and telecom-oriented Linux operating systems, along with Nortel, one of the last major NEPs to join. (more…)

Ericsson and Texas Instruments (TI) plan to create mobile phone hardware reference designs around Ericsson's 3G baseband processors and TI's ARM-based “OMAP” applications processors. The designs will run “open” OSes such as Linux, and come pre-validated to meet specific operator requirements, the companies claim. (more…)