IBM has published the following new technical articles, tutorials, and downloads on its DeveloperWorks and AlphaWorks websites. They cover a range of interesting (though not necessarily embedded) technical topics, primarily related to Linux and open source system development. (more…)

Zonbu's Linux-based Zonbox network PC is “more than enough machine” for most casual home PC users, according to an early review. However, the $100 device requires a two-year, $13/month service contract, a lengthy commitment for such a novel business model. (more…)

Computers, television, and other consumer electronics will soak up nearly half of the electricity used in British homes by 2020, a report released this week says. According to the Energy Saving Trust (EST), this will overtake lighting and refrigeration, previously the largest domestic power drain. (more…)

Nokia has released updated firmware for its Linux-based N800 Internet Tablet. The fourth Tablet OS 2007 release this year — “4.2007.26-8” — brings a Skype client, Flash 9 player, and support for 8GB SD memory cards, while Nokia's own VoIP service beta installer has been removed. (more…)

Aewin has announced a highly integrated 3.5-inch form-factor single-board computer (SBC) that accepts either Pentium M or Celeron M processors. The EM-7302 runs Linux, offers modular PC/104 and optional mini PCI expansion, and targets embedded applications such as interactive kiosks, parking gate control, and medical equipment. (more…)

Linux-powered robots are flocking to Atlanta this week to compete in the Robocup scientific competition. The eleventh annual event has attracted at least two Linux-based designs aiming to replace Sony's Aibo as the de facto hardware platform for standard Robocup league play. (more…)

A small company near Torino, Italy is shipping a tiny ARM9-based processor module designed for use with low-cost carrier boards. Elpa's RD129 comes pre-installed with the latest Linux kernel (currently 2.6.21.5), and is available with a handy development board. (more…)

An Indian outsourcer is touting a Linux-based software reference design aimed at industrial applications requiring cellular connectivity. Larson & Toubro Infotech (L&T Infotech) said it can build MMIs (man-machine interfaces) quickly on top of its Linux-based MMI platform. (more…)

Fewer North American programmers are writing software for Windows, according to Evans Data Corporation (EDC). The market research firm said that about 65 percent of developers targeted Windows client operating systems in 2006, down from 74 percent the year before, and likely to fall another couple of points this year. (more…)

Smartphones will account for 13 percent of Japan's overall handset market in 2010, according to a new report from Research and Markets. Between 2005 and 2010, unit sales of the devices in Japan are forecast to grow at an average annual rate of 78.6 percent. (more…)

A Phillipines-based video capture card vendor has soft-launched a line of Linux-based surveillance DVRs (digital video recorders). Neugent Technologies said its LX8000 SmartDetect DVRs have “built-in object detection video analytics,” enabling them to watch for left, abandoned, missing, or stolen… (more…)

Lineo Solutions is offering an enhanced embedded Linux BSP (board support package) for a MIPS64-based mini-ITX reference board. Lineo said its uLinux ELite BSP CodeSourcery Edition for Toshiba's RBTX4938 single-board computer (SBC) lets users run pre-tested packages and obtain… (more…)

[Updated Jul. 3, 2007] — EmbWise has ported its Linux SDIO stack to a video-oriented Texas Instruments (TI) system-on-chip (SoC) processor. SDIOWorx is now available on royalty-free terms for TI's daVinci DM6446 processor, which targets portable media players, video surveillance… (more…)

Low-cost network computing specialist Devon IT has added a PCMCIA slot and “3G aircard” support to its thin client notebook. Available with the company's own Linux-based “DeTOS” embedded operating system, the SafeBook runs applications from remote servers, via Citrix ICA, Microsoft RDP, or VNC. (more…)

“Bugs happen,” concluded Linus Torvalds after a discussion of Core 2 Duo errata on the Linux Kernel Mailing List (LKML) last week. The pragmatic iconoclast defended Intel for handling bugs publicly, in contrast to embedded chip makers that tend to hide chip bugs behind workarounds in their OS ports. (more…)