The hotly anticipated Maemo operating system upgrade for the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet has leaked. Early reviewers are impressed with the upgrade's faster performance and Mozilla-based Web browser. (more…)

Phytec has announced an embedded processor module aimed at simplifying the development of devices based on Freescale's highly-integrated i.MX31 SoC (system-on-chip). The PhyCore-i.MX31 comes with a Linux BSP, and is optionally available with a carrier board and touchscreen LCD. (more…)

Portola Valley, Calif.-based Gumstix, Inc has hired former Apple Computer VP of Software Technology Steve Sakoman. The new project leader will head up software operations for Gumstix, which designs tiny, Linux-compatible gumstick-sized SBCs (single-board computers) that target the networking and wireless device… (more…)

This in-depth, hands-on article introduces Android, Google's Linux/Java mobile phone SDK (software development kit). After a tour of Android's tools, documentation, and code samples, it suggests a path for further exploration and concludes with a simple applet showing the power and simplicity of the Android… (more…)

Qualcomm has unveiled the first two products in its “Snapdragon” family of chipsets aimed at next-generation mobile phones. The dual-core QSD8250/8650 chipsets clock to 1 GHz, include a “universal modem” claimed to support “all 2G and 3G mobile broadband standards,” and are being demonstrated running Linux- and Windows CE-based OSes, the company said. (more…)

MontaVista is readying a new version of its “carrier grade” Linux distribution. MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition (CGE) 5.0 — expected to ship Dec. 17 — is said to offer greater scalability, reliability, and field-serviceability, along with added “NSA-level” security features and new DevRocket development tool capabilities. (more…)

A Linux developer has launched a site supporting a line of tiny, SODIMM-sized SBCs (single-board computers) based on XScale SoCs (system-on-chip processors). The “Colibri Dev's Corner” offers news, patches, forums, and Wikis aimed at helping build a collaborative Linux development community around Toradex's… (more…)

Everyone's talking about the $200 Linux-based Everex gPC TC2502 that recently sold out at Wal-Mart within a few short days. DesktopLinux takes a look at the Ubuntu Linux-based gOS operating system that runs it. (more…)

3DLabs Semiconductor has started shipping a Linux SDK (software development kit) for its interesting multi-core mobile applications processor. The fabless chipmaker's Linux 2.6.21 SDK includes tools, codecs, libraries, and sample apps, and aims to help DMS-02 customers build mobile video, automotive infotainment,… (more…)

Vanu Inc. and BitWave Semiconductor have demonstrated a Linux-based software-defined radio (SDR) for wireless Femtocell base stations. Designed to handle the 700MHz spectrum due to be auctioned in January, the SDR offers simultaneous operation of multiple standards, enabling a fast transition to multifaceted Femtocells, says Vanu. (more…)

Xilinx has added the option of a memory management unit (MMU) to the royalty-free 32-bit soft-core processor it offers for its FPGA (field-programmable gate array) chips. The MMU allows the MicroBlaze v7 softcore to run complex OSes such as Linux, including LynuxWorks's commercially supported BlueCat-ME (MicroBlaze Edition) distribution. (more…)

Mini-ITX systems running Linux will soon enable residents of rural Michigan to access the Internet over their electrical power lines at broadband speeds. The systems are also enabling the utility provider there to read meters, monitor environmental factors, and diagnose outages remotely. (more…)

DingCheng Electronics has announced a GPS-enabled PC that fits “double DIN” stereo bays. The CarPC 102 has a 4x45W amp, and runs Red Flag Linux or Windows on a 1.1GHz Pentium M processor, with 256MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, DVD/CD-RW drive, and 7-inch WXGA touchscreen display. (more…)

Some 30,000 applications originally written for the Palm Pilot PDA (personal digital assistant) will soon run on Nokia's Linux-based web tablets. The applications will run on top of a virtual machine (VM) currently being beta tested by Access for Nokia's 770, N800, and N810 Internet tablets. (more…)

Objective Interface Systems (OIS) is shipping a version of its real-time CORBA ORB (object request broker) middleware targeting Wind River Linux. ORBexpress RT supports both Wind River's General Purpose Platform, Linux Edition, and Real-time Core, the company's POSIX-compliant real-time add-on. (more…)