Birdstep Technology announced a major upgrade to its Raima Embedded Database Manager (RDM Embedded). Version 8.0 of the Linux-compatible DBMS boasts performance-enhancing features such as hybrid in-memory support, true varchars, and sparse indexing. (more…)

Access will showcase its Linux-based mobile phone middleware and related applications at the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2008 in Barcelona next week. New products include a website transcoder for mobile phones and a DVB-H version of its NetFront Browser. (more…)

NXP Semiconductors is now sampling a GPS chip claimed to be the industry's smallest and lowest-powered. The GNS7560 requires only four external connections, offers Linux drivers, and uniquely, saves power by altering sensitivity and tracking based on signal strength, multipath, and velocity, according to the company. (more…)

A week after announcing its first Linux-based mobile phone stack, Azingo (formerly Celunite) has announced its first hardware partner. The LiMo-compliant Azingo Mobile stack will be ported to NXP's Nexperia Cellular Solution 7210 reference design, which uses a… (more…)

The LiMo (Linux Mobile) Foundation announced that its open handset platform is on schedule for release in March. The R1 release of LiMo Linux-based mobile platform will include public availability of the application programming interface (API) specifications, says the organization, enabling software vendors to port applications to the GTK-based stack. (more…)

Eurotech subsidiary Parvus announced a rugged tactical mission computer that runs Linux or Windows XP Embedded. Designed for space/weight-constrained military/aerospace deployments, the DuraCOR 820 Small Tactical Mission Computer measures 3.0 x 4.3 x 7.0-inch and weighs 3 pounds. (more…)

Finland-based Navicron has introduced Linux-based hardware and software reference designs for smart wireless devices. Navicron's FusionSoftware stack and Freescale-MX31-based FusionPlatform reference hardware are said to be designed for smartphones, Internet tablets, automotive computers,… (more…)

Mizi Research announced an “ultra low-cost” mobile phone reference design based on its Linux-compatible phone stack. The Korean firm says it is collaborating with an unnamed manufacturer to develop a complete hardware/software design that will take as little as three months to bring to market. (more…)

A Canadian firm will soon announce a phone whose plaid case spells “Debian” in Morse Code. Developed by Koolu, whose CTO is Jon “maddog” Hall, the touchphone-based “W.E. Phone” runs Google Apps on top of the Android Java stack on top of Debian. (more…)

MontaVista's Mobilinux 5.0 Linux implementation for mobile phones was named a finalist in EDN Magazine's 2008 “Innovation Awards” for the semiconductor business. (more…)

Intel will reveal technical details about its forthcoming Silverthorne SoCs for mobile devices at a chip conference this week. Based on a new micro-architecture with an in-order instruction pipeline, and built on 45 nanometer technology, the x86-compatible chips will use a tenth the power of Core2 “ULV” chips, Intel says. (more…)

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), researchers are testing a Linux-based automotive telematics system intended to reduce traffic congestion. CarTel is a distributed, GPS-enabled mobile sensor network that uses WiFi “opportunistically” to exploit brief windows of coverage to update a central… (more…)

Intel and Micron have announced high-speed NAND flash memory technology claimed to be five times faster than current products. Currently being sampled by Micron in an eight-gigabit single-level cell (SLC) version, the high-speed NAND will be generally available later this year, according to the companies. (more…)

Taiwanese network-appliance system integrator AR Infotek has announced a multimedia embedded computer that runs Linux. Based on an Intel 915GM chipset, the Pipal 6002 includes a 2D/3D graphics accelerator that supports MPEG2, and is designed for digital signage, POS, and automation control. (more…)

The Mozilla Foundation has released prototype user interfaces (UIs) for its upcoming mobile version of Firefox, and is seeking comments. While not final, these UIs could easily be incorporated in the final product, according to a blog post by Mozilla developer and project lead Doug Turner. (more…)