Timesys has joined up with information services company TechInsights to announce an online service for Linux developers wishing to benchmark their software on specific hardware targets. BenchLab.com combines the TechInsights VirtuaLab online lab environment with the Timesys DIY LinuxLink development environment. (more…)

Wind River announced that it will port its Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) and Workbench development suite to Sun's multicore UltraSPARC T2. Wind River Platform for Network Equipment, Linux Edition, will be the first carrier-grade Linux implementation for Sun's chip multithreading (CMT) processors, says Wind River. (more…)

Sigma Designs has introduced a pair of set-top box SoCs that run Linux. Powered by three MIPS cores apiece, the SMP8654 and SMP8655 boast accelerated graphics and compliance with HDMI (high-defintion multimedia interface) 1.3, says Sigma. (more…)

Semiconductor design firm MIPS Technologies is offering a kernel profiling tool that supports its EJTAG hardware probe. The Eclipse-based Hot Spot Analyzer (HSA) utility works with the company's FS2 System Navigator EJTAG probes, and can be used to debug Linux kernels running on MIPS-based SoCs. (more…)

An industry group maintaining the PC/104 family of stackable single-board computer standards has adopted a new three-connector interface equipped with an x16 PCI Express (PCIe) bus. The PC/104 Consortium's 156-pin PCI/104 Express interface mounts a challenge to the stackable “SUMIT” interface also announced today at ESC. (more…)

The COM Express computer-on-module specification has gained a high-profile advocate, as Via announced it will begin producing its own products compatible with the format. The Eden- and C7-based modules will target “larger OEMs only” in gaming, healthcare, and industrial automation, says Via. (more…)

VirtualLogix announced that its VLX virtualization software will be available for Power Architecture processors. VLX for Network Infrastructure (VLX-NI) will now enable PowerPC processors to simultaneously run multiple operating systems — typically Linux and a real-time OS (RTOS) — for performance-critical telecom and datacom applications. (more…)

[Updated May 5] — A fledgling industry group has unveiled a stackable expansion interface aimed at unifying I/O cards across many single-board computer (SBC) form factors. The Small Form-Factor Special Interest Group (SFF-SIG) calls its Stackable Unified Module Interconnect Technology (SUMIT) “the biggest… (more…)

The open-source Eclipse Foundation announced four initiatives that address embedded and mobile device development. The new Device Software Development Project (DSDP) initiatives include a framework for communications among debugging and monitoring devices, and a Texas Instruments (TI)-sponsored project devoted to creating and configuring C/C++ tools for “highly constrained” devices. (more…)

Renesas says it is now shipping a new system-on-chip (SoC) for car navigation systems and PNDs (personal navigation devices). The SH-MobileR2 SH7723 incorporates a 400MHz SH-4A CPU core, 256KB secondary cache, H.264 codec, 2D graphics accelerator, USB 2.0 support, plus SD and ATAPI controllers, says Renesas. (more…)

Timesys announced a free board support package (BSP) for Atmel's ARM9-based AT91CAP9 microcontroller. As usual, the 2.6.23-kernel BSP can be upgraded to a full Timesys LinuxLink DIY subscription, including software and development tools. (more…)

Freescale Semiconductor announced a dual-core, PowerPC-based system-on-chip (SoC) aimed at in-car navigation and other embedded applications. The low-power MPC5123 combines a 400MHz e300 PowerPC core with a 200MHz multimedia coprocessor, and ships with Freescale's… (more…)

Network equipment provider (NEP) Performance Technologies (PT) announced that its NexusWare Linux distribution meets the Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) 4.0 requirements specified by the Linux Foundation (LF). (more…)

AMCC is shipping Linux-based evaluation kits for its Power Architecture 460EX and 460GT system-on-chips (SoCs). The “Canyonlands” board (pictured at left) for the general-purpose 460EX and the “Glacier” board for the wireless-oriented 460GT come with development tools, sample applications, benchmarks, and design… (more…)

Mobile Linux software company Azingo announced the hire of a new CMO. Former Saba and PalmSource exec Gabi Schindler (pictured at left) will manage corporate marketing, product marketing, and ecosystem development, says Azingo. (more…)