Dell is shipping the first laptop offering its MontaVista-designed fast-boot technology. The Latitude Z laptop runs Windows 7 on an Intel Core 2 Duo, but also offers a TI-built, ARM-based module running the Linux-based “Latitude ON” technology, touted for instant access to email and the web with minimal power usage.

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Aaeon announced a Mini-ITX motherboard equipped with the Intel GME965 + ICH8M chipset. The EMB-9658T offers a choice of Intel Core 2 Duo or Celeron M CPUs, plus EIDE and SATA II ports, PCI-Express x4 expansion, dual gigabit Ethernet ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, and other I/O, says the company.

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[Updated: Oct. 2] — Phidgets, Inc. is shipping an ARM9-based single board computer (SBC) that runs Linux and targets sensing and control applications, including robotics. The “1070 – PhidgetSBC” is equipped with an Ethernet port, four USB ports, and a WiFi USB adapter, and is available with an integrated PhidgetInterfaceKit 8/8/8 I/O board.

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AT&T announced it will offer the Garmin-Asus G60 Nuvifone in the U.S. next week. In other Linux smartphone news, T-Mobile announced pricing and availability for its Android-based Motorola Cliq, and Android developers are protesting Google's shutdown of an open source version of Google Apps by well-known “modder” Cyanogen, says eWEEK.

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Samsung announced that it has begin producing 512Mb (64MB) PRAM (phase change random access memory) chips. The new, non-volatile memory technology is up to ten times faster than flash and will extend handset battery life by more than 20 percent, the company claims.

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Palm announced WebOS 1.2 for the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi, featuring a new App Catalog, LinkedIn support, Amazon MP3 downloads, and numerous fixes and enhancements. Palm also announced that more carriers will offer the Pre smartphone late next year, according to an industry report.

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VersaLogic has announced an EPIC-format SBC (single board computer) that includes SUMIT (Stackable Unified Modular Interconnect Technology) and PC/104 connectors. The “Komodo” supports the 2.27GHz Core 2 Duo P8400 processor, offers up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, and has a MiniBlade socket for adding flash memory, the company says.

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Texas Instruments is shipping faster versions of its OMAP3530 system-on-chip (SoC) and evaluation module (EVM). The “OMAP3530 Rev E” version clocks up the ARM Cortex-A8 core from 600MHz to 720MHz,and upgrades the SoC's TMS320C64x+ DSP (digital signal processor) from 430MHz to 520MHz, says the company.

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Aonix announced a new release of its real-time Java virtual machine (JVM) for embedded and real-time systems, adding support for Texas Instruments' ARM Cortex-A8-based BeagleBoard. The Linux-compatible “PERC Ultra 5.3” also enables the use of AWT/Swing graphics libraries and provides support for Java Agent and java.lang.instrument, says the company.

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Qnap Systems is shipping a DLNA-ready device billed as a cross between a set-top box and a network-attached storage (NAS) server. Designed to catalog and play networked media content on a TV, the NMP-1000 offers HDMI and gigabit Ethernet ports, plus up to 2TB of storage, says the company.

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WinSystems announced two SBCs (single board computers) claimed to be the first to support COMIT (Computer On Module Interconnect Technology). The EBX-format EBC-Z510-G and EBC-Z530-G also feature SUMIT (Stackable Unified Modular Interconnect Technology) and PC/104 connectors, CompactFlash Type I/II storage, and a Mini PCIe slot, says WinSystems.

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Irex Technologies is readying a Linux-based electronic book (e-book) reader with an 8.1-inch, 1024 x 768 display. Based on Freescale's ARM11-based i.MX31, the Irex DR800SG communicates via the Verizon Wireless 3G network, supports the open ePub publishing standard, and offers built-in support for the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, says Irex.

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Later this week, Panasonic Communications plans to ship a full HD videoconferencing system that incorporates embedded Linux and Nokia's Qt cross-platform development/UI framework. The KX-VC500 offers SIP-compatible videoconferencing supporting H.264-compressed 1920 x 1080i H.264 video over links from 2 to 8Mbps, and offers Internet connectivity, says Panasonic.

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Rumors that Verizon Wireless is backing out of its plans to launch the Palm Pre are now being questioned, says CNET. Meanwhile, Sprint has released Android development tools on the eve of launching the HTC Hero, and Cellular South will offer the Hero for its five-million customer network, says eWEEK.

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EmperorLinux has started reselling three rugged “Panasonic Toughbook” laptops (and one rugged tablet) with Linux preinstalled: the Scarab, Ant, Wasp, and Tarantula. The CF-model ToughBooks join other “Windows-only” laptops and tablets that have been tuxified for customized resale by EmperorLinux, including models from Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo, and Sony.

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