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[Updated: 1PM] — After a delay of several weeks, Nokia is shipping its Maemo Linux-based N900 smartphone, says eWEEK. Meanwhile, a research note supports rumors of an upcoming Maemo-based, mass-market smartphone designed to compete directly with the iPhone, says an industry report, and LWN.net reports on last month's Maemo Summit.
ClearCube Technology announced a Linux-ready thin client supporting the PC over IP (PCoIP) protocol introduced yesterday with VMware View 4. The ClearCube I8520 uses a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, offers from 512MB to 4GB of flash storage, has CompactFlash and PCI Express x1 slots, and includes two gigabit Ethernet ports, the company says.
Semiconductor firm Cavium Networks announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire embedded Linux pioneer MontaVista Software for $50 million. After the acquisition wraps up in December, MontaVista will run as a separate operating unit, retain its own brand name, and support multiple architectures, MontaVista execs Jim Ready and Dan Cauchy told LinuxDevices.
Intel announced a Linux-based device with optical character recognition and text-to-speech technology. Designed for visually impaired or dyslexic users, the Atom-based Intel Reader is equipped with a five-megapixel camera for snapping photographs of text, which it then simultaneously displays and reads aloud, says Intel.
Samsung announced an “open” mobile platform called “Bada,” which appears to be a programmable UI layer that runs on its proprietary feature phones, although one report defines Bada as Samsung's own Linux OS. Meanwhile, a Korean analyst report claims that Samsung plans to discard Symbian and downshift Microsoft's Windows Mobile.
CodeSourcery has added support for the ARM Cortex-A5 processor to its GNU C/C++ toolchain and Eclipse IDE (integrated development environment). Sourcery G++, version 4.4, also improves performance across all supported platforms, adds a terminal emulator plus integration with the CVS version-control system, and includes the “task-focused” Mylyn interface, the company says.
Samsung announced a “major reduction” in the size of flash memory, packing 32GB into a chip just 0.02 inches thick. The newly developed “ultra-thinning” technology will allow a significant increase in storage for smartphones and other mobile devices, the company says.
Myka announced a more robust version of its media-center IP set-top box (STB). The Myka Ion runs Ubuntu Linux, combines a dual-core Atom 330 CPU with a Nvidia Ion chipset, supports 1080p HD video, and can run Boxee, Hulu, and other Internet video services, says Myka.
Microprocessor shipments rose to an all-time record level during the third quarter of 2009, according to IDC. Compared to the previous quarter, shipments of mobile PC processors such as Intel's Atom jumped 35.7 percent, while processor shipments overall were up 23 percent, the research firm says.
Nexcom announced a large panel PC designed for digital signage, POS (point of sale), and kiosk applications. The MPPC 2210 sports an Atom processor, 21.6-inch screen, CompactFlash or hard disk storage, plus a Mini PCI Express expansion slot, the company says.
Lanner has announced a compact, fanless desktop network appliance based on Intel's Atom processor. The FW-7530 includes six gigabit Ethernet ports with optional bypass support, an RJ45 console port, a 2.5-inch drive bay, and a CompactFlash slot, the company says.
LG has launched its first Android phone, a QWERTY slider called the “Eve,” on Rogers Wireless' network in Canada. In other Android news, LG is prepping a second Android phone, this time with a Snapdragon processor, for Korea, and Philips has launched a V808 oPhone handset in China.
One Laptop per Child chairman Nicholas Negroponte told Xconomy that OLPC is prepping an ARM-based version 1.75 of its XO netbook while planning to release a “paper-thin” version 3.0 in 2012. Meanwhile, the Internet Archive is providing OLPC users with 1.6 million e-books, says the nonprofit organization.
The Moblin project released the first beta version of Moblin 2.1, fixing numerous bugs while adding support for a 3G modem. Other touted improvements to the netbook-focused Linux distro include a faster browser with plugin support, Bluetooth discovery support, higher screen resolution support, and an enhanced connection manager, says the project.
Kontron has added a compact Intel Atom-powered device to its range of thin-client HMI (human machine interface) subsystems. The fanless Nano Client 10.4 has a touchscreen display, features a sealed stainless steel housing, uses CompactFlash storage, and runs Linux, the company says.