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Portwell announced a fanless vehicle computer that is claimed to boot in less than five seconds, thanks to Coreboot technology. The PCS-8277 has a AMD G-Series processor, two 2.5-inch bays for SATA devices, two gigabit Ethernet ports, and support for wireless networking plus a GPS receiver, according to the company.
Google announced a preview release of the Google TV add-on for the Android SDK, supported on Linux with KVM emulation. The add-on lets Android app developers start preparing their software for porting to Google TV, in anticipation of the Android 3.x “Honeycomb” IPTV platform that's expected to ship later this year.
Sony Ericsson announced a music-oriented Android 2.3 smartphone with a dedicated Walkman music button and “deep” Facebook integration. Due to ship in the fourth quarter, the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman offers a 1GHz processor, a 3.2-inch inch display with 480 x 320 pixels, a five-megapixel camera, a front-facing VGA webcam, plus Sony Qriocity music and video content services.
Microsoft and China Standard Software Co. Ltd. (CS2C) announced a deal through which CS2C's Linux-based NeoKylin Linux Server distribution will be matched with Hyper-V Open Cloud architecture. The combined offering, which puts Microsoft in the unlikely business of selling Linux solutions, is aimed at developing cloud applications in China, and is expected to be deployed in the defense infrastructure, as well as industry at large.
Ximea GmbH announced new “smart cameras” that include AMD G-Series processors and monochrome or color image sensors ranging from WVGA (752 x 480 pixels) to five megapixels. The Currera-G devices include flash storage, microSD slots, VGA and Ethernet ports, and isolated digital I/O, the company says.
Wind River announced a new version of its Linux-ready, embedded device test automation software. Wind River Test Management 4.0 can now identify high-risk segments in production code, as well as focus testing solely on changes made between builds, among other new features, says the company.
Sales of the “discontinued” HP TouchPad have been brisk after its price was cut to as little as $99, and hackers are working overtime to port Ubuntu and Android to the WebOS-based tablet. Meanwhile, analysts speculate on who might acquire HP's WebOS operations, which include a 2,000-plus patent portfolio that one analyst says could recoup the cost of HP's Palm acquisition.
AMD announced three additions to its E- and C-Series “Fusion” APUs: the 1GHz C-60, the 1.3GHz E-300, and the 1.65GHz E-450. All offer “all-day battery life,” DisplayPort++ and HDMI 1.4a support, and the ability to use 1333MHz DDR3 memory, while the C-60 and E-450 add a new Turbo mode.
If Google were to make Android proprietary, with devices built exclusively by Motorola, it could earn $10.5 billion in profits by 2015, yet that still may not be worth it, says Piper Jaffray. Meanwhile, Google's Motorola acquisition should bolster Google TV, other analysts say.
The LinuxCon conference that ended Aug. 19 in Vancouver featured a 20th Anniversary Gala for Linux and plenty of discussions on a fast-changing industry. Highlights included a call for a long-term Linux kernel, keynotes from Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst and IBM Linux guru Irving Wladawsky-Berger, and fork-loving Linus Torvalds taking a mellow approach to the code rift with Android.
Axiomtek announced a digital signage computer that adheres to Intel's signage-specific Open Pluggable Specification (OPS). Sold either separately or inside the 31.5-inch OFP320, the OPS860 module includes Intel's 2.1GHz “Sandy Bridge” Core i7 processor, 4GB DDR3 memory, gigabit Ethernet and PCIe, dual USB 2.0 ports, plus a VGA port.
After reporting poor third-quarter earnings, HP announced it plans to sell its industry-leading PC business and acquire U.K.-based Autonomy for $10 billion, a move that follows IBM's earlier transition to software and services. The news followed HP's announcement it would discontinue its smartphone/tablet OS — but some are speculating a Android vendor jilted by Google's Motorola acquisition might be interested in buying WebOS.
HP announced it would discontinue its current WebOS operations, including the TouchPad tablet as well as the Pre 3 and Veer smartphones. The announcement came after reports of sluggish sales of the TouchPad, which has struggled in the market despite 20 percent price cuts.
A DARPA-funded IBM Research “SyNAPSE” project has shown off prototypes of two cognitive computer processors that replicate the neural networks of the brain in silicon chips. Combining principles from supercomputing, nanotechnology, and neuroscience, the cognitive computing chips offer low power consumption and footprint and excel at multi-sensory applications, including playing “Pong,” checking inventory, or predicting the weather, says IBM.
On the opening day of LinuxCon, the Linux Foundation's SPDX workgroup announced the first release of a standard for sharing open source license information. The Software Package Data Exchange (SPDX) 1.0 standard, which is part of the foundation's Open Compliance Program, provides a common format for sharing data about software licenses and copyrights, thereby streamlining and improving compliance.