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The Linux Foundation's MeeGo project will merge with the LiMo (Linux Mobile) Foundation's LiMo spec, bringing together two struggling open source mobile Linux projects, according to an industry report. Meanwhile, Nokia shipped the 3.9-inch Nokia N9 — the first MeeGo-driven smartphone, and most likely the last.
Via Technologies added to its range of Mini-ITX boards with an “entry-level” product featuring a 1.0GHz C7 processor. The Epia-M720 supports up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, has VGA and HDMI video outputs, has a wealth of onboard and coastline I/O, and is offered with five different expansion modules, the company says.
Ibase announced a PICMG 1.3 full-size CPU card supporting Intel's “Sandy Bridge” Core i7, i5, and i3 processors with an Intel Q67 chipset and up to 8GB of DDR3 memory. The IB960 offers dual 3Gbps and four 6Gbps SATA ports, dual gigabit Ethernet ports, mini-PCIe expansion, a real-world USB 2.0 ports with eight more internal USB ports, and additional internal I/O.
Researchers at UC Riverside have received $1.5 million from the National Science Foundation and other sources to study a more power-efficient processor that encodes data with charge-density waves (CDWs) rather than electrical currents. A prototype for a CDW-based computer has already been built, showing promise for processors that could “drastically reduce power consumption and increase speed in the next generation of computers,” claim the researchers.
The University of Texas has teamed up with Intel and Dell to build a Linux supercomputer cluster, as part of the National Science Foundation's “eXtreme Digital” program. Due in 2013, the “Stampede” comprises several thousand Dell Zeus servers — each with dual eight-core Intel Xeon E5 CPUs, plus Intel's new parallel computing “MIC” co-processors — and will be “the most powerful x86-based Linux HPC cluster” deployed in the U.S., say the partners.
Motorola Mobility is prepping two successors to its Xoom tablet, including an e-reader-focused 8.2-inch model, according to several reports. In other Android tablet news, the original Xoom did surprisingly well in recent Consumer Reports rankings, Amazon is expected to unveil an Android tablet/ereader on Sept. 28, and Barnes & Noble is readying three replacements to the Nook Color.
Nexcom announced a fanless PC that offers two DVI-D video outputs and is available with single or dual PCI/PCI Express expansion slots. The NISE-3142 supports Intel Core 2 Duo or Celeron processors, includes a 2.5-inch drive bay and CFast slot, accepts DC power from 16V to 30V, and sports six serial ports, according to the company.
Trenton announced a pair of Matrox-validated video controller PCs, sporting Xeon processors up to a quad-core, 2.53GHz model. The TVC3400 supports one or two Matrox Mura MPX cards with up to eight 1080p inputs and eight more 1080p outputs, while the TVC4400 supports up to three Mura MPX cards for up to 12 1080p inputs and outputs, with shelf and wall-mountable options available for each.
Zotac announced a Mini-ITX motherboard that features Blu-Ray support and is aimed at gaming and home theater PC applications. Featuring AMD Llano A8, A6, A4, and E2 series processors up to 2.8GHz, the A75-ITX WiFi can be stocked with up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, and offers Wi-Fi antennas, dual gigabit Ethernet ports, plus both HDMI and DVI ports.
Microsoft has moved to allay fears that Windows 8-certified PCs might prevent users from booting into Linux. Without mentioning the open source operating system by name, the company suggests end users will be able to disable the required “secure boot” aspect of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) if they really want to.
Two high-end Android 2.3 smartphones were unveiled in Korea by HTC and LG this week. The HTC Raider 4G features a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 4.5-inch IPS (in-plane switching) display, 4G LTE, and an eight-megapixel camera with a 28mm lens attachment, while the LG Optimus Q2 sports a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, a slide-out keyboard, and a four-inch IPS display with 700-nit brightness.
BCM announced an industrial-focused Mini-ITX single board computer (SBC) equipped with a 2.13GHz Intel Core i3 processor and Intel HM55 chipset, promising long-life availability until 2017. The IX55HM supports up to 8GB DDR3 memory, and offers PCIe and mini-PCIe expansion, SATA II storage support, and real-world ports that include dual gigabit Ethernet connections, according to the company.
Iomega's StorCenter PX px4-300d NAS (network attached storage) device is a solid contender for the SMB market, says this eWEEK Labs review. The four-bay, Linux-based device runs on a dual-core 1.8GHz Intel Atom D525, offers up to 12TB storage, and supports hot-swappable solid-state disks as well as Iomega's Personal Cloud.
By 2015, Apple's iPad will still dominate the media tablet market with around 46 percent, although Android will have climbed steadily to 36 percent, a new Gartner forecast claims. Third place is expected to go to Microsoft's Windows 8, which will have mustered 10.5 percent of the tablet market by 2015, according to the report.
OpenMobile has demonstrated OEM-focused technology that permits any Android app to run on MeeGo, with versions planned for Linux, Bada, WebOS, and Windows, Symbian, and QNX. OpenMobile's Application Compatibility Layer (ACL) was shown in a video running Android apps and quickly switching between MeeGo and Android environments on a MeeGo tablet.