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The Android community released the SDK for Android 2.1, which ships with Google's new Nexus One phone, and the Motorola Backflip phone is rumored for a March AT&T launch. Meanwhile, the Linux kernel that drives Android, as well as numerous devices, desktops, and servers, was released in a WiFi-focused Linux 2.6.33-rc4.
Advantech launched a flotilla of seven Linux-ready devices using Intel's new, embedded-oriented Core i7 processor. The products include two Mini-ITX motherboards (the AIMB-270 and AIMB-280), a microATX board (AIMB-580), an ATX motherboard (AIMB-780), the PICMG-format PCE-5125, the PCM-9593 “5.25-inch” SBC (single board computer), and the SOM-5788 COM Express module.
Touch Revolution is shipping an Android-driven touchscreen subsystem that OEMs can “drop in” to microwave ovens, washing machines, printers, IP phones, and more. The Nimble NIM1000 module comprises an embedded board with a Marvell/ARM PXA310 clocked to 806MHz, and a 7-inch, WVGA projective capacitive touchscreen, says the company.
At CES, OpenPeak unveiled a prototype of its Intel Atom- and Moblin Linux-based Home Energy Manager (HEM) energy monitoring device, and announced partnerships with Direct Energy and GE. OpenPeak also announced that the OpenFrame IP phone upon which the HEM is based was certified with the ZigBee Alliance's Smart Energy Certification.
The PC market has “weathered the storm,” according to a new report by IDC. Buoyed by holiday price cuts in particular, fourth quarter PC sales grew 24 percent year-over-year in the U.S., and 2.3 percent worldwide, the market research firm reported yesterday.
Via Technologies released a compact server for SOHO (small office home office) and SMB (small to medium business) based on its 64-bit Nano processor. The M'Serv S2100 measures just 10.2 x 5.3 x 4.5 inches high, accepts up to four terabytes of storage, and has a CompactFlash slot for embedded OS installation, the company says.
Sealevel Systems announced an embedded computer that uses a 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU and is said to run fanlessly at up to 133 deg. F. The Relio R5200 has PCI Express x16 and PCI expansion slots, a 2.5-inch drive bay, and a front panel that includes four serial ports, two gigabit Ethernet ports, six USB 2.0 ports, and two IEEE-1384 (FireWire) ports, the company says.
Sony announced a $200 tabletop media player incorporating Chumby's Linux-based push-content stack. The Dash is equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen, WiFi, and offers content from Sony's Bravia Internet platform plus more than 1,000 free Chumby Internet apps, including news, calendars, weather, sports, and social networking, Sony says.
Portwell announced a desktop network appliance incorporating Intel's Atom N450 processor. The CAD-0205 supports up to 2GB of memory and a 2.5-inch hard disk drive (HDD), consumes fewer than 30 Watts, and comes with four gigabit Ethernet ports, dual USB ports, and a Mini PCIe slot, says the company.
Congatec announced a COM Express module featuring Intel's new, embedded-specific Core i7-620M processor and QM57 Express chipset. The Conga-BM57 features a basic clock speed of 2.66GHz, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, and support for two independent video channels on VGA, LVDS, HDMI, DisplayPort or SDVO interfaces, the company says.
Google's Nexus One has received a rave review today from eWEEK joining many others that have praised the Android smartphone. However, Google has struggled with a first week filled with 3G complaints, suspicious banking apps, a potential lawsuit, and slow sales, says eWEEK.
Yukyung Technologies used last week's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to introduce four mobile computing devices bearing its Viliv brand. One of these Windows-oriented devices — the Viliv P3 PMP (portable media player) — also runs Android, and offers an 800MHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, WiFi, and a 3.7-inch AMOLED display.
At CES, Innovative Converged Devices (ICD) demonstrated two Android-based touchscreen computers based on Nvidia's Tegra 250 processor — a 15.6-inch Vega kitchen computer and a seven-inch Ultra tablet. Also at CES, ICD and T-Mobile UK announced that the latter will launch the Vega later this year in the U.K.
At CES, Nvidia demonstrated tablet-PC prototypes incorporating its Tegra 250 processor, including a Linux-based model from Foxconn, and Android-based models from ICD and Notion Ink, the latter using Pixel Qi display technology. Meanwhile, an Android version of HP's Windows-based “Slate” computer is on the way, say several reports.
At CES, LG Electronics showed a “GW990” prototype said to be the first mobile phone to run Intel's upcoming Moorestown processor — and the first to run the Linux-based Moblin distribution. Meanwhile, LG also demonstrated a new mid-scale Android phone called the GT540, say reports.