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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Diamond Systems is shipping an ETX 3.0-compliant computer-on-module designed to withstand temperatures between -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 86 deg. C). The ETX-945 incorporates Intel's Core 2 Duo, Core Duo, or Celeron processors, and can be bought with preconfigured ETX and EPIC baseboard modules incorporating PC/104-Plus expansion interfaces.
Intel will ship a new generation of Atom processors, code-named “Pineview,” during the fourth quarter of this year, according to an IDG News Service report. The CPUs — known as the Atom N450, D410, and D510 — will extend netbook battery life and allow HD video playback, among other previously cited advantages.
Vodafone announced a Samsung-built, “360 H1” smartphone that offers a 3.5-inch WVGA AMOLED display and complies with the LiMo Foundation's LiMo Release 2 spec. The LiMo Foundation also announced that all of its operator-members intend to field LiMo R2 devices in 2009 and 2010.
The final Moblin v2.0 distro is available, says the Moblin project, which also released early-preview versions of a “Moblin Garage” app store, Moblin installer, and Moblin v2.1. Meanwhile, the first netbook with Moblin v2.0 comes from Dell, whose Mini 10v is available pre-installed with the 'Ubuntu Moblin Remix Developer Edition.”
Intel has announced an Atom-based SoC (system-on-chip) aimed at consumer devices such as digital TVs, set-top boxes (STBs), and Internet-enabled Blu-ray players. The 1.2GHz CE4100 uses only seven to nine Watts, can decode two simultaneous 1080p video streams, provides seven-channel audio output, and will be able to accelerate Adobe Flash-based content, the company says.
Via has announced a Mini-ITX motherboard that sports both integrated and discrete graphics circuitry, supporting up to four monitors. The Via VB8003 includes a Nano processor, dual HDMI outputs, VGA and DVI ports, two gigabit Ethernet ports, and a Type II CompactFlash slot, the company says.