USI demonstrated a super-thin, Linux-based mobile Internet device (MID) that offers GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, and either HSPA or WiMAX. The Intel Atom-equipped USI MID-160 sports a 5-inch 800×480 touchscreen, but lacks a keyboard, helping it keep a 0.6-inch profile. (more…)

Cavium's MIPS64-based Octeon chips gained another software ecosystem partner today, with Enea announcing a port of its Element high-availability (HA) middleware to the architecture. At the ATCA Summit this week in Santa Clara, Calif., Enea unveiled version 3.1 of Element, announced contributions to OpenSAF, and launched a pre-sales support campaign. (more…)

AMCC announced an Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) reference design kit for its wireless-oriented, dual-processor PowerPC 460GT processor. The “Arches” kit includes a reference board (pictured) from Silicon Turnkey Express, a Linux 2.6 image, and tools including RapidIO diagnostics and Enea's Linx interprocess… (more…)

Toradex has announced a pair of COM Express modules based on Intel's Z5xx Atom processors. The Woodpecker Z530 and Z510 modules feature 1.6GHz or 1.1GHz CPUs, respectively, plus six USB 2.0 ports, gigabit Ethernet, dual SATA ports, and microSD slots, the company says. (more…)

A startup called Imovio has announced a WiFi- and Bluetooth-enabled clamshell PDA that runs the Linux-based Qt Extended stack. Very similar to the Sharp Zaurus, the iKit is based on a Marvell PXA270 processor, with 128MB RAM, 64MB flash, and a 2.8 inch QVGA display. (more…)

Access released a lightweight “Mini” version of its Access Linux Platform (ALP) mobile phone middleware and application stack. At its “Access Day” partner event in Tokyo today, it also previewed ALP 3.0, and highlighted its growing list of Linux design wins and ecosystem partners. (more…)

Envizions has announced an “open source hybrid Linux gaming system” aimed at game developers. The EVO Smart Console is based on a 2.9GHz, 64-bit Athlon, includes its own Linux distro called Mirrors Evolution, and offers game-play, Internet access, VoIP, and HD video playback, Envizions says. (more…)

Win Enterprises announced a COM Express module targeting medical, test and measurement, kiosks, and network security applications. The MB-73150 (left) supports Core 2 Duo, Pentium M, or Celeron M processors, has gigabit Ethernet, accepts up to 2GB of RAM, and runs Linux, Win says. (more…)

A small database consulting firm in Bellevue, Wash. is shipping a lightweight, modular database targeting metadata storage in digital media applications. ITTIA's “Compact DB” uses the same file formats and C/C++ API as the company's DB-SQL database, but can shed unneeded features to reduce device resource requirements, ITTIA says. (more…)

An influential industry group aimed at standardizing “carrier grade” systems for telecom and other industries has updated its position paper. The readable technical document is a great place to start for those wishing to understand how SCOPE relates to the Carrier Grade Linux, SA Forum middleware, and PICMG hardware specifications. (more…)

Wind River has completed its $16M acquisition of Linux smartphone pioneer Mizi Research, it announced. The Seoul, Korea based acquisition will broaden its mobile Linux services delivery capability in Asia Pacific, while deepening the value of its vertical market offerings, it… (more…)

Eurotech announced a COM Express module and “standalone” SBC using Atom Zxx-series CPUs. The “Proteus” twins feature 1.1Ghz or 1.6GHz CPUs, dual PCI Express Mini Card slots, up to 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash, plus optional Bluetooth, ZigBee, and GPS modules, says Eurotech. (more…)

eWEEK reviewer Andrew Garcia has posted an excellent, in-depth review of the first phone based on Google's Linux/Java-based “Android” OS. The T-Mobile's “G1” is a “worthy competitor” to Apple and the iPhone, Garcia writes, though enterprise users may wish to wait for bugfixes… (more…)

The eight-year-old Dillo project has released version 2.0 of its Linux-compatible, ultra-lightweight HTML browser for embedded systems, antiquated PCs, and other low-powered devices. Dillo 2 adds support for anti-aliased text, multiple languages, and tabbed browsing, while improving table rendering and lowering memory usage, says… (more…)

Samba developer Jeremy Allison issued an impassioned endorsement for Linux in an opinion piece written for ZDNet. In “Livin' La Vida Linux,” he describes the many Linux devices that have entered his life, and explains why Linux “is going to take over the appliance… (more…)