Nexcom has announced three tablet computers targeting logistics, health care, and vehicle applications. The MTC 2100, MTC 2100-MD, and MRC 2100 use Intel's Atom processor, and feature 8.4-inch sunlight-readable displays, fingerprint readers, Infineon TPMs (trusted platform modules), and battery life up to 8 hours, Nexcom… (more…)

PhyTec is readying a small CPU module powered by an ARM9-based SoC (system-on-chip) built on 90 nanometer process technology. The PhyCore-LPC3250 weds seven serial ports with “state-of-the-art” power management, and targets consumer, medical, industrial, and automotive applications, PhyTec says. (more…)

A vendor of power-efficient multicore PowerPC processors that run Linux and other embedded OSes will be acquired by Apple. Its purchase of P.A. Semi could signal Apple plans to migrate its desktops, servers, and embedded consumer products back to PowerPC. (more…)

VersaLogic has announced a PC/104-Plus SBC (single board computer) that targets military, avionics, and medical applications. Running on an AMD LX800 processor, the dual-Ethernet port equipped Cougar operates fanlessly, draws under five Watts, and features high resistance to mechanical and thermal shock. (more…)

Cogent Computer Systems is now shipping an SO-DIMM-sized computer module targeting “any size-restricted, low-power embedded system.” Based on Atmel's AT91SAM9263 processor, the CSB737 “system-on-module” (SOM) runs Linux, and is available with a development kit and carrier board. (more…)

Linux was used by 18 percent of embedded engineers responding to a survey, making it tops overall among both free and commercial OSes. Additionally, open source operating systems such as eCos, BSD, FreeRTOS, and TinyOS were reportedly used collectively by another five percent of respondents. (more…)

Korean chipmaker MagicEyes Digital has announced an ARM9-based system-on-chip (SoC) intended for low-end navigation devices and PMPs (personal media players). The Linux-friendly “Pollux” SoC features on-chip 3D graphics acceleration, an NTSC/PAL video encoder, and a video DAC with picture-in-picture capabilities. (more…)

Yoggie will offer its tiny Linux-based hardware firewall in the PCMCIA ExpressCard form factor. Available next month, the Gatekeeper Card Pro firewall fits completely inside host laptops, and runs 13 different applications aimed at keeping Windows-based PCs safe from viruses, spam, malware, and other security… (more…)

Embedded Linux specialists Timesys and Lineo Solutions have announced a multi-year joint development and marketing alliance aimed at adapting TimeSys's “LinuxLink” service suite to the Japanese marketplace. The partnership will leverage Lineo's engineering and marketing expertise, in order to deliver Linux software, tools, and support for Japan's top processors, the partners said. (more…)

Tri-M Engineering has started shipping a low-cost PC/104 processor module based on a low-power x86-compatible system-on-chip (SoC). Targeting industrial computing applications, the rugged, extended-temperature VSX104 runs Linux, Windows CE, DOS, and other popular 32-bit RTOSes on a Vortex86SX SoC clocked… (more…)

Open Linux devicemaker Neuros Technology has pre-announced a new hardware platform based on a Texas Instruments (TI) DaVinci system-on-chip (SoC). The Linux-based “Open Internet Television HDPlatform” will use TI's TMS320DM644x SoC, with TI helping sponsor “bounties” for developers who complete key open source software projects for the platform, Neuros said. (more…)

Aonix upgraded its PERC Ultra Java runtime, a JVM (java virtual machine) aimed at embedded applications, and announced a design win with a Linux-based automotive diagnostic system from ETAS. PERC Ultra 5.1 improves performance and security, says Aonix, and adds support for real-time operating systems (RTOSes) including Wind River Linux. (more…)

Registration is open for the tenth annual edition of OSCON (Open Source Convention), as well as for a co-located Ubuntu Live conference. Scheduled for Jul. 21-25 in Portland, Ore., O'Reilly's OSCON 2008 is expected to draw some 2,500 open source experts, visionaries, and hackers. (more…)

Vyatta has started shipping a major upgrade to its free Linux distribution for x86-based routers, firewalls, and VPN servers. The big new change in Vyatta Community Edition 4 (VC4) is a move to the open source Quagga routing protocol implementation, for better scalability and a more Linux-like command-line user interface. (more…)

CodeSourcery has updated its commercially supported versions of the GNU C/C++ Toolchain and Eclipse IDE (integrated development environment). The “spring release” of Sourcery G++ adds support for Linux ELF binaries on the MIPS architecture, and Windows binaries on x86, along with a QEMU-based simulator for PowerPC. (more…)