Xilinx has sweetened the pie for FPGA customers using its royalty-free soft-core. The MicroBlaze soft-core gained an optional MMU (memory management unit) last fall, for “full” Linux compatibility, and is now bundled with free 10/100 Ethernet, serial UART, I2C, and FPU (floating point unit) IP cores. (more…)

A team of engineering students at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. is designing a digital stethoscope based on uClinux. The team, called “Rhythm Reloaded,” released a project proposal on the open source device, which runs Freescale's Coldfire MCF5275 CPU. (more…)

IBM's DeveloperWorks has published a deeply technical overview of the new CFS (“completely fair scheduler”) available in 2.6.23 and later Linux kernels. Based on fair scheduling theory proven by Con Kolivas, CFS may suit some multi-user embedded systems, and devices with desktop or server-like functionality, the article suggests. (more…)

ABI Research released a study predicting a shift in the digital music server market from desktop PCs to dedicated music servers. Revenue for dedicated music server hardware, including embedded-Linux products, is expected to grow to $3.2 billion by year-end 2012, says ABI. (more…)

Ronetix has released another firmware update for its Linux-friendly combo JTAG/BDM emulator and flash programmer. The PEEDI JTAG/BDM Emulator and Flash Programmer now supports all ARM11 processors, including Freescale's i.MX31 mobile applications processor, according to… (more…)

Mini-PC manufacturer SD-Omega has announced a Linux-compatible mini-PC that can run two displays simultaneously. The SD631T Dual Display is primarily intended as a car PC that can drive both a GPS display for the driver and an entertainment and Net-surfing display for passengers. (more…)

[Updated Jan. 16] — Chipmaker Via teamed with a Taiwanese government-sponsored R&D organization to demonstrate a tiny digital TV running Ubuntu Linux on a 1GHz x86-compatible processor. (more…)

Bluewater Systems of New Zealand has introduced a development platform that accepts credit-card sized, ARM-based CPU modules running Linux. The “Rig 200” provides typical PC-style interfaces and supports three different CPU modules, plus snap-in Bluetooth, GPS, or Wi-Fi hardware, according to the company. (more…)

A la Mobile demonstrated its Linux phone stack working with Google's Android APIs (application programming interfaces). The demonstration is intended to show how the Linux kernel, drivers, and middleware in a la Mobile's Convergent Linux Platform (CLP) can accelerate Android development, the company said. (more…)

More than four billion embedded systems or devices shipped worldwide in 2006, says a report by Venture Development Corporation (VDC). The market research firm forecasts three years of growth in device shipments, especially for devices with commercial and/or open source operating systems like Windows and Linux. (more…)

Acrosser has introduced an EPIC form-factor single-board computer (SBC) that runs Linux. The AR-B5230 supports Pentium M and Celeron M processors, and is aimed at applications such as panel PCs, transportation, and digital signage, according to the company. (more…)

The WiMax “user terminal” chipset market will grow from $27 million in 2007 to nearly $500 million in 2012, according to recent market research by In-Stat. Mobile PCs will be the primary driver, but dual-mode cellular/WiMax handsets and other equipment will also drive sales, In-Stat says. (more…)

AgfaPhoto is shipping a Linux-based digital photoframe developed by Sagem Communications and powered by Freescale Semiconductor's i.MX31 system-on-chip (SoC). The AgfaPhoto AF5080W is said to offer an 8-inch, 800×600 SVGA display, WiFi, and playback of MP3 music and MPEG 1/2/4 video. (more…)

A non-profit Korean government-funded research organization has demonstrated a prototype mobile Internet device (MID) based on its Qplus embedded Linux distro. Korea-based Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute's (ETRI's) “Mobile Convergence Communicator” (MCC) boasts 802.11b/g and 3.5G cellular… (more…)

A contactless payment technology for mobile handsets called Near Field Communication (NFC) is coming to market slower than expected, says ABI Research. Yet while 2008 NFC shipment forecasts have been revised downward, the technology's future is said to be bright.