The first of Via's Pico-ITX boards is delightfully small, cool-running, and quiet, while offering DVI-D and a stacked I/O add-on board. However, driver problems under both Linux and Windows prevent the PX-1000 from delivering satisfying high-definition video, according to a review at… (more…)

Via Technologies on June 6 unveiled the NanoBook Ultra Mobile Device (UMD) reference design — a UMPC-like device, but with a full QWERTY keyboard. The “sub-notebook” style design aims to enable device-makers to build customized low-cost, light-weight mobile PCs for consumers, businesses, and schools, Via said. (more…)

Atmel has introduced a new low-cost model in its AP7000-series of high-efficiency SoCs (system-on-chip processors) designed to run Linux. The AT32AP7001 comes with a Linux port and tools, and targets low-cost, four-layer circuit boards used in printers, fax machines, surveillance cameras, audio processing, and industrial control equipment. (more…)

MontaVista has released an embedded Linux BSP (board-support package) that targets a highly configurable Freescale networking processor, aimed at pervasive computing applications. (more…)

A Linux-powered storage appliance has landed high up on PC World's annual list of the year's top 100 products. Netgear's (formerly Infrant's) ReadyNAS NV+ ranked eighth, ahead of such heavyweights as Apple TV and Ubuntu Linux 7.04 (aka “Feisty Fawn”). (more…)

NXP Semiconductor has introduced a multi-chip module that supports the IEEE's new 802.11n high-speed wireless LAN protocol. The MRX2000 enables higher throughput of multimedia data streams, including HD video, and can be “easily” integrated into consumer devices such as set-top boxes, digital media adapters, residential gateways, routers, and game consoles, the company said. (more…)

Shortly after unveiling its Linux-based mobile phone and “mobile companion” product roadmaps, Palm has announced a $325 million investment. If approved, the transaction would give Elevation Partners a 27 percent ownership stake, and enable Palm to hire iMac and iPod engineering lead Jon Rubinstein as executive board chairman. (more…)

U.K.-based startup TriMetrix has announced a tiny single-board computer (SBC) designed for use in devices requiring biometric scanners, including time/attendence, access control, and POS (point-of-sales) equipment. (more…)

LearningSoft has used customized Linux-based handheld devices in an “assessment system” aimed at helping classroom school teachers create, administer, and score tests. Aimed primarily at grades three through eight, the “Indigo Learning System” uses Aeronix's $99 Zipit chat device running a custom software… (more…)

After two years of work by the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and the open source community, the GNU General Public License Version 3 (GPLv3) is due on June 29. The “final draft,” released May 31 for comments, persists with “anti-tiVoization” language, although the scope is narrowed to consumer devices only. (more…)

Taiwan-based Aewin has introduced a pair of Intel-powered computer-on-module (COM) products, along with an accompanying evaluation baseboard with “digital signage” features. The CM-7300 and CM-7301 are implemented as COM Express modules and target high-performance embedded applications such as medical, test/measurement,… (more…)

LearningSoft has used customized Linux-based handheld devices in an “assessment system” aimed at helping classroom school teachers create, administer, and score tests. Aimed primarily at grades three through eight, the “Indigo Learning System” uses Aeronix's $99 Zipit chat device running a custom software… (more…)

Technical books publisher O'Reilly has released a “cookbook” full of bash shell scripting examples. The Bash Cookbook offers numerous complete working scripts aimed at helping users customize their systems and automate routine tasks. (more…)

Shortly before Palm unveiled its “Foleo mobile companion”, market research firm 451 Group released a report questioning the potential for “mobile office” devices such as smartphones. The Group estimates that only 20 million smartphones ship each year today, with volume unlikely to grow much beyond that. (more…)

Trolltech has released new versions of its application frameworks for PC desktops and Linux devices. Respectively, Qt 4.3 mainly gains support for native Windows Vista application development, while Qtopia Core 4.3 gains a new font system and better 3D graphics support, among other enhancements. (more…)