Mini-ITX system integrator Mini-box.com has updated its Linux-compatible car PC, adding room for a slim ATAPI drive, and a pudgier, more futuristic faceplate. The revised VoomPC-2 also comes standard with a more powerful mini-ITX motherboard, based on a 1.5GHz Via C7 processor. (more…)

CTIA Wireless 2007, billed as the world's largest event for the wireless industry, takes place Mar. 27-29 in Orlando, Fla. This year's event will highlight a “seismic shift” currently underway in business productivity, fueled by wireless adoption, according to conference organizers. (more…)

A free presentation about writing Linux drivers for USB devices is available for download from Free Electrons, a French embedded Linux training and consulting firm. The 92-page presentation is available in English, in several document formats, under a Copyleft license. (more…)

The spring Microprocessor Forum has issued a call for papers. Acknowledging that consumer applications are “currently driving a majority of the innovation” in microprocessor technology, event sponsor In-Stat is emphasizing consumer electronics-oriented papers for this year's event, which is scheduled for May 21-23 in San Jose, Calif. (more…)

Macraigor has joined Eclipse.org, and is offering free plugin-based GNU toolchains that support its low-cost JTAG probes. The “Macraigor Eclipse + GNU Tools Suite” includes ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, and x86 toolchains, sample programs for popular boards, and an optional, tested Eclipse 3.2.1 IDE for Windows… (more…)

Real-time embedded Linux vendor FSMLabs has joined the partner program of database vendor MySQL AB. The companies will work together to expand their telecom-specific consulting services around MySQL-powered software running on FSMLabs's hard real-time enabled Carrier Grade Linux and BSD distributions, FSMLabs says. (more…)

Zi Corp. will offer its text input software “pre-integrated” with Access's embedded Linux stack for phones and other mobile devices. Access appears to have licensed Zi's eZiText predictive text input software and Decuma handwriting recognition software packages for Access stack, currently codenamed “ALP” (Access… (more…)

A Linux-based home router appears to be attracting a growing community of hackers. However, in responding to hackers' requests for source code for its Home Hub, distributor British Telecom (BT) may not be complying fully with Linux's GPL license terms, according to a story at TheRegister. (more…)

LynuxWorks will demonstrate a simulated aircraft environment based on embedded Linux, a proprietary separation kernel, and Intel Virtualization Technology, at the Open Group's Enterprise Architecture Conference (EAC) next week in San Diego. The demonstration shows Linux failing without affecting real-time POSIX applications running directly under the company's LynxSecure separation kernel. (more…)

Raza Microelectronics Inc. (RMI) will sample two low-powered, MIPS32-based media processors this quarter. The Au1250 and Au1210 respectively target multi-function portable media players (PMPs) and portable navigation devices (PNDs), and are the first new Alchemy chips since RMI acquired the line from AMD six months ago. (more…)

A UK-based provider of digital pay-TV technology and services has acquired an Israeli specialist in embedded PCI/USB device-driver toolkits and Linux software stacks targeting residential and business edge routers. The NDS Group says its $107.5 million cash acquisition of Jungo Ltd. will help it compete in the converging broadcast/broadband market. (more…)

[Updated Jan. 22] — With Linux growing by leaps and bounds, two of the top organizations that guide its growth are finally joining forces. The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and the Free Standards Group (FSG) are forming one mega-organization, known as the “Linux Foundation.” (more…)

Embedded system specialist Applied Data Systems (ADS) has contributed an experimental new root filesystem for the ARM architecture to the Debian project. Comprised of 9,877 packages and growing, the ADS-contributed filesystem offers greatly improved floating point performance, thanks to support for ARM's EABI (embedded application binary interface). (more…)

IBM has published the following new technical articles, tutorials, and downloads on its DeveloperWorks website. They cover a range of interesting (though not necessarily embedded) technical topics, primarily related to Linux and open source system development. Some require free registration. (more…)

Registration is open for the fifth annual Gelato ICE (“Itanium Conference and Expo”), the only conference dedicated specifically to Linux on Intel's Itanium architecture. Sponsored by HP, Intel, and the Itanium Solutions Alliance, the conference is set for Apr. 15 through 18, in San Jose, Calif. (more…)