MontaVista is offering existing customers a peek at its next-generation embedded Linux distributions, to be based on a 2.6.18 kernel and released in mid-2007. The company's 5.0 series “technology preview” aims to help developers begin porting and testing applications, or begin development of next-generation devices that exploit newly available features. (more…)

Three researchers at Microsoft Research have created an innovative handheld pointing device that works in mid-air. “Soap” — which resembles a bar of soap — is based on hardware found in a common wireless optical mouse, and is relatively easy to make, according to its inventors. (more…)

FSMLabs says its commercial, real-time Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) software now supports an Opteron-based AdvancedTCA blade from Pinnacle Data Systems (PDSi). “Carrier Grade RTLinux” on PDSi's AdvancedTCA blade targets VoIP, IPTV, and other applications in which data and control planes must coordinate tightly, according to… (more…)

This thoughtful essay by Dr. Ari Jaaksi, Nokia's director of open source, explores Nokia's experience developing a commercial software environment based two-thirds on open-source software. (more…)

Foreword: This thoughtful essay by Dr. Ari Jaaksi, Nokia's director of open source, explores Nokia's experience developing a commercial software environment based two-thirds on open-source software. (more…)

Sysgo is offering a live online demo of its embedded Linux distributions and tools. The European embedded software vendor's “Live Experience Server” lets registrants use VNC (virtual network computer) to connect to a development host running ELinOS or ELinOS Real-Time, and pre-configured with… (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…)

Embedded Linux specialist TimeSys Corp. has a new CEO. Larry Weidmen has resigned as President/CEO, in order to pursue other interests, and TimeSys boardmember Joseph Raffa (pictured), a semiconductor industry veteran, has been appointed acting CEO by the company's board of directors, according to the company. (more…)

Swiss robot vendor K-Team is shipping a third-generation model in its flagship “Khepera” line. The Khepera III, which runs Linux on an optional ARM-powered add-in card, adds floor-roving capabilities, the better to support experiments in swarm behavior, K-Team says. (more…)

Zi Corporation says its eZiText predictive text input software and Decuma handwriting recognition software are available pre-integrated with Trolltech mobile phone stacks, including Qtopia 2.x, 4.x, and “Jupiter.” Zi's products were demonstrated on Trolltech's Greenphone at the ITU Telecom World show this week in Hong Kong. (more…)

Kontron is preparing a line of compact, customizable, multifunctional computers based on its mini-ITX motherboard family. The KIM (“Kontron intelligent mini-computer”) series will ship in February, 2007, in custom and standard configurations, powered by Intel processors ranging from the Celeron M to Core 2… (more…)

Pepper Computing's Linux-powered, x86-compatible PepperPad 3 continues to rack up rave reviews. CarryPad.com publisher Steve Paine calls the device a “hackable gem of a mobile PC,” while Pocketables.net publisher Jenn K. (more…)

O'Reilly has just released a new book on object-oriented (OO) programming. Head First Object-Oriented Analysis & Design — The Brain-Friendly Guide to Writing Great Software, Every Time, by Brett McLaughlin, Gary Pollice, and David West, shows developers how to analyze, design, and write “serious object-oriented software,”… (more…)

Enea plans to market a small-footprint TCP/IP stack add-on for OSEck, its compact RTOS (real-time operating system) for DSPs (digital signal processors). The “DSPNet” stack should enable DSP farms running OSEck to connect via gigabit Ethernet to heterogenous, distributed systems running Linux and other OSes, according to the company. (more…)

Taiwan-based e-book specialist eRead is shipping a Linux-based electronic book reader featuring an electrophoretic (aka electronic paper) display (EPD). The low-power, thin, light-weight Star eBook STK-101 can be used to read as many as 60 books on a single charge, the company claims. (more…)