The chip that started it all is approaching middle age. Back in November of 1971, Intel publicly announced the world's first customer-programmable microprocessor and “started an electronics revolution that changed our world,” according to Intel's archive website for the 4004. (more…)

FSMLabs is shipping a Windows-hosted version of its Eclipse-based development kit for real-time Linux. RTLinuxPro for Windows includes native graphical and scriptable commandline interfaces, and allows “any Windows workstation” to be used to develop Linux-based hard-real-time applications, the… (more…)

Smart Modular Technologies has introduced a compact, embeddable, PC-compatible system based on the AMD Geode LX processor. The XceedPC/Geode supports Linux, and is intended for use in cost-sensitive embedded-PC applications such as kiosks, digital signage, and point-of-sales (POS) systems, according to the… (more…)

Funambol's dual-licensed SyncML implementation will provide the “synchronization engine” in FIC's Neo1973, the first phone based on the open source OpenMoko platform. (more…)

Lineo Solutions will bundle a suite of enhanced GNU toolchains with its embedded Linux development kits for ARM-based processors. Lineo's uLinux Elite development kit will use CodeSourcery's G++ toolchain, including its C/C++ compilers, binutils, and gdb, according to CodeSourcery Inc. (more…)

One of the world's largest computer and consumer electronics manufacturers will ship a completely open, Linux-based, GPS-equipped, quad-band GSM/GPRS phone direct, worldwide, for $350 or less, in Q1, 2007. (more…)

Linux security device vendor Arxceo says its tiny Linux security appliance was used by Japanese MVNO JCI (“mobile virtual network operator”) as the basis for the “Personal IPS” (intrusion prevention system), which aims to protect Windows XP laptops connected via WiFi, Ethernet, or JCI's PHS network. (more…)

Snom says its Linux-based VoIP (voice-over-IP) phones support Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, using the SIP (session initiation protocol) standard. The company will demonstrate the capability at conferences this week in Germany and Spain.

Snom says that its phones… (more…)

Austrian hardware tools vendor Ronetix says its Ethernet-based JTAG emulator and flash programmer now supports a family of PowerPC-based SoCs (system-on-chip processors) that target automotive applications. (more…)

Power.org has published a new PowerPC ISA (instruction set architecture) said to integrate and unify general-purpose and embedded PowerPC architectures. The non-profit organization has also published a Power Architecture Platform Requirements (PAPR) specification, aimed at helping PowerPC system vendors and Linux distributors create interoperable products. (more…)

Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3), due this month, will not ship with Linux pre-installed, as suggested in March by CEO Ken Kuturagi. However, TerraSoft CEO Kai Staats says his company's Yellow Dog Linux is installable by “anybody who knows how to use a keyboard, mouse, and browser,” according to an… (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…)

Long-time rivals Novell and Microsoft announced a Linux-centered, multi-tiered partnership yesterday. The deal involves enterprise software, but could have implications for Linux in general, because it sets a precedent for a Linux distributor paying intellectual property (IP) royalties to Microsoft. (more…)

The thirtieth anniversary of public key cryptography was celebrated on Oct. 28 at an event co-sponsored by Voltage Security Inc. and the Computer History Museum of Silicon Valley. No technology has had a “more profound political and economic impact on the world than cryptography,” master of ceremonies John Markhoff proclaimed. (more…)

ActiveState is beta-testing a new version of its IDE (integrated development environment) for dynamic web applications. Komodo 4.0, due in early 2007, features a bevy of “Web 2.0” features, such as support for client-side AJAX (asynchronous Javascript and XML) languages, including JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and… (more…)