An open source DRM (digital rights management) software project that supports embedded Linux has achieved its second major release. OpenIPMP v2 adds support for additional open DRM standards, along with structural and development improvements aimed at making the software easier to port, build, and integrate. (more…)

Automotive infotainment may become the next battleground for Web portals, according to ABI Research. In an effort to differentiate their products, navigation vendors and automakers are expected to begin offering 3D renderings, images of buildings, and location-aware searches, a combination that presages the emergence of Web portals targeting drivers, ABI Research reports. (more…)

Four companies in Japan have created a low-cost, user-programmable humanoid robot targeting educational and research applications. The HRP-2m Choromet uses technology from Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and is user-programmable thanks to open software running on a user-space… (more…)

Emerson Network Power, a division of Emerson Electric, will demonstrate MontaVista's Carrier Grade Linux distribution at the Freescale Technology Forum next week in Orlando Fla. (more…)

[Updated 9:45 A.M.] — An industry group devoted to standardizing Linux for mobile phones has announced three powerful, influential new members. The LiPS (Linux Phone Standards) Forum's new members include number one mobile phone chip vendor Texas Instruments, top Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer ZTE, and global carrier/operator Telecom Italia. (more…)

Motorola's Linux-based Rokr E2 mobile phone looks ready to challenge Sony/Ericsson's Walkman phone in the hot emerging market for converged PMP phones (portable media player phones), according to this hands-on preview by LinuxDevices.com senior editor… (more…)

The Embedded Systems Conference (ESC), scheduled for April 2007 in San Jose, Calif., has extended the deadline for submitting abstracts of proposed technical sessions. The new deadline is September 8. Proposals are sought for 90-minute and 3-hour classes, and full-day tutorials. (more…)

Aquafairy and NTT DoCoMo are co-developing “micro” fuel cells intended to help keep DoCoMo's FOMA 3G handsets running all day, despite increased use of numerous battery-sucking wireless services. (more…)

The Gizmo Project has ported its VoIP (voice-over-IP) softphone to Nokia's 770 Internet Tablet. Gizmo's free features include calls with other SIP-phone users, voicemail, and conference calls. (more…)

Linux graphics stack vendor Trolltech recently supplied LinuxDevices.com with a Motorola Rokr E2 music phone for (p)review. The phone appears to be the same E2 that shipped in China last week through carrier China Mobile, but semi-localized to the U.S., to… (more…)

In this detailed, in-depth interview, Philippe Robin, ARM Ltd.'s product manager for Linux, explains how Linux helps ARM test its processors, the growing adoption of embedded Linux and ARM, and new technologies of possible interest to embedded Linux developers targeting ARM processors. (more…)

As we predicted last September, the PC/104 Consortium is developing a PCI Express version of its popular PC/104 embedded computer module specification. (more…)

[Updated July 14, 2006] — RidgeRun, a stalled start-up focused on Linux development for Texas Instruments (TI) dual-core (RISC/DSP) processors, has re-launched. The new RidgeRun will offer Linux, Windows, and RTEMS BSPs (board support packages), drivers, application development, and software integration services for ARM-based processors from multiple vendors, including TI. (more…)

Philips will switch some of its reference designs for digital TV set-top boxes (STBs) and bolt-on receivers from pSos+ to eCos, according to eCosCentric. eCosCentric's eCosPro Starter Kit will be distributed as the “de-facto supplied RTOS” for some Nexperia PNX83xx designs, eCosCentric says. (more…)

Foreword — In this detailed, in-depth interview, Philippe Robin, ARM Ltd.'s product manager for Linux, explains how Linux helps ARM test its processors, the growing adoption of embedded Linux and ARM, and new technologies of possible interest to embedded Linux developers targeting ARM processors. (more…)