The Free Standards Group (FSG) is touting a major new version of the Linux Standards Base (LSB) approved in July. LSB 3.0 improves POSIX compliance and internationalizability, updates C++ compiler requirements, and adds new interfaces while removing deprecated ones. It is supported by “all major distributors,” the LSB claims. (more…)

A run of 100 Linux-powered humanoid robots goes on sale in Japan Friday, priced at 1.5M Yen (about $14,000), not including 10,000 Yen (~$90) monthly service fees. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries conceived of Wakamuru as a pleasant companion offering a range of electronic-age valet services, it says. (more…)

EmbWise of Chennai, India says its proprietary Linux SDIO stack now supports WiFi cards, in addition to Bluetooth Type A cards. Additionally, the stack has been ported to Sharp's Zaurus SL-C3000 PDA, the company says, to provide an inexpensive platform for SDIO card tests and demonstrations. (more…)

Sysgo will ship a major update to its embedded Linux OS/toolsuite in October. ELinOS 4.0 adds support for a small, safety-certifiable real-time microkernel and virtualization layer aimed at allowing its embedded Linux OS to run alongside POSIX/OSEK applications, legacy OSes, and certified safety-critical applications in military/aerospace applications. (more…)

Sharp Japan has given US-based Linux PDA fans one more reason to wish the dollar could hold its own against the Yen. The newly shipping (in Japan only) SL-C3100 is the second harddrive-equipped Zaurus model, and it also features English-language software aimed at Japanese students. (more…)

China's Academy of Electrical Power, a state research group, has used Linux and a real-time database from McObject to build a Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) aimed at preventing widespread, cascading power failures, such as the one that blacked out much of the northeastern United States and parts of Eastern Canada in… (more…)

Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) is shipping a reference design for Linux-based DVD players, IP-STBs, and digital media players. The design includes a MIPS-based TAEC SoC along with a Sigma Designs decoder chip, and can decode MPEG-2/4 or WMV9 video at standard or high definitions, the company says. (more…)

Lippert is shipping a rugged, low-power PC/104-Plus SBC (single-board computer) targeting harsh environment and extended temperature applications. The Linux-capable “Cool FrontRunner” is based on an AMD x86-compatible SoC, draws a claimed 6 Watts, and can operate from -40 to 185 degrees (-40 to 85 C). (more…)

The OSDL plans to create a legal entity to administer patents pledged to the open source community, as well as patents held or pending on behalf of the open source community. The OSDL's “patent commons project” is still being planned, but aims to encourage and facilitate patent pledges. (more…)

i3 and Espial have integrated Espial's “Evo” middleware with i3's Linux-based “Mood” IP set-top box platforms, and have signed a strategic partnership agreement around the combined product. The companies say the combination offers operators an integrated, interoperable platform for low-cost IPTV applications…. (more…)

Efforts to establish a 100 Mbps WLAN standard have stalled, according to ABI Research. Development of the 802.11n WiFi standard was already mired in a “two-camp battle” over the specifications to be submitted for IEEE approval. Now, the emergence of a third alternative may delay it until mid-2007, says ABI. (more…)

MRV Communications says its LX-series console servers are the “most secure available,” and that revised Linux-based firmware allows them to meet mandatory US and Canadian government security requirements. (more…)

Macraigor Systems has added support for Freescale's i.MX31 and i.MX31L to its line of hardware assisted debuggers. Additionally, it has added sample configurations for Freescale evaluation boards to its collection of free, pre-built GNU toolchains, and pledged to support forthcoming boards. (more…)

Linux WiFi specialist Sputnik is shipping uClinux-based firmware for LinkSys routers free-of-charge. The firmware allows WRT54-G and -GS models to be deployed in wireless networks managed by Sputnik's “carrier class” software and services. (more…)

[Updated Oct. 13, 2005] — Anders Electronics has launched a custom development and manufacturing service for display-oriented applications using XScale processors and either embedded Linux or Windows CE. (more…)