First Technology is shipping a low-powered, low-cost development board targeting passively cooled sensor, signal processing, control, and telematics applications. The PXA1 is based on an Intel XScale PXA255, and comes preinstalled with Linux 2.4.25 and the open source u-Boot bootloader. (more…)

PC Magazine has published a rave review of the Linux-based Sonos ZonePlayer ZP100 digital music hub, calling it “the best and easiest audio-only media hub we've seen,” “the iPod of digital audio hubs,” and “the first digital audio hub we can recommend without reservation.” (more…)

PalmSource has stepped closer to Linux — and smartphones — today, completing its $16M acquisition of China MobileSoft (CMS). CMS is a successful mobile phone software startup in China that gives PalmSource a local presence as it attempts to establish PalmOS as a middleware and application stack for Linux smartphones. (more…)

Freescale has sampled a new, highly integrated mobile phone component to former parent and number-two worldwide handset maker, Motorola. The postage-stamp-sized multi-chip-module is based on Freescale's Mobile Extreme Convergence (MXC) architecture, initially announced by Motorola in October, 2003. MXC is capable of endowing MP3 players, handheld (more…)

Lucid Signs has used embedded Linux to build several electronic signs that function like printers. Users create their message using any application, and simply print to the sign as to any network printer. The LCD-based signs target corporate campuses, hotels, restaurants, and museums. (more…)

Lucid Signs has embedded Linux in a family of electronic signs for corporate campuses, meeting rooms, hotels, restaurants, and museums. The LCD-based signs function like network printers, and run a configurable, modular Linux-based operating system called “SignOS” that powers a number of other products as well. (more…)

Annual worldwide shipments of handheld devices fell again in 2004, to 9.2 million units — 13 percent below 2003's already lagging numbers — according to a report released today by IDC. The continued decline stresses an urgent need for manufacturers to evolve their devices beyond personal information management, IDC said. (more…)

Linus Torvalds, Andrew Morton, Brian Behlendorf, and Mitch Kapor delivered a panel-style keynote at yesterday's OSDL Enterprise Summit, in Burlingame, Calif. The open source luminaries spoke informally about their interests and concerns, which include kernel developer access to embedded hardware. (more…)

Eben Moglen spoke at the OSDL Summit yesterday about efforts to re-write the LGPL and GPL licenses. Moglen is head of the newly formed SFLC (Software Freedom Law Center), which is working toward shipping “GPL v3” after a year or more of work. (more…)

The LSB (Linux Standards Base) will be split up into “modules,” in order to facilitate the creation of standards-compliant server and desktop distributions, according to a story at eWEEK. The fragmentation will enable the standard to encompass more specialized technologies, according to the Free Standards Group, which oversees it. (more…)

An open source project has achieved the first stable release of a Linux driver for Intel's mini-PCI wireless 802.11b/g adapters. The IPW2200 project, founded by Intel, is offering the 1.00 version of a GPL'd driver for Intel's PRO/Wireless 2200BG and 2915BG miniPCI adapters for free download. (more…)

Axiomtek has released a trio of rugged SBCs that come with a Linux kernel, drivers, and customization tools. Two are in 3.5-inch SBC format and use Geode GX1 processors, while the third is in 5.25-inch format and uses a Pentium M. All three target high-performance, low-power, (more…)

The OSDL (Open Source Development Labs) has raised $4 million to seed a non-profit, independent legal center that will provide free services to eligible open source developers and projects. The Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) will offer asset stewardship, licensing, license defense and litigation support, legal support, and lawyer training. (more…)

Manifold Labs used Linux and real-time patches to build a rack-mount plugin player for audio performers and recordists. Plugzilla runs a 2.4-series kernel, supports eight channels of 24bit/96kHz audio, as well as MIDI, and comes with 130 plugins, such as reverb, distortion, drum machines, and more. (more…)

Concurrent Technologies is shipping two low-power, single-slot VMEbus single board computers (SBCs) that support Linux. The VP 325/02x has a 1.6GHz Pentium M processor, while the VP 327/02x can be fitted with either a 1.8GHz or low-voltage 1.4GHz processor (the latter supports extended temperature environments). (more…)