A Linux-based operating system for IP-TVs based on single-core DSPs (digital signal processors) will support a proprietary video codec claimed to perform better than H.264, VC1, and other commonly used codecs. The VP6.2 codec from On2 Technologies will be ported to Softier's MediaLinux OS, the companies say. (more…)

Several consumer electronics giants have formed a joint development association (JDA) tasked with developing content management and protection standards for manufacturers building consumer electronics devices, according to an article at DeviceForge. The Marlin JDA includes Sony, Matsushita (Panasonic), Royal Phillips, and Samsung, along with DRM (digital rights management) specialist InterTrust. (more…)

The OSDL (Open Source Development Labs) should encourage its members to follow IBM's lead and open up 500 patents for use in open source, says Stephen J. Vaughan-Nichols, in a lively eWEEK editorial that points out some of the absurdities created by current US software patent laws. (more…)

A story today at eWeek refutes a wild rumor circulating this week that IBM and the OSDL will re-write the Linux kernel to avoid patent infringements. The rumor began when the organizations announced a joint press conference, set for next Tuesday, involving a program codenamed “Project Open Gates.” (more…)

The Open Embedded group is seeking speakers and attendees for a mini-conference on developing and using open source platforms such as Linux on handheld and other embedded devices. The conference will coincide with Australia's national Linux conference, LCA 2005, set for Apr. 18-23 at Australian National University in Canberra. (more…)

[Updated Jan. 20, 2005] — The Consumer Electronics Linux Forum (CELF) will host a technical conference for members and their invitees only, January 25th and 26th in San Jose, Calif. The conference features sessions and technical demonstrations delivered by a veritable who's who of embedded Linux luminaries. (more…)

The Open Group has released the source code to a set of middleware used widely in distributed computing environments. It says releasing DCE (Distributed Computing Environment) under the LGPL (lesser GPL) will broaden its use as a vendor-neutral interoperability infrastructure. (more…)

PC/104-pioneer Ampro has released a lower-cost alternative to its Intel-based rugged ETX 700 single board computer (SBC). The ETX 550 is offered with a selection of Via Eden processors ranging from 300 MHz to 1 GHz, and comes with driver support for Linux. (more…)

TimeSys is offering a 14-day trial download (registration required) of its development toolkit for embedded Linux. TimeStorm Linux Development Suite (LDS) works with all embedded Linux distributions, supports hundreds of available plugins for the Eclipse 3.0, and is bundled with LDKs supporting 90 specific processors across seven architectures, TimeSys says. (more…)

Kontron has introduced three new high-performance CompactPCI CPU boards — one in 3U and two in 6U format — based on 2 GHz Intel Pentium M 755 or 760 processors. All three support embedded Linux, are designed for passive cooling, and support rear backplane I/O. (more…)

The third-annual Southern California Linux Expo (SCALE) is set for February 12-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the event will feature a number of speakers of interest to embedded Linux developers. The event solicited papers about embedded Linux in November of last year. (more…)

[Updated Jan. 19, 2005] — Green Hills Software has filed an antitrust suit against competitor Wind River, alleging the embedded giant blocked it from effectively marketing development tools for VxWorks, Wind River's flagship embedded operating system. Green Hills also alleges that Wind River slighted its Multi tools in advertising Workbench (more…)

NEC used an embedded, real-time database from TimesTen to build a telecommunications switch for mobile operators supporting Internet traffic, TimesTen says. NEC used TimesTen/DataServer in its Packet Core Node, said to be the first commercial telecom switch based on Intel hardware and Carrier Grade Linux. (more…)

The Consumer Electronics Linux Forum (CELF) has incorporated in California as a not-for-profit organization. The new status, obtained January 1, will give CELF more flexibility to fund open source development work, and create relationships with other organizations, it says. (more…)

LynuxWorks is now shipping its first product targeting the retail/POS (point-of-sales) market. BlueCat Linux POS is based on a 2.6 kernel, supports USB and variety of POS hardware, and comes with long-term support. It includes drivers for POS peripherals such as barcode scanners, and is available with development tools. (more…)