A startup has created a unique Linux-based home music distribution system based on “secure peer-to-peer wireless mesh” networking technology. Sonos says its Digital Music System can route the same or different songs, sourced from any connected computer, to as many as 30 audio output devices simultaneously. (more…)

Espial has optimized its Java-based set-top box GUI stack for Intel's 830M4 graphics chipset. Espial's Escape browser and Espresso GUI toolkit target Linux-based IP set-top boxes (IP-STBs) with customizable, internationalizable interfaces based on HTML and Flash, it says. (more…)

STMicroelectronics (ST) is sampling a high-integration SoC (system-on-chip) for low-cost set-top boxes (STBs) and other video-oriented consumer devices. The STB7100 integrates a SuperH core, H.264 and WMV9 decoders, and a multiplicity of on-chip peripheral interfaces, and targets set-top boxes, DVRs (digital video recorders), car multimedia centers, HD- and BlueRay-DVD players, (more…)

IBM's DeveloperWorks has published the first in a series of articles discussing how to migrate embedded Linux project prototypes from x86 to PowerPC. By way of example, the story also discusses a robotic submarine that was migrated to the KuroBox, an inexpensive PowerPC development system. (more…)

SSV Embedded Systems is shipping a miniscule single-board computer (SBC) that it claims is the world's tiniest Linux system. The DIL/NetPC DNP/5282 matches the footprint of a 40-pin “DIP” (dual-inline-package) IC, is based on a 66MHz Freescale Coldfire processor, and comes preinstalled with uClinux, (more…)

Transmeta will announce on Jan. 21 whether it will continue producing microprocessors, according to an article at ExtremeTech. The company derives most of its revenue by licensing intellectual property (IP) to other chip vendors, and may move to a pure IP licensing business model, the article says. (more…)

[Updated Jan. 6, 2005] — A project to produce a free, lightweight X11 window manager for resource-limited embedded systems has achieved a new release. Matchbox 0.9 features improved internals, and targets handhelds, set-top boxes, kiosks, and other systems where screen space, input mechanisms, or system resources are limited. (more…)

Smartvue has embedded Debian GNU/Linux in a home security and surveillance system that supports DVD-resolution video capture from secure, wireless IP-based cameras. The S2 system uses next-generation compression and wireless standards, along with image processing chips capable of dynamically adjusting the exposure setting of each pixel. (more…)

Smartvue has embedded Debian GNU/Linux in a security and surveillance system that supports DVD-resolution video capture from secure, wireless IP-based cameras. The S2 system uses next-generation compression and wireless standards, along with image processing chips capable of dynamically adjusting the exposure setting of each pixel. (more…)

A company selling Linux thin clients since 1994 has added a new X compression technology to its latest firmware revision. SmartFlex says NX technology from NoMachine reduces the per-client bandwidth usage of its Netion SmartClients, enabling use on low-bandwidth networks, and greater scalability. (more…)

O'Reilly has published another book about home automation projects. Home Hacking Projects for Geeks presents thirteen home projects involving Linux and Windows PCs, including systems for home automation, entertainment, and security. The book targets computer users of all abilities. (more…)

[Updated Jan. 5, 2005] — Coventive is shipping a mini-ITX SBC (single-board computer) targeting Linux-based DVRs (digital video recorders), wireless TVs, network MPEG encoding boxes, and surveillance systems. The Uranus board is based on a MIP64 Toshiba SoC (system-on-chip), along with a Vweb MPEG coprocessor. (more…)

Alereon, a fabless semiconductor house specializing in wireless chips for Ultrawideband (UWB) and Wireless USB (W-USB), has released an evaluation kit (EVK) for developing and testing “real world” UWB applications. The AL4000-EVK is based on the company's AL4000 series UWB chipset, which operates at speeds from (more…)

AMD is sampling a highly integrated MIPS32-based SoC (system-on-chip) targeting portable media players (PMPs) capable of displaying content from PCs and PVRs (personal video recorders). The Alchemy Au1200 supports embedded Linux, and comes with media player software that exploits low-level hardware acceleration for multiple media formats. (more…)

[Updated 2:30 P.M.] — Taiwanese motherboard maker FIC will unveil a Linux-based portable media player (PMP) at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. FIC's “Vassili” includes a 3.6-inch color LCD screen and a 20GB hard drive, and can play multimedia content downloaded directly (more…)