Chassis Plans is shipping a small PC intended for use in computerized voting systems, kiosks, and other embedded Linux applications. The “11309-101” ran Linux during testing with the FEC (Federal Election Committee) and FCC (Federal Communications Commission), the company says. (more…)

IBM, Sony, and Toshiba have revealed information about an advanced microprocessor they are jointly developing for use in wide range of next-generation computing applications ranging from consumer electronics to supercomputers. The new chip, codenamed Cell, will support multiple operating systems (OSes), including PC, workstation, consumer electronics, and game OSes, (more…)

Ziff Davis Media Inc, the leading special interest technology media company, today announced it has completed the acquisition of DeviceForge LLC, a privately-held vertical online b-to-b publishing company headquartered in Palo Alto, California. The transaction enables Ziff Davis to expand its already extensive portfolio of vertical product and information websites (more…)

A community portal for Power technology has launched with backing from 15 companies. Power.org arrives eight months after IBM announced “Linux-like” licensing for the PowerPC ISA (instruction-set architecture). IBM hopes the portal will coalesce an OSS-like (open source software-like) ecosystem around “Power,” its broad branding term for the PowerPC ISA, (more…)

Db4objects has added an open source licensing option to its object database targeting real-time control systems, software products, and devices such as mobile electronics, game consoles, medical equipment, and automotive systems. The license option enables open source projects to freely use the code in Db4o. (more…)

A project to create embedded versions of Gentoo Linux has achieved preliminary releases on x86, MIPS, PPC, and ARM. The releases include native core system binaries, cross-platform toolchains, and, for x86, an optional hardened toolchain. The year-old project needs developers to help add cross-compile awareness to source packages. (more…)

Parvus Corp. is nearing production of a four-port USB 2.0 host controller built in the PC/104-Plus module form-factor. The USB104+ supports hot insertion, has two high-current USB ports for directly powering attached devices, and is compatible with embedded Linux. (more…)

The handheld device market is expanding faster than expected, especially for Wi-Fi-enabled devices, says ABI Research, which has increased its forecast for 2004 wireless handset shipments. ABI identifies the causes behind the expansion, which include several converging trends and “a somewhat more bullish economy,” in two new reports. (more…)

IBM has published the following technical articles, tutorials, and downloads on its developerWorks Website. They cover a range of interesting (though not necessarily embedded) technical topics. Some require free registration. Enjoy . . . (more…)

Linux Journal has published a gentle two-part introduction to embedded Linux development written by Richard A. Sevenich, a computer science professor at Eastern Washington University. The introduction explains enough about embedded Linux development to get the reader started on a hands-on course of self-study. (more…)

A popular website devoted to open source software on handheld computers is expected to be back online soon, following complications during an infrastructure upgrade. Handhelds.org should return within a few days, according to prominent contributor Jim Gettys. (more…)

Kontron is shipping a tiny RISC-based SBC (single-board computer) targeting cost-sensitive applications in industrial automation, transportation, medical technology, and defense. The PowerPC-based EB405 ships with a Linux BSP (board support package), and shares an interface with other E2Brain SBCs, or “computer-on-modules” (COMs) as Kontron calls them. (more…)

TimeSys is shipping 2.6-based embedded Linux development kits for two high-end IBM PowerPC chips for telecommunications, imaging, and networking. The TimeStorm Linux Development Kits (LDKs) support IBM's 750FX and 750GX, and include a hardware-optimized kernel with advanced real-time capabilities, an Eclipse-based development environment, and a royalty-free runtime, the company says. (more…)

The OSDL (Open Source Development Labs) has added open source POSIX tests to its online service that tests Linux kernel patches. It added the Open POSIX Test Suite (OPTS) to its Scalable Test Platform (STP) in cooperation with Bull, a company that sells servers and server software. (more…)

An open source project to offer an embedded-specific Java VM (virtual machine) and class libraries has been relaunched. Dutch software house Luminis and Belgian embedded Java specialist /k/ have taken over the Wonka project, which they say had languished since the late 2003 demise of founder Acunia. (more…)