Two companies are collecting used-but-working PDAs for donation to physicians working in Africa. Skyscape, which sells medical software for handhelds, and Satellife, a global health information network, have co-founded the “Global Supply Line” program, which launches today to coincide with World AIDS Day. (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…)

Both router and embedded host versions of Interpeak's dual-mode IPv4/IPv6 TCP/IP stack for Linux have passed the Phase 1 requirements in the IPv6 Forum's IPv6 Logo Program. IPNET is available for a number of real-time operating systems, but only the Linux version was tested for IPv6 compliance. (more…)

Mobile phones are about to conquer yet another entertainment medium — television. According to a recent report from ABI research, despite initial hesitation from cellular operators, the medium finally appears to be moving toward deployment in devices and on mobile carriers' networks. (more…)

This whitepaper from a senior developer with Squirrel Systems discusses how Squirrel used Linux in its highly successful POS (point-of-sales/service) system. It focuses on the advantages and challenges of choosing embedded Linux, and may be of interest to other companies considering embedded Linux. Enjoy . . . ! (more…)

TimeSys is shipping embedded Linux 2.6 Development Kits (LDKs) for two rugged VMEbus SBCs (single-board computers) from Curtis-Wright Controls Embedded Computing (CWCEC). The SBCs target military and aerospace applications such as tactical aircraft and armored vehicles with radar, sonar, and signal intelligence. (more…)

FSMLabs is shipping a migration kit for real-time systems developers facing the announced obsolescence of VxWorks 5.0, or using even older, unsupported versions of the proprietary RTOS (real-time operating system). The cleverly named “VxIT” kit supports 250 legacy APIs, FSMLabs says, enabling real-time VxWorks applications to port easily to RTLinux. (more…)

InnoPath has added support for Linux handsets to its commercial over-the-air (OTA) firmware upgrade product for handset manufacturers and service providers. The company calls Linux “an increasingly popular embedded open-source operating system among leading handset manufacturers in Asia.” (more…)

LinuxWorld East, set for February 14-17 this year in Boston, has announced its lineup of keynote speakers. Speakers include representatives of Novell, HP, Computer Associates (CA), Attitude LLC, and MySQL AB. (more…)

This whitepaper from a senior developer with Squirrel Systems discusses how Squirrel used Linux in its highly successful POS (point-of-sales/service) system. It focuses on the advantages and challenges of choosing embedded Linux, and may be of interest to other companies considering embedded Linux. (more…)

An outspoken open source detractor has paid Linux a back-handed compliment. Green Hills Software (GHS), known for diatribes against Linux in military/aerospace applications, is shipping “Padded Cell technology” (PCT) intended to enable the company's proprietary real-time operating system (RTOS) to take advantage of the wealth of Linux application software. (more…)

A German vendor claiming to have the best-selling embedded Linux distribution in Europe has signed up a VAR (value-added reseller) in Japan. Four Link Systems will support Sysgo's ELinOS with a full line of services, including local support, training, and custom development. (more…)

Former Wind River executive Michel Genard has left the company for a marketing position at Jaluna. Jaluna has also hired veteran executive Manuel Montalban to lead its sales team, as part of a broad effort to increase marketing behind its virtual platform technology. (more…)

A German company has used embedded Linux to build an in-car navigation system with route-planning, traffic avoidance, and spoken direction features. NaviFlash's NaviFlash device comes pre-installed with detailed maps of Germany, and the main roads of Europe, with maps of 17 other European countries also available. (more…)

Axiomtek is shipping royalty-free embedded Linux kernels and drivers for its x86-based SBC (single-board computers). The 2.4.25-series kernels support the company's PC/104, 3.5-inch, 5.25-inch, and half-size SBCs, and target industrial autiomation, HMI (human machine interfaces), POS (point of sales/service), transaction terminals, and more. (more…)