MontaVista and RTI have made good on their commitment to ship three of RTI's real-time performance analysis and debugging tools as plugins for MontaVista's Eclipse-based embedded Linux tools framework. StethoScope, ProfileScope, and MemScope are now available as DevRocket plugins, on the x86 and PowerPC architectures. (more…)

The world's tenth-largest company, and second-largest oil company, chose a Linux-based PIN-pad entry device (PED) for its UK and Ireland gas stations. Shell selected Trintech's Smart 5000 PED because the hybrid card reader supports both magnetic swipe/signature authentication and the new generation of chip-and-PIN smart cards. (more…)

[Updated Nov. 11, 2004] — Kontron is offering a new Pentium M CPU module for its ruggedized in-vehicle computer. The fanless 1.4GHz Pentium M module offers a much more powerful CPU for the CV Server, previously limited to 400MHz and 700MHz Pentium III CPU modules. (more…)

Via Arena has published an article about PCI Express (PCIe) that discusses the new standard's history, technology, and market potential. PCIe radically increases PCI bus bandwidth, enabling support for multiple gigabit Ethernet interfaces, multiple SATA 150 drives, and next-generation graphics cards. (more…)

[Updated Nov. 12, 2004] — According to an article published at WindowsForDevices, Microsoft was ranked first in revenue in the 2003 embedded computing market by Venture Development Corp (VDC). However, Microsoft lost almost as much money as it brought in, in 2003's embedded market. (more…)

TimeSys is shipping an Eclipse 3.0-based version of its embedded Linux development and testing tools. TimeStorm Linux Development Suite (LDS) supports “any Linux” throughout the entire embedded development cycle, TimeSys says, while the TimeStorm Linux Verification Suite (LVS) provides thousands of pre-built tests, along with test authoring and automation tools. (more…)

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has adopted a second generation Bluetooth specification, said to increase data rates up to three times and reduce power consumption by up to half. Bluetooth Core Specification Version 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) is also backwards compatible with previous specifications, the organization says. (more…)

The Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium (EEMBC) is adding energy consumption metrics to its “application-focused” benchmarks for embedded processors. Two new working groups will establish required methodologies: one will focus on energy measurement benchmarks for hardware platforms and devices; the other will define simulation-based benchmarks for intellectual property (IP) processor cores. (more…)

Trolltech has revised its development platform, user interface, and application stack for Linux-based mobile devices, mainly adding features for mobile phones. New features in Qtopia 2.1 are said to include touchscreen phone support, full-screen handwriting input, new interface “themes,” MMS support, and reduced Flash footprint requirements. (more…)

NoMachine has upgraded its caching remote access proxies, which aim to lighten up the X, RDP, and RFB (VNC) protocols by placing caches at both network ends. NX 1.4.0 features better security, support for more platforms, and bugfixes. Updates of several open source packages using nx technology are also available. (more…)

China's government-owned TEM (telecommunications equipment manufacturer) has developed a 3G Linux mobile phone reference design, expected to appear in products in mid-2005. Datang's Linux phone design works with networks based on TD-SCDMA, a 3G technology largely invented by Datang, which may see use outside China. (more…)

A conference devoted to the Eclipse framework for cross-vendor tools integration has announced programs and speakers for its second annual event, set for Feb. 28 through Mar. 3 in Burlingame, Calif. EclipseCon targets beginning and advanced Eclipse users, as well as developers and architects of Eclipse-based products. (more…)

Over 20 members of the Gelato Federation are currently meeting in Pittsburgh, from Nov. 8-11, to review and exchange research advances for Linux on Intel's Itanium2 platform. A similar, ealier meeting Oct. 11-13 in Beijing attracted more than 25 Gelato Federation members. (more…)

Cavium will launch a family of security accelerator cards based on the new PCI Express chip-to-chip interface, in Q1, 2005. The full-height Nitrox XL NPX cards will come with Linux drivers, and will target security appliances with multiple gigabit Ethernet interfaces. Models with 1.5- and 2.5-Gbps security processing will be (more…)

PMC-Sierra is shipping four VoIP-oriented embedded processors that it acquired from Brecis. PMC-Sierra hopes the Brecis chips, which target VoIP (voice-over-IP) customer premises equipment (CPE), will enable it to serve existing customers of its carrier-network chips who are entering the “triple-play” (voice, data, and video) services market. (more…)