An independent analysis by In-Stat/MDR's Microprocessor Report indicates that the 64-bit x86 architectures from AMD and Intel are almost, but not quite, identical. Near-100% software compatibility is possible, but in some cases, programs written for one 64-bit architecture may not run properly on the other 64-bit architecture, according to the report. (more…)

A brief BargainPDA.com review of the Sharp Zaurus SL-6000 lists several places where U.S. consumers can buy the enterprise-oriented device. The review lists several online retailers, including (more…)

The new Linux 2.6 kernel offers many improvements over the 2.4 version. One area of technical advancement is in the kernel networking options. Although there are enhancements in most of the files associated with the networking options, this article focuses on major feature improvements and additions that affect entire sections rather than on specific files. (more…)

While still some years from viability in a production environment, optical chip-to-chip interconnect technology was recently demonstrated by a team from the Intel Components Research Lab in a fully functioning prototype device that attained an aggregate bandwidth of more than 8 giga-transfers per second. (more…)

Gumstix is shipping two very small XScale-based single board computers that come with uClinux and target battery-powered handheld devices, robots, and wearable applications. The Gumstix boards are also available in “Waysmall” systems, complete with tiny cases. (more…)

Archos will ship at the end of 2004 a portable audio/video device rumored to be based on embedded Linux. Cebit attendees report that the as-yet unnamed device was spotted running Qtopia, a PDA app stack from Trolltech currently available only for embedded Linux. (more…)

Linux will be used to create a giant, temporary supercomputer from normal PCs brought by volunteers to an event tomorrow in San Francisco billed as the first of its kind. “FlashMob” will showcase technology enabling ordinary people with standard PCs to create a supercomputer in a matter of hours. (more…)

The RaveHD is a hybrid video digital disk recorder (DDR)/player and video editor based on Linux and built around open source and Unix design principles. Two years in development, it targets the post production and visual effects industries, and has been used in the production of major movies. (more…)

A Denx developer has released under the GPL a filesystem for embedded Linux systems that facilitates software updates of read-only filesystems. The “mini_fo” or mini fan-out filesystem works similarly to FreeBSD's union filesystem, according to developer Markus Klotzbücher, and serves “to virtually make a read-only filesystem writeable.” (more…)

IBM today held an event in New York called “Power Everywhere,” at which it announced its plans to cultivate an open-source-like development ecosystem around its Power processor intellectual property. New IBM programs will reward companies, partners, and researchers who embed Power cores in system-on-chips (SoCs) targeting a variety of applications. (more…)

Embedded hardware specialist VIA will partner with thin client software vendor Neoware Systems on embedded Linux network appliances targeting enterprise customers. The appliances will run a thin-client embedded Linux implementation that Neoware is expected to announce next Monday. (more…)

This article by Movial Technical Manager Veli Mankinen introduces a GPL-licensed toolset for integrating, cross-compiling, and testing Linux software. Scratchbox provides a sandbox build environment that assures that the intended versions of libraries, headers, and other such files are used during the build. (more…)

Wind River says it, too, will deliver embedded Linux and tools for IBM's much-heralded PowerPC 970FX processor. Wind River says it will support the new chip — a die-shrink of the PowerPC 970 chip found in Apple Macintosh G5s — through its recently announced partnership with Red Hat. (more…)

Following NASA's announcement that “substantial” amounts of liquid water once existed on Mars, Art & Logic, Inc. is studying the feasibility of outsourcing computer programming tasks to the Red Planet. The company hopes to establish early dominance in the Martian outsourcing market, should a Martian civilization ever be discovered. (more…)

Foreword: This article by Movial Technical Manager Veli Mankinen introduces a GPL-licensed environment that provides a set of tools to integrate, cross-compile, and test Linux software. Scratchbox provides a sandbox build environment that assures that the intended versions of libraries, headers, and other such files are used during the build. (more…)