LinuxWorld — Cirrus Logic has revealed several interesting new design wins for its Maverick processors running Embedded Linux in Internet products such as the futuristic IBM Internet appliance wrist watch prototype, S3's Diamond Rio Receiver, and PhatNoise's PhatBox car audio system. Other soon-to-be-announced Embedded Linux apps on Maverick processors are expected to include a wide variety of Internet appliances such as web tablets, Personal Device Appliances (PDAs), TV Internet boxes, and audio jukeboxes.

• IBM Linux Wristwatch — The recently announced IBM Internet appliance wristwatch prototype (see article, photo) would allow consumers to send and receive email on the go, giving them the convenience and time saving advantages of an Internet connection without wires or plugs.

• The Diamond Rio Receiver — the Diamond Rio Receiver (photo) is an interesting example of using the Cirrus Logic Maverick processor with embedded Linux. “We selected Linux for our latest home audio device, the Rio Receiver, because of its open architecture,” said Mike Reed vice president of marketing of S3's Rio division. “This allows us accelerated time to market while maintaining ease of use for consumers.” The device, which won ZDNet's first-ever “Tech Trendsetter” award, enables consumers to stream MP3 music from a PC to any room in the house, giving consumers access to MP3 music in their living room stereo, where they were previously limited to portable digital audio players.

• PhatNoise PhatBox — PhatNoise's PhatBox car audio system (see info, photo), which won “Best Overall Product” at the Third Annual MP3 Summit, gives consumers the capability to take MP3 music files from their PC and listen to them in the sound system of their car. “The PhatNoise Car Audio System demanded a powerful, flexible platform to keep pace with the quickly evolving digital audio and car stereo environments,” said Dannie Lau, CEO, PhatNoise. “The pairing of embedded Linux running on a 74MHz Cirrus Logic EP7212 system-on-chip processor provided a robust, mature, and cost-effective solution that allowed us to develop our award-winning Car Audio System in record time.”

“As a leader in embedded processors for Internet audio and information appliances, we are seeing strong customer demand for Embedded Linux in consumer applications,” said Matthew Perry, vice president and general manager of Cirrus Logic's Embedded Processor Division. According to Perry, key benefits of the Maverick processors in the embedded Linux market are their flexibility, long battery life, and the rapid design cycles they enable.

Cirrus Logic has a broad Linux product offering for the Maverick EP7211 and EP7212 and is committed to enhancing the Linux offering for these products and newly announced products such as the EP9312. Linux code for the Maverick processors, including the complete source for the operating system, its 2.2.1 kernel, BASH shell display, driver touch screen keyboard and TCP/IP networking protocol stack are available at: www.maverickaudio.com.

 
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