[Updated frequently] — Attending LinuxWorld? Want to catch all the embedded Linux action? This SuperGuide summarizes selected exhibitors' recent embedded-related activities, and provides their booth number, Website, and links to selected coverage at LinuxDevices.com. Load this page on your handheld's browser and hit the floor running!

• AMD, booth 647. Recently added mobile Athlon designs to embedded chip offerings, and continues to market the venerable GX (formerly Geode) chips acquired from National Semiconductor, as well as the Alchemy embedded processors acquired from Alchemy Semiconductor. Joined the OSDL in April.

  

• AML American Microsystems, Ltd, booth 778. Makes cool rugged data terminals such as the AML 7140 and the handheld AML 7100 (pictured at right) that run on embedded Linux.
• ADS, booth 1442. Markets embedded system boards such as the bitsy that are popular as the basis of embedded Linux design wins such as the 8D Technologies parking payment stations.
• Astaro, booth 1663. Markets an award-winning Linux-based OS that turns PCs into security appliances. Astaro supports several open source security projects.
• Avocent, booth 347. Networking equipment vendor that has marketed Linux-based KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) switches.
• Bitstream, booth 1484. Makes really nice fonts, some of which it recently donated to the GNOME Foundation. Also partnered with Lycoris recently on desktop Linux fonts. This interview with Bitstream VP Saampo Kaasila — instrumental in developing TrueType fonts at Apple — explains font concepts such as hinting and anti-aliasing.
• Black Duck Software, booth 4. Markets an automated open source software license management service to embedded and other Linux developers. Recently raised $5M in first funding round and partnered with Red Hat.
• CodeWeavers, booth 1661. Markets cross-platform libraries, including the popular Crossover Office for running Windows applications on Linux. The latest version of CO can even run iTunes!
• Cyclades, booth 1359. Markets network management devices based on Linux, including KVM servers (keybaord, video, mouse servers) and tiny device servers.
• Coraid, booth 690. Developed an ATA-over-Ethernet technology intended to replace expensive Fiber Channel networking in storage area networks, creating “poor man's SAN.”
• Covalent Technologies, booth 1384. Offers commercial Apache support, and joined the OSDL in 2002.
• Debian, booth 164. A completely free open source Linux distribution that is among the most popular sources of embedded Linux, in particular with the ARM architecture.

  

• E28 Limited, booth 373. Founded in 2002 by a high-ranking former Motorola executive to capitalize on the promise of Linux as an OS for smartphones, E28 launched the world's first commercially available smartphone in August, 2003, and plans to distribute a Linux smartphone in the Chicago area soon.
• Equinox, booth 349. An Avocent company, Equinox markets console servers including the ESP-2 MI, a 2-port serial-to-LAN adapter.
• Gelato, booth 167. A global research community formed by HP in March, 2002, and focusing on open source solutions for the 64-bit Intel Itanium platform.
• HelloSoft, booth 105. Develops a software-only VoIP stack for ARM said to support two simultaneous voice lines on a sub-$14 SoC from Toshiba.
• K Desktop Environment, booth 264. KDE is a popular open source desktop founded by Matthias Ettrich, who was recently interviewed at KDE.news.
• Linux Terminal Server Project, booth 368. An open source project developing software for thin clients that can host Windows, Linux, and Java applications. Used by several thin-client vendors, including Symbio Technologies, which offers free LTSP management software and recently saw through the HP/Dell recycling scheme.

  

• Lycoris, booth 1483. A desktop-focused Linux distributor (formerly known as Redmond Linux) that recently licensed high-end fonts and also released a Linux OS for the HP iPAQ, a popular PDA capable of running Linux. Lycoris founder Joseph Cheek is shown at right holding a tablet PC running Lycoris/LX.
• Mozilla, booth 366. Mozilla is an open source browser that recently gained an embeddable version called MiniMo rumored to be funded by Nokia.
• NexCom, booth 1190. Markets EBC SBCs (single board computers) with VIA processors.
• Novell/SuSE, booth 1265. Novell acquired SuSE and Ximian (formerly Helix Code), and is rumored to be looking at acquiring or partnering with an embedded company to round out their “end-to-end” enterprise services story (well, SuSE also does embedded, including a Carrier Grade Linux distribution). Recently partnered with HP on thin clients. Sued by SCO in February, soon after launching indemnification program. Also noteworthy: Novell has made progress with Ximian's Mono Project development framework and tools, which recently launched its first stable release.
• Open Source Risk Management, booth 1486. Sells re-insurance and legal services for open source software users. Announced today it will insure open source users and developers against software patent cases. Recently hired Groklaw.net founder Pamela Jones.
• PFU Systems, booth 375. Markets neat “system-on-modules,” including some based on the latest Intel embedded chips.
• Progeny, booth 790. Founded and run by the people who brought you Debian Linux, Progeny offers a range of “platform services” including a Web platform service for embedded Linux developers.

  

• Psion, booth 1675. Embedded Linux…? On a Psion?! Yes, Psion Ltd., the popular palmtop vendor, is exploring OS alternatives, and is testing the Linux waters at LinuxWorld this year. The photo at right shows Linux running on a Psion Teklogix Netbook Pro, which normally runs Windows CE.
• Red Hat, booth 563. Recently partnered with embedded marketshare leader Wind River. Also announced partnership with Black Duck software around Intellectual Property management tools and services.
• Tatung Science & Technology, booth 1173. Offers ultra-dense blade servers that use PCI-X server blades.
• SBE, booth 1444. Sells open-standards-based network interface cards and communication controllers, such as fully channelized T3 cards, and a carrier-grade chassis that supports embedded Linux through a partnership with TimeSys.
• Snap Appliance, booth 1382. Sells network storage appliances based it's own Linux-based GuardianOS, which it recently updated.
• Trolltech, booth 356. Primarily a tools vendor that sells cross-platform development frameworks for graphical applications, including Qt and QT Embedded, which is used in Motorola's smartphones. Trolltech also markets Qtopia, an application stack for PDAs, and launched Qtopia Phone Edition, a complete application stack for Linux smartphones, in May. Winner of a LinuxWorld award for best product design (view photo).
• Wyse Technology, booth 1647. Leading thin-client vendor, recently revised its Wyse Linux thin-client OS and joined the OSDL.

Of course, the above list is just a partial listing of the many vendors on hand for the 2004 Summer LinuxWorld. A complete list of vendors is available here.

What do YOU think are the most interesting embedded stories at this year's San Francisco LinuxWorld? Share your picks with our readers: Talkback!

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.