What's inside the Hi-Muse?

The prototype version of the Hi-Muse is based on a choice of either a 733 MHz Pentium III or a 533 MHz Celeron Intel x86 processor, with 64MB of RAM memory. The system can boot its embedded Linux application software from either a nonvolatile “Flash” memory or from a regular magnetic media hard disk. The prototype has a 15 GB hard disk.

FST is in the process of porting the Hi-Muse's software to two non-x86 “system-on-chip” processors, the Cirrus Logic Maverick EP9312 and the Texas Instruments OMAP 1510. This is being done for three important reasons: (1) these processors are better suited to audio processing than conventional PC CPUs, because they each contain a combination of ARM and DSP processing cores; (2) these consumer appliance oriented processors are significantly less expensive than the Pentium or Celeron they replace; and (3) system-on-chip processors integrate more peripherals on-chip, and hence decrease overall component count even while increasing the system's performance and scalability.

Embedded software

As mentioned, the Hi-Muse contains an embedded computer that runs Linux. The embedded Linux operating system used in the device is based on Red Hat's Linux (kernel 2.2.16-22), but with the addition of real-time audio support to enhance the system's audio performance.

The user interface consists of an FST-developed custom embedded browser running on top of Microwindows, which supplies the underlying graphical display engine. That browser interface provides access to all Hi-Muse applications.

Interestingly, FST opted to create a unique XML-based markup language, in order to more efficiently serve the needs of small devices like the Hi-Muse. “This 'Small Device Markup Language' (SDML) is roughly halfway between HTML and WML,” says Grison. Naturally, the Hi-Muse's custom embedded browser supports SDML; and in addition, it provides full JavaScript support.

Why Linux?

Why did FST choose Linux as the embedded operating system for the Hi-Muse?

“Firstly,” explains Grison, “we chose Linux because of the richness of available software components, which enabled us to focus more on integration than on software development, resulting in much faster time-to-market than we could otherwise have achieved. Secondly, Linux is inexpensive, robust, and stable. Also, Linux was probably the best-suited OS in any case, since the Hi-Muse is a networked device.” “We are definitely happy with our choice,” Grison adds.

• Part 1: The ultimate music appliance?
  
• Part 2: Summary of features
  
• Part 3: What's inside the Hi-Muse?
  
• Part 4: When will the Hi-Muse be available?

 
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