LinuxDevices year-end review: BR Top device stories of 2006
Dec 21, 2000 — by LinuxDevices Staff — from the LinuxDevices Archive — 2 viewsNOKIA'S OPEN SOURCE DIRECTOR ON THE 770 INTERNET TABLET
LinuxDevices founder Rick Lehrbaum recently discussed the new 770 Internet tablet with Ari Jaaksi, Nokia's director of open source software operations. This article presents a summary of their discussion, along with Lehrbaum's quick first impressions of the new device. Find out more about one of the hottest new handheld mobile Linux devices around. Details
MOTOROLA DEBUTS NEXT LINUX-BASED SMARTPHONE
Motorola's next Linux-based smartphone will have a slim, lightweight flip-phone design similar to its Razr phones. The A1200 was debuted by fashion designer Vivienne Tam at a Dec. 26 Shanghai press event. It has been registered with the FCC, suggesting it may soon reach the US. Details
LINUX POWERS FIRST JAPANESE DTV PHONE
Panasonic is shipping a Linux-based mobile handset capable of receiving digital or analog television. The “P901iTV” features a pivoting 2.5-inch color LCD, and works with NTT DoCoMo's 3G network in Japan. Digital TV services will launch in Japan this spring, DoCoMo says. Details
TUX-SHAPED COMPUTER RUNS LINUX
Acme Systems is shipping a Penguin-shaped case for a tiny SBC (single-board computer) powered by an innovative MCM (multi-chip module) that runs Linux. The 6.7-inch tall “Tux Case” houses a tiny RISC-based board with Ethernet, dual-USB, and several other I/O connectors. Finally, you can program Tux to do just what you want! Details
SLEEK LINUX SMARTPHONE HITS SHELVES IN BEIJING
Motorola's newest Linux-based smartphone reached electronics stores and online retailers in Beijing today. The A1200 is a triband GSM/EDGE phone with a stylish, ultra-slim design. It runs MontaVista Linux on an Intel PXA270 (Bulverde) processor, and has been approved by the FCC for US operation. Details
SEVEN-OUNCE “WRIST PC” RUNS LINUX
A European embedded computing specialist has announced a wrist-worn wearable computer that runs embedded Linux or Windows CE. Eurotech's WWPC (“wrist-worn PC”) offers a wealth of standard PC interfaces, along with several innovative wearable-specific features, the company claims. It targets emergency rescue, security, healthcare, maintenance, logistics, and “many other” applications. Details
LINUX POWERS “MING” SMARTPHONE IN CHINA
Motorola is reportedly shipping its Linux-based A1200 smartphone to distributors in China, where the phone will be sold under a “Ming” model-name. Ming means “bright, clear, open and clear-sighted,” reflecting the phone's translucent cover and open-source operating system, according to a popular technology website. Details
A LINUX SMARTPHONE MARKET UPDATE FROM CHINA'S E28
LinuxDevices.com recently caught up with E28 founder Roger Kung, who discussed E28's vision of the global mobile phone market; the promise of WiFi phones and FMC (fixed mobile convergence); and E28's low-cost Linux smartphone strategy and five new Linux phones for Asia, Europe, and the US. Find out what we learned, in this brief interview. The article includes a summary — including photos — of E28's Linux phone lineup. Details
LINUX-BASED MUSIC DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM GOES AMPLESS
Sonos is shipping a Linux-based music player and wireless mesh node that brings its multi-room digital music system to existing audio systems, such as stereos, home theaters, and high-end table radios. Details
LINUX POWERS ELECTRONIC SHEET MUSIC READER
FreeHand Systems used embedded Linux to build an electronic music reader designed to replace paper-based sheet music in practice, lesson, and performance settings. The MusicPad Pro Plus supports annotations, turns pages with screen-taps or an optional foot-pedal, and can store “thousands” of music charts, according to the company. Learn more about this interesting device and its embedded innards in our device profile. Details
LINUX POWERS INTERACTIVE TV FOR LIVE SPORTING EVENTS
Kangaroo TV used Linux and Qtopia to build a rugged, cellular-networked multimedia transceiver that lets spectators at live sporting events tailor their own broadcast coverage, selecting from up to 10 live video feeds, calling up instant replays on demand, and accessing statistics and score-cards in real-time. The IVT-200 is currently offered for rent NASCAR events, but also targets golf tournaments, along with football, baseball, and other mainstream sports. Learn more in our device profile. Details
HANDHELD LINUX GAMING GADGET GOES STATESIDE
A Linux-based handheld gaming platform that runs native and emulated games is shipping in the US. Gamepark's GP2X is powered by a pair of ARM9 processors, has an “open-source” API and development tools, and reportedly can run thousands of classic console video games. Details
$150 CHINESE LINUX MINI-PC RACES OLPC TO MARKET
A Chinese company is touting an inexpensive Linux-based computer as a way to close the “digital divide.” YellowSheepRiver's $150 “Municator” appears to be available now, with a three-month leadtime, suggesting it could reach market well ahead of MIT's $100 “One Laptop Per Child” (OLPC) device. Details
LINUX POWERS TINY FRENCH MULTIMEDIA PHONE
The Grundig G500i Dreamphone is the first Linux-based iMode phone available in Europe, and the first of several planned Linux-based models. Two years in development, it is the result of a hardware design and Linux implementation from Purple Labs, and is available now in France for as little as $13 (USD). Learn more about this unique, low-cost Linux phone in our complete Device Profile, which features an in-depth Q&A with Purple Labs Chief Operating Officer Jean-Marie Andre. Details
LINUX WEB TABLET GETS AN x86 UPGRADE
A smaller, lighter, faster, less expensive, x86-compatible version of the Linux-based Pepper Pad web tablet will ship in August. The third-generation Pepper Pad 3 has moved to an AMD Geode processor, and is said to offer better performance, battery life, and other improvements. Find out all about Pepper's new x86-based Pad 3 design in our detailed device profile. Details
LINUX-POWERED MUSIC PHONE SHIPS IN JAPAN
Panasonic is shipping another Linux-based mobile phone to NTT DoCoMo, for use with DoCoMo's FOMA (Freedom of Mobile Multimedia Access) 3G network. The P902iS is compatible with DoCoMo's Chaku-Uta music download service, and supports 2GB miniSD cards for storage of up to 1000 songs. Details
DUAL-MODE LINUX PHONE SHIPS IN FRANCE
French MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) and WiFi hotspot operator Neuf offers customers a dual-mode handset based on Linux 2.6.10 this month. Neuf's “Twin” phone supports GSM and WiFi, and offers worldwide VoIP calling at standard mobile rates through Neuf hotspots and CPE (customer premises equipment). Neuf claims to have 32,000 WiFi hotspots around the world. Details
LINUX HACKERS RE-CLAIM THE LINKSYS WRT54G
As predicted, the open source community has come up with a way to convert VxWorks-based LinkSys wireless WRT54G routers to Linux. The process does not require hardware hacking, and installs a recent version of “DD-WRT micro.” Details
770 TABLET “OS 2006” ARRIVES
Nokia has released a highly anticipated Linux operating system update for the 770 Internet Tablet. The “Tablet OS 2006” update — featuring a new look and feel, Google Talk VoIP, and more — is now available for download by 770 owners on Nokia's website. Details
LINUX-POWERED ROBOTS FROM FRANCE? OUI!
A French start-up created to build autonomous, easily programmable, affordable humanoid robots has emerged from stealth mode. Aldebaran Robotics, of Paris, expects to ship its first product — a humanoid household service robot running Linux — in early 2007. Details
OPEN, PROGRAMMABLE HUMANOID ROBOT RUNS LINUX
Four companies in Japan have created a low-cost, user-programmable humanoid robot targeting educational and research applications. The “Choromet” uses technology from Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), and is user-programmable thanks to open software running on a user-space real-time Linux implementation. Details
HANDS-ON REVIEW: MOTOROLA ROKR E2 MUSIC PHONE
Motorola's Linux-based Rokr E2 mobile phone looks ready to challenge Sony/Ericsson's Walkman phone in the hot emerging market for converged PMP phones (portable media player phones), according to this hands-on preview by LinuxDevices.com senior editor Henry Kingman. Details
SAMSUNG SHIPS ANOTHER LINUX PHONE
A new Linux-based phone is shipping to subscribers of China Mobile's “Go-Tone” GSM/GPRS service. The Samsung SGH-i858 features a large, 2.4-inch QVGA (240 x 320) color touchscreen, along with a slide-out hardware keypad. It runs version 2.5 of Mizi's “Prizm” Linux phone stack. Details
LINUX-BASED SCPL PHONES TO REPLACE MOTOROLA RAZR LINE
Motorola will abandon the proprietary “P2K” OS used in the Razr and other currently or soon-to-be shipping models, such as the Rizr, Krazr, and RazrMaxx. Additionally, the world's number-two handset vendor will transition future feature-phones to Linux, starting with a Scpl (“scalpel”) model due in October. Details
LINUX POWERS SONY'S NEW MYLO WIFI HANDHELD
In September, Sony expects to ship a Linux- and Qtopia-based handheld device featuring WiFi connectivity, an Opera web browser, and a variety of text- and voice-messaging clients and media players. The Mylo — short for “My Life Online” — will be available in black or white, priced at $350. Details
TINY, SUB-$100 PC RUNS PUPPY LINUX
A Bangkok-based company is shipping a tiny, sub-$100 PC capable of running Puppy and other lightweight Linux distributions. NorhTec's MicroClient Jr. measures 4.5 inches square, draws 8 Watts, and has a 166MHz Pentium-compatible processor with three integer units. It targets thin-client, kiosk, and electronic signage applications. Details
DIY LINUX HOME THEATER PC
LixSystems has introduced a low-cost Linux powered home theater PC (HTPC) packaged in a compact, consumer electronics-style enclosure. The LX8100-MN, available “barebones” (sans CPU, memory, and hard drive) for around $300, offers quiet operation and is supplied with an easily-installed Fedora 5-based system image on DVD. Details
LINUX POWERS DOCOMO'S FIRST 3.5G PHONE
Japan's largest mobile operator will power-up a 3.5G network next week, and launch a Linux-based phone capable of using it. The N902iX phone, supplied by NEC, offers features most U.S. and European users can only dream of — such as 3.6Mbit/s peak download speeds. Details
LINUX-POWERED E-BOOK USES REALISTIC ELECTRONIC PAPER
iRex used Linux and an electronic paper display to build a portable reading device available now for personal and business-to-business applications. The iLiad's paper display “reads just like paper, and is perceived as such by the human eye,” according to the company. Details
SKYPE DEBUTS LINUX-POWERED CORDLESS PHONE
Skype on Aug. 31 introduced a pair of cordless VoIP phones that work without being connected to a computer, via a DECT basestation that attaches directly to broadband and POTS lines. One of the two — the Philips VOIP841 — uses Linux as its embedded OS. Details
USER-MODIFIABLE LINUX PHONE SHIPS
Trolltech is shipping the Greephone, its open, user-modifiable Linux mobile phone aimed at helping developers write applications for, or modify components in, its Qtopia Phone Edition (QPE) software stack. Additionally, the company has quietly released a GPL-licensed “community” version of QPE. Details
SMALLER, FASTER, LIGHTER LINUX WEBPAD SHIPS SHORTLY
Hanbit Electronics and Pepper Computer will ship a third generation Linux-powered webpad “on or before September 30th,” Pepper confirmed Aug. 31. Compared to its predecessors, the Pepper Pad 3 boasts speedier web browsing, faster and more comprehensive multimedia support, smaller size, reduced weight, and numerous hardware Details
NEW ARCHOS WIFI-ENABLED PMP RUNS LINUX
A forthcoming portable media player (PMP) from Archos will be based on embedded Linux, confirms Opera Software, which will supply its Opera Web browser for the device. The Archos 604 WiFi will probably resemble Archos's currently available 604 model, but with added wireless networking and possibly a higher-resolution screen. Our news item contains photos and specs of the 604. Details
MINI LINUX PC BREAKS $100 BARRIER
Taiwanese integrator E-Way Technology Systems is shipping a tiny, 200MHz x86-compatible mini PC for $99, in single quantities. The TU-40 is passively cooled, comes with 128MB of RAM, and can run lightweight versions of Linux. Details
MCDONALD'S PILOTS LINUX-BASED ELECTRONIC SIGNAGE
Fast-food chain McDonald's is reportedly piloting Linux-based electronic signage at a location in Chicago. The Golden Arches at Archer and Rutherford is using content-managed digital signage for menu-board promotion, dining- and play-room adver-tainment, and customer information collection. Details
D-LINK TO MARKET UNLOCKED LINUX MOBILE PHONE
D-Link will market an unlocked, dual-mode WiFi and GSM/GPRS phone, according to an online publication based in New Zealand. The “V-Click” phone appears to be a rebranded Linux- and Qtopia-based phone design created by Taiwanese ODM Wistron NeWeb Corp. Details
FIRST TOP-TIER THIN CLIENT NOTEBOOK RUNS LINUX
Neoware will begin sampling a Linux-based thin client notebook next month. Unlike traditional notebooks, The m100 has no local data storage, and hence does not place sensitive data at risk of being lost or stolen. Details
NASA TESTS LINUX-BASED PLANETARY SURFACE EXPLORATION ROBOTS
Two Linux-based lunar rovers are on maneuvers — and Internet webcams — this week in the Arizona desert near Meteor Crater. The maneuvers are related to a NASA project tasked with developing extra-vehicular activity (EVA) hardware and procedures for planetary surface exploration. Details
CHEAP, HACKABLE LINUX SMARTPHONE DUE SOON
One of the world's largest computer and consumer electronics manufacturers will ship a completely open, Linux-based, GPS-equipped, quad-band GSM/GPRS phone direct, worldwide, for $350 or less, in Q1, 2007. First International Computing's (FIC's) “Neo1973” or FIC-GTA001, is the first phone based on the open-source “OpenMoKo” platform. Details
GOODBYE RAZR, HELLO LINUX-BASED MOTOFONE
Motorola is shipping the first model in its Scpl (“scalpel”) line of Linux-based phones set to replace the ubiquitous Razr. The Motofone F3, available now in India, is an extremely low-end phone featuring an “electronic paper” display, breakthrough battery life, and usability features for the illiterate. Details
DEBIAN ETCH LOVES THE SLUG
The “Slug” has gained much-improved Linux support, thanks to a new Debian installer that targets the device. The first release candidate of the debian-installer for Debian's forthcoming “Etch” distribution was released this week, offering nearly complete support to the Linksys $99 NSLU2 NAS gadget. Details
LINUX POWERS DASH-MOUNTED DAQ DEVICE
A Linux-based, dashboard-mounted data acquisition (DAQ) device was named “Best New International Product” at the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) tradeshow this week in Las Vegas. Drew Tech's “DashDAQ” interfaces via ODB2, displaying a rich variety of engine diagnostics information. Read our complete device profile: Details
“NOKIA 870” SPOTTED IN THE WILD
Rumors of a successor to Nokia's Linux-based 770 Internet tablet are circulating around the Web again. Several sites show a blurry photo of a slightly larger, more rounded 770-like tablet. Anonymous sources close to the company reportedly have confirmed that Nokia will ship a next-generation Linux-based Internet tablet in Q1 of 2007. Details
LINUX MULTIMEDIA PHONE LAUNCHES IN CHINA
Taiwanese pop superstar Jay Chou launched Motorola's thin, Linux-powered Rokr E6 multimedia phone, at the ITU Telecom World tradeshow this week in Hong Kong. The fourth-generation music phone is just over half an inch thick, and features a 2-megapixel camera and business card reader. Details
PLAYSTATION 3 SUPPORT NOW STANDARD IN LINUX 2.4
Sony-contributed patches aimed at adding machine-specific features for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) have been merged into the stable 2.4.20 kernel tree. The patches should greatly simplify maintaining Linux kernels for the PS3, which already runs at least one Linux distribution. Details
LINUX-POWERED E-PAPER E-BOOK OFFERS 60 BOOKS PER CHARGE
Taiwan-based e-book specialist eRead is shipping a Linux-based electronic book reader featuring an electrophoretic (aka electronic paper) display (EPD). The low-power, thin, light-weight Star eBook STK-101 can be used to read as many as 60 books on a single charge, the company claims. Read our complete Device Profile for more details. Details
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