Metrowerks Corp. announced that its Linux-based “OpenPDA” mobile device software platform now supports AMD's Alchemy Solutions Au1100 system-on-chip processor. AMD targets the Au1100 at mobile information appliances including Web pads, telematics, PDAs, and multimedia handheld computing devices.

According to AMD, the Au1100 is based on a MIPS32 processor core, running at clock rates from 333 to 500MHz, with power dissipations in in the range of 200 to 500 mW (depending on clock rate). On-chip functions include memory controllers (SDRAM/SRAM/Flash/EPROM), an LCD display controller, 10/100 Ethernet, USB Device and Host controllers, 3 UARTS, AC-97, two SD card ports, and up to 48 GPIOs.

Metrowerks said its newly announced OpenPDA support targets AMD's DbAu1100 reference board (shown below) for the Au1100 processor. The board includes SDRAM and Flash memory and provides external connectors for accessing the Au1100's many LCD display controller and input/output interface ports (USB, serial, Ethernet, audio, etc.). It also includes PCMCIA and SD Card expansion slots for system expansion.

AMD's DbAu1100 Reference Board
According to Metrowerks, the OpenPDA Development Studio includes a pre-integrated board support package (BSP) for the Alchemy Au1100 processor, complete with an enhanced Linux kernel, related drivers, and middleware and applications that have been optimized for system performance and reliability. The toolkit also features an intuitive GUI-based development environment (the Metrowerks Platform Creation Suite), which is designed to simplify configuration, development and deployment tasks, the company said.

Middleware and applications included in the OpenPDA support includes a multimedia player, games, voice recording, image viewer, synchronization, browsing (Opera), and Java JVM (esmertec Jeode), plus a full PIM suite (Trolltech Qtopia) that provides calendar, contacts, to-do list, email, and text editor programs.

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