Salt Lake City, UT — (press release excerpt) — next Monday, Century Embedded Technologies will roll out PIXIL Thin Client, a new Linux-based thin client software package that is said to offer PC-like capabilities in small footprint, resource-constrained devices.

According to Century president (and Microwindows project founder) Greg Haerr, “PIXIL thin client is unique in its ability to give devices access to a combination of both Windows and Linux based applications. “Because the devices can make use of locally run Linux code for browsing, PIXIL can ease network congestion by offloading browser-based tasks directly to the client,” explains Haerr. “Embedded Linux supports native applications and provides Windows accessibility,” he adds. “Additional advantages of using Linux as the thin client OS are its proven security and reliability.”

“Thin clients can provide cost-effective ways to deliver and manage information across the enterprise,” says Haerr. “Advantages of adopting thin clients include centralized application management and maintenance, access between new and existing applications, greater interoperability, and improved security,” he adds. “Thin appliances targeting end user needs and centralized management capabilities are introducing a shift in the network-computing paradigm and replacing the PC.”

Century's thin client solution supports Microsoft's Terminal Server RDP and Citrix Systems' ICA protocols, which give thin clients access to Windows-based servers across a network or over the Internet. Additionally, the use of these protocols reduces network bandwidth requirements by transmitting only changes.

The product's browser-based connectivity is based on customized small-footprint versions of Mozilla and Netscape. Supported advanced Internet technologies include: HTML 4.0, JavaScript 1.4, Real Networks, Adobe PDF, and Shockwave. These features fit within 32MB of memory, including both a local browser and client-side application support. That footprint can be reduced to 16MB if the local browser support is omitted.

OEMs and manufacturers can scale and customize the client environment using Century's PIXIL Software Development Kit (SDK), which includes tools for selecting essential services and adding functionality. Generic configurations are available to jump-start device bring-up and application development.

 
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