Computer Business Review has fueled the rumor that Samsung is working on an embedded Linux based mobile smart phone, citing as evidence Samsung's recent deal with Superscape to license 3D gaming technology for Linux-based “Mobile Intelligent Terminals” (MITs) shipping “later this year.”…

Click for larger view of Swerve Client phone

Samsung has never officially announced its intention to use Linux in upcoming smart phones, but embedded Linux and mobile phone application stack provider Mizi has hinted that it is working with the consumer electronics giant on such devices. It first developed a BSP for Samsung's S3C2410X mobile processor, then released press releases for its Mizi Linux 2.0 for mobile smartphones that refer to an unidentified consumer electronics powerhouse. Mizi also supplied screen shots in its press kit emblazoned with the Samsung logo.

The licensing deal between Samsung and Superscape includes the ARM Swerve i3D Graphics Client 2.0 that Superscape developed in partnership with chip vendor AMD. It also includes two new interactive 3D games developed using Superscape's Swerve Author software, which will be included in the launch of the new Samsung MITs, according to Superscape.

Superscape describes Swerve Client as “a highly optimised software-rendering engine bringing console quality 3D Java applications to wireless devices.” It has been ported to 17 different platforms, including Linux, MIDP 1.0, 2.0, Symbian, Brew, Pocket PC (2000, 02, 03), and several RTOSs, according to Superscape.

Superscape lists the following features for Swerve Client:

• Generic 3D library enabling many application types
• High performance 3D software solution fully optimised by ARM to run on ARM cores
• Low cost solution with small memory footprint in both RAM and ROM
• Integration with Open GL ES and future hardware acceleration solutions

Swerve Client 1.0 is currently available, with the 2.0 release licensed by Samsung and featuring JSR 184 compliance to be commercially available pending ratification of the JSR 184 standard in Fall of 2003.

Several days after making its Samsung announcement, Superscape issued another press release revealing that Motorola had also licensed Swerve i3D and several games based upon it for devices scheduled to ship in mid-2004. Motorola is already shipping the A760 smart phone based on embedded Linux.

Read full story

 
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.