Santa Clara, CA — (press release excerpt) — Transmeta Corporation today announced that it has “open sourced” its Mobile Linux operating system, known as Midori Linux, to allow industry-wide input for its further development. The source code changes Transmeta made to Linux are being open sourced as part of the “Midori Linux Project.” The term “project” reflects Transmeta's intention that the operating system's continued development include open industry participation. The source code for the Midori Linux Project has been released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) and is immediately available at midori.transmeta.com.

“Midori Linux will be attractive for any application that can benefit from full Linux compatibility, low power, low thermals and a small footprint,” said David R. Ditzel, vice chairman and chief technology officer, Transmeta Corporation. “We consider Midori Linux to be a technology building block for use by Transmeta, our customers and the open source community. Through this announcement we are inviting everyone to participate in the operating system's evolution.”

This x86 compatible version of Linux is suitable for a broad range of applications, not only those that are mobile. Midori Linux has already been successfully implemented by some of Transmeta's major customers in unique product designs. One such product, the Gateway Connected TouchPad with instant AOL access, is a fanless, cool- and quiet-running Internet appliance that was a “Best of Show” award winner at Comdex Fall 2000. Other products, such as ultra-dense servers recently announced by Transmeta customers, will also benefit from the operating system's power-conserving and footprint enhancements.

The name Midori Linux is based on the Japanese word for the color green — midori — and was chosen to reflect the environmentally friendly aspects of an energy efficient Linux operating system.

 
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