Nancy C. Hanger writes, at LinuxOrbit.com, about plans by VTech to introduce an embedded Linux OS for its Helio PDA (info). VTech apparently has put together an aggressive strategy to support Helio with Linux-based PDA apps, including backwards compatibility with existing Helio apps and a “emulator” to allow… developers to create Helio apps on a standard Linux desktop computer. Hanger writes . . .

“The Linux world is expanding into new horizons later this month as VTech, better known for its phones and game consoles, releases a new operating system for its palm-sized PDA, the Helio. This operating system, according to Mark Padgett of VTech/Helio, will be a modified Linux kernel — the first of its kind to run on a PDA.”

“The original Helio OS, nicknamed the VTech OS, is a proprietary PDA OS running only on the Helio system. This OS will not necessarily be dropped altogether by VTech after the release of the new Linux OS, but will most likely be maintained but not updated as new releases of the Linux Helio OS are developed and marketed by VTech for their PDA.”

“The new Linux OS for the Helio will be released sometime around the third week of June 2000, just in time for PCExpo in New York, at the end of the month. At that time, the company will announce the OS open for development to the Linux community, and will be encouraging open source program development using this OS through an incentives program, which will include development of different categories of software for the Helio, such as games, utilities, etc. Programs chosen by VTech/Helio for special attention will receive incentives that include special donations to the Linux Open Source Foundation in the name of the developer of choice, or a cash grant for further development of Linux programs for the Helio OS or other Linux systems, open to the developer's choice.”

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Related information:
Info on Helio

 
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