The new Moblin 2 stack provides some snazzy new build tools aimed at helping Linux distributors and integrators create, maintain, and test custom Linux implementations. It also features a very welcome new network configuration utility for Linux, and some netbook-oriented sample stacks that boot in seconds, via packed read-ahead technology.
The new Moblin 2 tools and sample builds were released late Monday by the Intel-sponsored Moblin project. They provide an underlying platform for anyone implementing a custom Linux stack intended to run on Intel Atom processors. Given the prevalence of Atom in netbooks as well as single-board computers and Linux devices of all kinds, many Moblin 2 features -- including near-instant boot -- will likely see widespread adoption.
The Moblin 2 alpha release includes:Command-line only (for now) Moblin Image Creator 2, derived from Fedora's kickstart build tools. It automates the creation of live CDs and VM images, by caching the answers an installer would ordinarily ask in a "kickstart" file.
The relatively new " Connman " [PDF download] connection utility
A lightweight sample netbook stack featuring the Minefield browser, Thunnar file manager, Totem media player, some PIM (personal information management) tools, the lightweight XFCE window manager. Presumably, downstream Moblin users will be building much fancier stacks! Yet, the stack has some nice features, like transparent windows. On the downside, there seems to be limited GPU support, even for Intel parts.
A version of the same stack, with tools, header files, and libraries such as Clutter, aimed at app developers interested in 3D-enabling their finger-driven UIs
Kickstart files for both the above stacks. Build your app, edit the kickstart file, then build a live CD or VM image with a single command.
Documentation accessible to casual experimenters, as well as developers, at Moblin.org For a deeper look at the tools, and perspective on what they could mean in the ongoing battle between Windows and Linux for the netbook market, click below to for a "first impressions" article by LinuxDevices editor Henry Kingman, who also edits our sister site, DesktopLinux.
Moblin2 first impressions -- wow, boots fast!
35 million netbooks to ship this year?
A start-up incubator will host a free conference for Moblin and Android developers, Jan. 29 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Girvan Institute's "Mobile Internet Developers Conference" is billed as the first in a series of developer-focused conferences tailored for the demands of the "global economic downturn."
The event will cover the latest on the Linux-based, Intel-sponsored Moblin development environment. It will also include information on Girvan's "expanded incubator-based support for startups," Girvan says. Although targeted primarily at developers, the event will also be relevant to entrepreneurs and investors, says Girvan.
The Moblin-based
BenQ S6 MID
(Click for details)
The Girvan event arrives at an interesting time for Moblin. Earlier this week, the Moblin Project released an alpha version of its second-generation "Moblin V2" toolkit -- and it targets netbooks initially, rather than the originally intended target: Intel's mobile Internet device (MID) format. The Moblin V2 Core Alpha for Netbooks should arrive in beta in May, says Mobin.org.
Equally interesting is the Girvan Institute's phrasing of the invite, which appears to refer to future events covering Android development on an Intel Atom platform. In recent weeks rumors have been floating around about a Google project to develop an Android version targeted at netbooks.
MID-life crisis?
The news that Moblin V2 for Netbooks will take precedence over Moblin for MIDs, which is now postponed until 2010, inspired a somewhat anguished response from the UMPC Portal blog today. MIDs based on Moblin 1.0, such as the BenQ S6 (pictured above) are shipping now, but what had looked to be a flood of new products has slowed to a quiet stream. Instead, netbooks now own the day.
WiBrain i1 MID
(Click for details) Among other interesting observations in the blog by "Chippy," is that abandoned MID developers might instead move to Android or even, gulp, Windows XP. Two other Linux-rooted platforms -- Nokia's Maemo, and the handset-oriented LiMo Platform -- have also been identified in one study as possible MID platforms , yet Maemo is already running on Nokia's own MID-like N8xx Internet Tablets, and not much has been heard from the LiMo Foundation since T-Mobile's triumphant release of the Android-based HTC G1 phone in October.
Meanwhile, movers and shakers like the Linux Foundation's Jim Zemlin are now suggesting that Moblin 2.0 could be a game changer across the mobile device spectrum. And there's still plenty of buzz leftover from CES about Palm's Pre phone and Linux-based WebOS distribution, both due to ship this Spring. In the past, Palm has spanned handset and mobile device platforms with a single operating system.
In short, it's a wondrous, agonizing, and highly confusing time to be a mobile device developer. So what else is new?
The Moblin conference will also showcase the non-profit Girvan Institute's new Mobile Internet Developer Center, and will unveil technology from the "promising start-ups" who are resident in Girvan's Los Angeles and Santa Clara facilities, says the Institute. Established in 2002, the Girvan Institute is sponsored by The Aerospace Corp. , which offers a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) for the United States Air Force and the National Reconnaissance Office, supporting national-security space programs. The non-profit Girvan Institute was created to "facilitate the transfer, development and commercialization of technologies and to foster the growth of early-stage high-tech companies," says the institute.
Availability
The free, Moblin-focused "Mobile Internet Developers Conference" conference will be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 4:30PM to 8PM at the Girvan Institute of Technology, 3940 Freedom Circle, in Santa Clara, Calif. More information may be found
Ubuntu Mobile switching to Qt?
Sundance honors `Push,’ `We Live in Public’
(AP)
Opening up in Barcelona
( Click for larger view of the Verizon Hub )
According to Verizon Wireless, more information on the Verizon Hub will be available when it ships on February 2. Meanwhile, the wireless provider, which is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone, has provided a feature overview, but few technical details on the device itself. According to a PC Magazine story, however, the Verizon Hub is based on the OpenPeak OpenFrame phone (pictured below), and runs Linux (see more below).
OpenPeak's OpenFrame
The Verizon Hub works over any broadband connection, says Verizon Wireless, including Verizon FiOS, Verizon DSL services, "or any other high-speed service provider." The phone is designed as both a phone and a kitchen computer that offers contacts and calendars, as well as access to the web.
Verizon Hub features are said to include:VoIP phone service
Widget/icon interface
Calendar alerts sent by text message
Text, picture, and video messaging with wireless phones
Ability to deliver VZ Navigator audible turn-by-turn directions to Verizon Wireless phones
Local traffic, weather, and directory information
V CAST video content, including movie trailers and ticket purchasing
Remote access to Verizon Hub via a companion website, including adding calendar entries and inputting contacts
Chaperone application for tracking children's cellphones
DPF photo mode when not in useAccording to the PC Magazine story, the OpenFrame runs on dual Freescale i.MX31 (ARM11) processors. However, the OpenPeak site says that the OpenFrame incorporates an Intel Atom .
OpenFrame 2.0
According to the PC Magazine story, both the Verizon Hub and the OpenFrame device are equipped with an 8-inch, 800x480 touchscreen, and incorporate a detachable DECT 6.0 cordless phone. The OpenPeak site, meanwhile, lists both an OpenFrame, as well as an OpenFrame 2.0 (pictured above), which is also based on an Intel Atom, and which offers an integrated cordless phone and larger speaker. Neither looks precisely like the Verizon Hub, which offers additional front-facing volume and menu buttons in addition to the touchscreen interface.
The OpenFrame and OpenFrame 2.0 both offer WiFi and Ethernet links, according to OpenPeak. The devices are said to be capable of displaying photos, and playing music and full-motion video.
The feature set offered for the OpenFrame models seem to largely match the Verizon Hub, except for the latter's Verizon-only navigation, video, and monitoring software. Features are said to include calendar, e-mail, text messaging, synced address book, and directory services. Access is also said to be provided for news, sports, weather, stock quotes, and traffic, as well as the ability to make traditional or VoIP phone calls from either the touchscreen or the handset.
OpenPeak does not appear to mention Linux on its site, but according to the PC Magazine story, the OpenFrame uses a custom operating system based on a hacked Linux kernel. The story adds that "all of the software above the kernel is closed and proprietary." OpenPeak will offer an API for developing third-party applications, says the story, but only to carriers.
OpenTablet (left) and ProFrame
(Click on either to enlarge)
OpenPeak also sells a similar OpenTablet version of the phone, and it recently announced a corporate version called the ProFrame. Both devices also incorporate Intel Atom processors (see images above).
Stated Mike Lanman, VP and CMO at Verizon Wireless, "The Verizon Hub reinvents the home phone system that's been centered on your kitchen counter for years."
Availability
The Verizon Hub will be available on February 2, at which time more information, including pricing and service plans, will also be available, says Verizon Wireless. The PC Magazine story on the Verizon Hub and OpenFrame, should be here , and the OpenPeak site should be here .
Sundance honors `Push,’ `We Live in Public’
(AP)
Open source survey: Mobile most lucrative
Mojo check as embedded Linux turns 10
Though generally focused on enterprise and desktop Linux development, the survey also explores mobile and embedded development. Topics include languages, distributions, type and number of applications released, major obstacles to Linux and open source, development tools, security concerns, preferred chipsets, and licensing issues. A partial table of contents is listed farther below, and a link to the full contents list is found at the end of the story.
Open source distribution channels by revenue. Source: Research and Markets
(Click to enlarge)
Research and Markets is keeping the bulk of its Linux survey results close to the vest for now (except to paying customers, of course), but it has released a few interesting tidbits, covering distribution channels, bug fix durations, and types of open source projects. Here are some snapshots:Primary distribution channel by annual revenue -- Mobile (wireless) applications appear to be far more lucrative than other open source software, especially when the developers distribute them through online "app stores," says Research and Markets (see figure above). "The concept of the app store for wireless devices has caught on very well," says the report.
Bug fix response time. Source: Research and Markets
(Click to enlarge)
Time between bug discovery and solution -- Open source developers are much faster at responding to severe bugs than commercial software projects, says the report (see figure above). Some 63 percent of developers reported that bug fixes are typically made within two business days, and only 14 percent said that it typically takes more than five business days to respond. "Agility," says the report, "is a major benefit of the open source development process. Traditional development seems remarkably slow in contrast."
Typical open source projects. Source: Research and Markets
(Click to enlarge)
Typical open source projects -- Open source software was once largely confined to "geeky tools that were written by-and-for developers and system administrators," says the report. Now, however, open source is available for just about any possible corporate or consumer application. Today, enterprise business applications lead the way (see figure above), and "the old-style software infrastructure apps account for only 16 percent of projects underway today," says the report. This finding is "significant," says Research and Markets, considering that CIOs are increasingly "casting an eye on enterprise open source adoption."Key topics covered in the survey report, are said to include:Executive summary
Overview
Demographics
The business of open source software
Open source support and security
Open source applications in use for server and clients
Cloud computing and virtualization
Perceptions and motivators
Best OS for mission-critical enterprise development by developer segment
Hardware considerations
Company with the best hardware for open source operating systems
Open source software use and satisfaction
Usage plans for open source software
Anticipated use: security
Open source licensing
Development tools and issues
Linux as host and target platform
Top Linux host distributions
Language useAvailability
More information on the Research and Markets "Open Source/Linux Development 2008" report, including a full table of contents, should be available here .
Research and Markets previously released reports on the mobile market that cover Linux-based products.
Sundance honors `Push,’ `We Live in Public’
(AP)
Opening up in Barcelona
Spector retrial enters key act as defense begins
(AP)
The 13-year-old Mobile World Congress , running from February 16-19 in its usual Barcelona location, has gone through major changes in recent years, writes Whitmire, with Linux and open source solutions emerging from the background in a big way last year. This time around, open source technology will be "topic Number 1" for mobile operators, who will be schmoozing, buying, selling, and exploring at the show.
Among Whitmire's other projections for the show:Chipset manufacturers will continue to rapidly embrace open source stacks (Android, Limo, Moblin), as service providers send downstream requirements that reward pre-optimized hardware-software combinations.
As memory and CPU constraints disappear, open source will allow mobile devices to become true application servers, not just smart mobile phones.
Fragmentation in mobile device software is out, shared core software platforms are in.Click the link below to read the full editorial:
Operators return to Barcelona, (this time) armed with Open Source
Spector retrial enters key act as defense begins
(AP)
Ubuntu Mobile switching to Qt?
Mojo check as embedded Linux turns 10
The "Smart Storage" webinar will cover software/hardware integration and optimization of embedded Linux on the i.MX-family system-on-chips (SoCs), and will focus on implementing flash memory storage on the platform, says EA. The presentation will be given by Porter, along with Freescale's i.MX product marketing manager, Kathleen Jachimiak. It will be hosted by Bill Weinberg , principal analyst at LinuxPundit.com, says EA.
EA has been on a "flash" kick lately, leveraging its expertise on the tricky subject of flash-memory partitioning and allocation into a new consulting practice . The practice aims to advise clients on available storage technology choices, based on the behavior of their device.
In a brief conversation with LinuxDevices, Matt Locke, COO, explained, "We help clients select a filesystem and filesystem layout. We gain an understanding of their use case through a simple conversation, or through instrumentation. We then model the expected use over several years on what we think is the best filesystem/filesystem layout.
A "pass-fail" summary graph generated by Embedded Alley's modeling tool
(Click to enlarge)
These days, EA is recommending UBIFS quite a bit, Locke said. "It's the main system we recommend for people on NAND flash," Locke said.
UBIFS was merged into the mainline Linux kernel with last fall's 2.6.27 release. Locke explained the technology's history as follows: "IBM, Thomas Gleixner, and UBIFS's current maintainer, Artem Bityutskiy, worked on it. IBM has been using it for quite a number of years -- they are actually out in production with it."
As Locke explains it, UBI and UBIFS are actually separate technologies. UBI is a "wear-leveling" technology aimed at increasing flash lifespan, by spreading wear out across the entire device (flash can only be written/erased in large blocks, and each block withstands a finite number of cycles). UBIFS, meanwhile -- formerly known as "JFFS3," Locke said -- is a new filesystem designed for using UBI.
Locke explains, "UBIFS is not just JFFS2 rewritten for UBI. It was originally called JFFS3, but it's really a new filesystem for using UBI. JFFS2 also has an option to run on top of UBI, so you can make use of JFFS2 and UBI."
Locke adds that UBIFS can be used for "basically anything you can run on MTD." He explains, "There's an MTD emulated layer on top of UBI, so you can continue to use normal MTD semantics to access it."
Flood of interest in flash
Locke said EA's flash practice grew out a surge of interest from people developing personal navigation devices. "Navigation devices have these huge map files, that need to be opened in a specific way. And we had to look at how often the maps would be updated. So, we developed a canned personal navigation device type model," he said.
Locke went on to describe some fascinating, if rather arcane, characteristics of flash memory that may not be widely understood among Linux device developers. For example, did you know that even read operations wear down flash, especially MLC flash? Lock explained, "When you get a read disturbance -- an ECC error generated during a read operation -- you can correct it. But, you can only correct it so many times, because doing so requires a write operation."
The "Smart Storage" webinar will feature an overview of flash hardware and software technologies, as well as tips on SoC-based system design and flash memory analysis using EA's Application Modeling software. Attendees will learn how to determine whether "flash hardware and file systems meet product requirements for performance, bill-of-materials cost, and fielded device longevity," says EA.
Future "Smart Design" webinars, to be held throughout 2009, will include topics such as software-hardware co-design for consumer electronics devices, as well as product test and quality assurance, says the company.
Stated Matt Porter, EA chief architect, "Today, flash memory technology is ubiquitous but not well understood. End-users rely on embedded flash memory in a wide range of multimedia devices and other applications. Developers cannot afford to take performance and longevity for granted if they want to meet user and market needs."
Freescale's i.MX platform has been a mainstay of embedded Linux system design in recent years, with popular models including the ARM9-based i.MX27 and the ARM11 i.MX31 . Freescale recently announced its i.MX51 family of processors, which incorporate ARM'S superscalar Cortex-A8 SoCs.
Availability
The one-hour webinar, "Smart Storage Choices for Intelligent Devices," will be broadcast on February 17, starting at 7:00 AM PST, says EA. More information and registration may be found here .
Linux MID sports 3G WLAN radios
Opening up in Barcelona
(Click here for a larger view of Colmek's Stinger)
The Stinger measures 5 x 5 x 3 inches, and comes in an aluminum alloy chassis that is said to be corrosion- and splash-resistant. According to Colmek, the device meets MIL-STD-810F and MIL-STD-461E environmental standards, MIL-STD-704E power supply standards, and the MIL-STD-461E standard for resistance to EMI (electromagnetic interference). As a result, the Stinger shrugs off dust and liquids, can operate on input power from 9VDC to 32VDC, and works without problems even aboard jets and helicopters, Colmek says.
Passively cooled, the Stinger is claimed to be operable over temperatures ranging from -40 to 158 deg. F (-40 to 70 deg. C). The device is capable of operating at altitudes up to 60,000 feet, withstands shocks of up to 15G while operating, and can safely survive a crash impact of up to 40G, the company adds.
The DuraCor 810-Duo
(Click image for further information) Like other mission computers, such as the recently announced DuraCor 810-Duo (right) from Parvus, the Stinger has a distinctive appearance, thanks to three circular Glenair Series 801 "Mighty Mouse" connectors, which connect the computer to the outside world. The device's many interfaces are said to include gigabit Ethernet, eight USB ports, seven RS232/422 serial ports, LVDS and SDVO video, four GPIOs, and four SATA ports. As if that weren't enough, the Stinger's connectors also provide PCI Express and LPC expansion interfaces, Colmek adds.
According to Colmek, the Stinger uses a 1.4GHz Intel Atom processor and the chipmaker's SCH US15W companion chip. We presume the device actually employs the Z520 , which runs at 1.33GHz, but Colmek could also be underclocking the 1.6GHz Z530 .
Either way, the device includes 2GB of soldered-on RAM -- the maximum quantity now supported by the SCH US15W -- plus a 128GB SSD. There's no word of any room for additional storage internally, but thanks to the four SATA ports mentioned above, the device would apparently have no problem connecting to appropriately housed external drives.
Features and specifications listed by Colmek for the Stinger include:Processor -- Intel Atom clocked at "1.4GHz"
Memory -- 2GB of soldered-on DDR2 RAM
Storage -- 128GB SSD
Networking -- Gigabit Ethernet
Other I/O (all via Glenair 801 connectors):4 x SATA
8 x USB 2.0
4 x GPIO
7 x RS232/422
1 x LVDS
1 x SDVOExpansion (also via connectors):PCI Express
LPC busOperating temperature -- -40 to 70 deg. C (-40 to 158 deg. F)
Power -- 9VDC to 32VDC (28 VDC nominal)
Dimensions -- 5 x 5 x 3 inches, including permanently attached mounting rails
Weight -- n/sAccording to Colmek, the Stinger runs Linux, Windows XP Embedded, Windows CE, or VxWorks. Pricing and availability were not released, but the device appears to be available now.
More information on the Stinger may be found on the Colmek website, here .
Combo media box runs Linux
Linux MID sports 3G WLAN radios
( Click for larger view of the M8050's MSR in use )
AML unveiled the M8050 at the NFR (National Retail Federation) tradeshow in New York City earlier this month. The company has shared a "preliminary" spec sheet with us, warning us that some details may be subject to change.
The M8050 is a compact, rugged device with an indefatigable battery. Despite measuring only 5.7 x 3.25 inches (14.5 x 8.5 cm), the M8050 is a full two inches thick (5.1 cm). It weighs 13 ounces (363g).
The M8050's primary battery is a removable lithium-ion giant rated at a staggering 5200mAh. To put that in perspective, most laptop batteries are rated at only 2200mAh. In a statement, AML President Mike Kearby commented, "The only way users might get better life out of a PDA would be to strap it to a car battery."
For good measure, the M8050 also packs a built-in 200mAh backup battery, aimed at keeping the PDA powered up during "hot" battery swaps.
The AML M8050 is two inches thick
The M8050 is based on a Samsung S3C2440 processor clocked at 400MHz. It has 128MB of RAM, and an equal amount of built-in flash storage, expandable via an SD card slot. The PDA has a QVGA (240x320) color touchscreen display complemented by a backlit 18-key keypad and trackball pointing device. I/O includes 802.11b/g and Bluetooth radios, as well as a USB slave port and a "four-ring" 1/8th-inch (3.5mm) stereo headset/microphone jack.
Specifications published by AML in a preliminary datasheet for the M8050 include:Processor -- Samsung S3C2440 @ 400 MHz
Memory -- 128MB RAM
Storage -- 128MB flash ROM
Display -- 3.5-inch QVGA 320 x 240 (portrait), 65K Colors
Interface -- 18 backlit keys with trackball
AudioBuilt-in speaker
Four-ring 1/8-inch (3.5mm) headset jackWireless networking802.11b/g WLAN supporting WPA/WPA2 and WEP
Bluetooth "WPAN"Other I/O ports -- USB slave
Scanner options -- Motorola SE955 laser; HHP IT5080 Imager
Expansion -- SD card slot
Dimensions -- 5.7 x 3.25 x 2 inches (14.5 x 8.5 x 5.1cm)
Weight -- 0.81 pounds (13 ounces, or 363 grams)
BatteriesPrimary -- Removable, re-chargeable 3.7 VDC Li-Ion, 5200mAh,
19.2 watt hours
Backup -- 3.7VDC Li-Polymer, 200mAhPower supply -- Optional single-slot communications and charging cradle
Operating temperature -- 14 to 122 deg. F (-10 to 50 deg. C)
Operating system support -- Linux 2.6, Windows CE 6.0The M8050 is sealed to IP54 specifications for dust and water ingress, and designed to withstand multiple four-foot (1.2m) drops to concrete, across its operating temperature range, AML says.
Availability
Pricing and availability details were not published by press time.
Linux MID sports 3G WLAN radios
( Click for larger view of the Viliv X70 Communications MID )
Also available with Windows XP, the Viliv X70 is being released under Yukyung's Viliv brand in conjunction with two similar, Intel Atom-based MIDs, both of which exclusively run Windows XP. The Viliv S5 Entertainment MID offers a 4.8-inch touchscreen, while the 7-inch Viliv S7 Productivity MID offers a swivel display that flips up from a hidden keyboard. Previous Windows-based Viliv handhelds include the Viliv P2 NAVI and X2 devices.
The X70 matches its Intel Atom Silverthorne Z520 with the usual Intel northbridge/southbridge companion chip known as the SCH US15W (aka "Poulsbo"). The X70 ships with 1GB of RAM, plus an 8GB or 16GB solid-state drive (SSD), and a 30GB or 60GB hard disk drive (HDD). The Viliv X70 is dubbed "the Communicaton MID," thanks to its multiple connection options, including HDSPA, WiMAX, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. An SD/SDHC memory card slot, speakers, and microphone are also included.
The company did not reveal the battery used in the sleek, 8.3 x 4.6 x 0.9-inch device, but the X70 is touted for an impressive 200 hours of standby time and six hours of video playback. There is no keyboard, but a virtual keyboard is said to be available with the touchscreen interface.
Specifications listed for the Viliv X70 include:Processor -- Intel Atom Silverthorne Z520 at 1.33GHz with SCH US15W chipset
Memory -- 1GB RAM
Flash -- 8GB or 16GB SSD; SD/SDHC memory card slot
Storage -- 30GB or 60GB HDD
Display -- 7-inch WSVGA (1024 x 600)
Wireless broadband -- 802.11b/g WiFi, HSDPA, WiMAX
Bluetooth -- Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
GPS -- SiRF StarIII
USB -- 1 x USB port
Audio -- audio output; mic; stereo speakers
Other I/O -- 1 x multi-I/O for cradle
Battery life -- 200 hours standby time; 6 hours continuous movie playback
Dimensions -- 8.3 x 4.6 x 0.9 inches (210 x 117 x 22.5mm)
Weight -- 1.5 lbs (660g)
Operating system -- Linux; Windows XPAvailability
No information was offered on the pricing or availability of the Viliv X70 MID. More information may be found here .
35 million netbooks to ship this year?
“Idol” David Cook to hit colleges on U.S. tour
(Reuters)
Ubuntu Mobile switching to Qt?
Two major trends have catapulted netbooks to the fore, says ABI Research: new low-cost, low-power, high-performance processors such as the Intel Atom (and soon, ARM-based processors like Freescale's i.MX515 ), as well as a realization that smartphones cannot currently meet all the needs of mobile users. These and other "social and technological factors" have created a "perfect storm" that will lead to a boom in the netbook market over the next few years, says the research firm.
Over the last year, dozens of startups and mainstream computer vendors have entered the netbook market, including the new Linux-ready
Ubuntu Mobile switching to Qt?
Slash wins round in lawsuit over house
(AP)
Mojo check as embedded Linux turns 10
( Click for larger view of the SP-2000 )
The SP-2000 is aimed at surveillance operations in small to medium-sized buildings, retail areas, commercial spaces, warehouses, banks, and corporate facilities, says the company. Neugent offers three models of the SP-2000, corresponding with the number of channels supported: the SP-2004, SP-2008, and the 16-channel SP-2016.
The SP-2000 is Neugent's second ARM Linux-based DVR, after last summer's release of the almost identical SP-3000 wall-mount version (pictured below). In 2007, the company released the LX8000-series of Linux-based DVRs based on standard PC components. The ARM9-based products are rated as using 35-45 Watts, depending on the number of channels. Though not published, power consumption figures for the PC-based systems (the current model is the LX9000) are likely three- to four-times greater.
Neugent also manufactures DVR video capture cards that ship with Linux development tools. The Pentium 4-based cards use the company's own custom ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) to process video. The ASIC is also likely used in the company's embedded DVRs, which boast hardware MPEG-4 acceleration, it says.
SP-3000, a wall-mount model
that is almost identical to the SP-2000
(Click to enlarge) Based on an undisclosed ARM9-based SoC, the SP-2000 offers live MPEG-4 encoding at up to 30fps, along with support for multiple PTZ protocols and sensor/alarm integration, says Neugent. The appliance can hold up to two hard disk drives (HDDs) for a total of 2TB capacity, and provides an Ethernet port, a serial port, and dual USB 2.0 ports used for external backup, says the company. The 11.8 x 9.8 x 2.8-inch box is said to consume between 35 and 45 Watts, depending on the model.
The SP-2000 can simultaneously stream MPEG-4 and JPEG content across across multiple devices, including mobile devices, says the company. Optional integrated POS (point-of-sale/service) text insertion software presumably lets the register readout be overlaid on the video, facilitating comparisons between what customers are charged for, and what they leave with.
Specifications listed for the SP-2000, with differences noted for the SP-2004, SP-2008, and SP-2016 models, are as follows. Note that the specifications for the wall-mount SP-3000 are almost identical, including offering three different models based on number of channels:Processor -- ARM9-based SoC
Storage -- bays for dual HDD (2 x IDE, or 1 x IDE and 1 x SATA); up to 2TB total
Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet
USB -- 2 x USB 2.0
Serial -- RS232
PTZ control -- RS-485
Video input -- 4-channel (SP-2004), 8-channel (SP-2008), or 16-channel (SP-2016) with DB25 cable; BNC connectors; ITU-R BT, 656; NTSC/PAL
Video output -- 1 x RCA mux; 1 x VGA mux
Compression -- MPEG-4; 2-9 Kb per frame (CIF 360x240); up to 720x480 resolution
Video features -- motion detection, event-triggered
Audio -- 4, 8, or 16 channels DB25 input, shared with video; 1 x RCA input; 1 x channel output; G.723.1 compression
Sensor inputs -- 4 channels (8 channels optional)
Relay outputs -- 2 channels (4 channels optional; 8 channels optional with SP-2016)
Other features -- 1 x 7-button IR remote controller; DDNS support for remote connection
Power -- 100-230 VAC, 50-60Hz
Power consumption -- 35 Watts (SP-2004); 40 Watts (SP-2008); 45 Watts (SP-2016)
Dimensions -- 11.8 x 9.8 x 2.8 inches (30 x 23 x 7cm)
Weight -- 11 lbs (3 kg)
Operating system -- Linux 2.6.16Availability
The three SP-2000 models and three SP-3000 wall-mount models are available now, with pricing undisclosed, says Neugent. More on the SP-2000 may be found here .
Mojo check as embedded Linux turns 10
Combo media box runs Linux
Sundance honors `Push,’ `We Live in Public’
(AP)
( Click for larger view of this Qt 4.4 media player demo )
At this week's linux.conf.au conference in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, Canonical's David Mandala made reference to the possible switch while describing how much Ubuntu Mobile has changed over the last year, says a ComputerWorld article. Mandala was quoted in the article as saying that Canonical is considering a switch to Qt due in large part to the change to LGPL licensing.
According to the ComputerWorld article, the dilemma between choosing GNOME Mobile and Qt is linked closely to the the "radical change" of Ubuntu's port to the ARMv7 architecture , which it announced in November. Mandala was quoted as saying that a major challenge with the ARM port is to remind developers to write applications for the lower screen resolutions typical of embedded devices. This concern led Canonical to select GNOME Mobile (Hildon framework), which is optimized for smaller screen sizes, instead of incorporating the full GNOME desktop, says the story. However, Mandala was quoted as saying that Qt might be "a better framework than Hildon for screen input."
Ubuntu's move to Qt is far from a done deal, however. Mandala was also said to have added, "Intel and Nokia are creating a huge amount of change, so hang tight for a couple of months."
According to the ComputerWorld story, Ubuntu Mobile for Netbooks will get in line with the release of the next desktop Ubuntu release, Jaunty Jackalope, in April. "Jaunty will have a full image for netbook devices," Mandala was quoted as saying in the article. "Jaunty netbook edition will have a cut-down set of applications compared with the Ubuntu desktop, but apt-get works and you can install what you like."
The recent news that Qt Software was expanding its Qt licensing to support GNU LGPL ("Lesser" or "Library" General Public License) came last week. The news was widely hailed by the open source development community. For example, Ubuntu's founder, Mark Shuttleworth, supplied an upbeat quote for the press release.
The device graphics framework "wars"
Qt Software's CTO, Benoit Schillings, likes to downplay the ongoing competition between Qt and GTK. He sees it as a choice between languages, saying, "GTK is the dominant C framework, and Qt is the dominant C++ framework." Yet, with Qt's loosened licensing, there does seem to be a healthy competition shaping up between the two, in the best open source tradition.
GNOME and its underlying GTK graphics framework have been pressed into service in quite a few Linux devices over the last couple of years. The trend was started by Nokia, which funds the watershed Maemo project. Maemo proved that full "desktop" software could not only work in devices, but might actually work better, by virtue of being better tested in the real world. Today, Intel has arguably picked up the GNOME mantle, investing hugely in its Moblin stack (for example recently hiring Alan Cox away from Red Hat to help out with it), while Nokia has gravitated toward Qt.
Qtopia and its underlying Qt graphics framework have a much longer Linux device track record, stretching back to the earliest days of the technology. Qt Software's Qt Extended stack (formerly Qtopia) powered the Sharp Zaurus back when it used extremely weak StrongARM chips, and extremely small QVGA (240 x 320) displays. (Today, the stack also powers a few modern Linux PDAs such as the recent Imovio iKit ). The underlying Qt framework, meanwhile, runs in Motorola's Linux phones, and literally countless other devices covered on the pages of this site over the last ten years.
Nokia purchased Qt Software (then Trolltech) and announced plans in April to port Qt to Maemo . Meanwhile, other ports of Qt to Windows CE, Symbian S60, and other mobile platforms make it clear that Nokia sees value in broadening Qt's user and development base.
Qt's new LGPL license places copyleft restrictions on the licensed program itself, but does not extend these restrictions to software that links to it. That makes it less restrictive than the GNU GPL, previously offered for Qt, which demands that any "derivatives" -- including linked applications -- be made available under the same terms.
Canonical moves toward devices
In early 2007, Canonical launched the Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded project, and in June of last year, Canonical released an Ubuntu Mobile-based version of Ubuntu 8.04 called Ubuntu MID Edition , in cooperation with the Intel sponsored Moblin project. The initial developer release is available for both the Intel Atom and Intel's A100/110 platform, targeting the Samsung Q1U ultra-mobile PC.
While several desktop Linux distributions have spun off netbook versions over the the last year, Canonical has been especially rigorous in expanding Ubuntu into netbooks and other mobile devices. Last year Canonical and Ubuntu Founder Mark Shuttleworth predicted Linux dominance in devices . The next month, Ampro began distributing a Ubuntu Linux derivative with its x86-compatible single-board computers (SBCs) called "Ampro Embedded Linux" (AEL) . Canonical has also launched an Ubuntu Netbook remix version of its distribution. In September, the Foresight group adopted Ubuntu Netbook remix for a new version of its Foresight Linux desktop distribution called Foresight Mobile Edition 1.0 .
GNOME Mobile-based devices, left to right:
Nokia N810, Bug Labs BugBase, OpenMoko Neo Freerunner
The GNOME project formally released the GNOME Mobile version of its Linux desktop environment in September, but by then the environment was already widely used in mobile devices (see images above). GNOME Mobile is based on the GNOME 2.24 desktop that was also released in September, and is targeted at mobile phones, handhelds, and other devices with constrained display, input, and system resources. GNOME Mobile's core infrastructure is based on GLib and D-Bus. GLib offers core application building blocks for portable C libraries and applications, and supplies the core object system, main loop implementation, and utility functions for strings and common data structures.
Availability
The ComputerWorld article by Rodney Gedda, "Ubuntu Mobile looks at Qt development environment," should be here .
Linux DVR catches collaborating clerks
Mojo check as embedded Linux turns 10
( Click for larger view of the BluBrain )
The BluBrain can manage, reproduce, and distribute AV content between sources including a DVB-T digital terrestrial broadcasting receiver, NAS storage, Internet video, a remote PC, or other devices connected via A/V connections, says Blusens. Users can record video content to the internal, removable hard disk drive (HDD), and can serve it up throughout a home network or provide remote access over the Internet from PCs and mobile phones, says the company.
The Sigma SMP8634 media processor inside the box first sampled in 2005 with a claim of being the first SoC to support multi-stream decoding of any format, including up to two simultaneous high-definition streams, along with full-screen graphics. In designing the BluBrain, Blusens made use of Sigma's multimedia library and Linux support environment, says the company.
The BluBrain appliance also incorporates a ViXS XCode 2111 chip, which is billed as the "first stream PCI MPEG encoder/transcoder security integrated circuit (IC)." The XCode is said to provide video processing capabilities that can improve storage capacity, format conversions, and placeshifting applications.
BluBrain (lower left) next to HDTV displaying BluBrain interface
Connectivity includes Ethernet and WiFi, as well as dual USB ports for external storage, says Blusen. A removable HDD (capacity unspecified) is provided, as well as a memory card reader. The multiple A/V connections include HDMI, SPDIF, and component and composite video, says Blusens.
The BluBrain appears to be the first device to incorporate a new HomePlugAV-compatible powerline networking technology called the GGL541, manufactured by Gigle Semiconductor . The optional GGL541 chip is said to support 200Mbps bandwidth over power lines, as well as 1Gbps bandwidth over phone lines or coaxial cable.
Blusens touts the BluBrain's DVR place-shifting features, as well as its Web 2.0 functionality, which is provided by integrating LambdaStream streaming middleware, says the company. Other features include an IPTV server and player, and an NFS server.
Specifications listed for the BluBrain include:Processor -- Sigma SMP8634
Flash expansion -- MMC/SD slot
Video playback formats supported -- MPEG-4 (XviD), H.264, MPEG-2, MKV, etc.
Video recording format -- MPEG-4
Storage -- removable internal HDD (customizable by user)
Terrestrial broadcast -- dual DVB-T tuners
Networking -- 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet port
WiFi -- 802.11g
Powerline -- optional HomePlugAV (GGL541 chip)
USB -- 2 x USB host for external storage
Other features -- IPTV server and player; NFS server; remote technical support; "interactive TV"
A/V outputs -- HDMI; Component video; video Composite; SPDIF (optical and coaxial); 2 x stereo
A/V inputs -- HDMI; S-Video; Video Composite with stereo
Operating system -- LinuxStated Miguel Churruca, marketing director at Blusens, "We are impressed with the variety of codecs the SMP8634 is compatible with."
Availability
The BluBrain is scheduled to ship on March 30, says Blusen, which did not reveal pricing. More information may be found here .
Mojo check as embedded Linux turns 10
While identifying the exact "birth" of embedded Linux is no easy task, 1999 saw the first flickering of the explosion of Linux-ready devices that continues to this day. Next week's panel is hosted by one of the industry's pioneers: Ampro and LinuxDevices founder Rick Lehrbaum (pictured above), now a consultant and editor of DeviceGuru.com .
Lehrbaum will discuss the past and future, as well as the strengths and weaknesses, of embedded Linux with long-time embedded industry leaders from companies including MontaVista, Performance Technologies (PT), and Wind River. The panelists will also assess the quality and completeness of current development tools, examine the proliferation of Linux-based mobile phone stacks, and evaluate the state of Carrier Grade Linux (CGL).
Been there, done that: (l to r) Jim Ready, Bill Weinberg, John Grana, Glenn Seiler
The panelists and their topics, along with related links from the last decade of embedded Linux, are: Jim Ready , founder and CTO, MontaVista Software -- "MIDs and netbooks and handsets, oh my!"
Bill Weinberg , independent analyst/consultant, linuxpundit.com -- "An alphabet soup of mobile/embedded Linux consortia"
John Grana's license plate
John Grana , SVP/GM, Performance Technologies -- "What's happening in the esoteric world of Carrier Grade Linux?"
Glenn Seiler , senior director, Telecom Market Development, Wind River -- "How good are Linux's development tools?"Availability
The "Mojo" panel will be held from 11AM to 12:15PM, Jan. 29, as part of the complimentary, one-day Real-Time & Embedded Computing Conference in Santa Clara, Calif., at the Santa Clara Convention Center. More information and registration may be found here .
Combo media box runs Linux
( Click for larger view of the M8050's MSR in use )
AML unveiled the M8050 at the NFR (National Retail Federation) tradeshow in New York City earlier this month. The company has shared a "preliminary" spec sheet with us, warning us that some details may be subject to change.
The M8050 is a compact, rugged device with an indefatigable battery. Despite measuring only 5.7 x 3.25 inches (14.5 x 8.5 cm), the M8050 is a full two inches thick (5.1 cm). It weighs 13 ounces (363g).
The M8050's primary battery is a removable lithium-ion giant rated at a staggering 5200mAh. To put that in perspective, most laptop batteries are rated at only 2200mAh. In a statement, AML President Mike Kearby commented, "The only way users might get better life out of a PDA would be to strap it to a car battery."
For good measure, the M8050 also packs a built-in 200mAh backup battery, aimed at keeping the PDA powered up during "hot" battery swaps.
The AML M8050 is two inches thick
The M8050 is based on a Samsung S3C2440 processor clocked at 400MHz. It has 128MB of RAM, and an equal amount of built-in flash storage, expandable via an SD card slot. The PDA has a QVGA (240x320) color touchscreen display complemented by a backlit 18-key keypad and trackball pointing device. I/O includes 802.11b/g and Bluetooth radios, as well as a USB slave port and a "four-ring" 1/8th-inch (3.5mm) stereo headset/microphone jack.
Specifications published by AML in a preliminary datasheet for the M8050 include:Processor -- Samsung S3C2440 @ 400 MHz
Memory -- 128MB RAM
Storage -- 128MB flash ROM
Display -- 3.5-inch QVGA 320 x 240 (portrait), 65K Colors
Interface -- 18 backlit keys with trackball
AudioBuilt-in speaker
Four-ring 1/8-inch (3.5mm) headset jackWireless networking802.11b/g WLAN supporting WPA/WPA2 and WEP
Bluetooth "WPAN"Other I/O ports -- USB slave
Scanner options -- Motorola SE955 laser; HHP IT5080 Imager
Expansion -- SD card slot
Dimensions -- 5.7 x 3.25 x 2 inches (14.5 x 8.5 x 5.1cm)
Weight -- 0.81 pounds (13 ounces, or 363 grams)
BatteriesPrimary -- Removable, re-chargeable 3.7 VDC Li-Ion, 5200mAh,
19.2 watt hours
Backup -- 3.7VDC Li-Polymer, 200mAhPower supply -- Optional single-slot communications and charging cradle
Operating temperature -- 14 to 122 deg. F (-10 to 50 deg. C)
Operating system support -- Linux 2.6, Windows CE 6.0The M8050 is sealed to IP54 specifications for dust and water ingress, and designed to withstand multiple four-foot (1.2m) drops to concrete, across its operating temperature range, AML says.
Availability
Pricing and availability details were not published by press time.
Ultra-light ebook reader runs Linux
Apple disappoints–no Jobs or big news at Macworld
(Reuters)
Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez wow inaugural gala
(AP)
( Click for larger view of the Viliv X70 Communications MID )
Also available with Windows XP, the Viliv X70 is being released under Yukyung's Viliv brand in conjunction with two similar, Intel Atom-based MIDs, both of which exclusively run Windows XP. The Viliv S5 Entertainment MID offers a 4.8-inch touchscreen, while the 7-inch Viliv S7 Productivity MID offers a swivel display that flips up from a hidden keyboard. Previous Windows-based Viliv handhelds include the Viliv P2 NAVI and X2 devices.
The X70 matches its Intel Atom Silverthorne Z520 with the usual Intel northbridge/southbridge companion chip known as the SCH US15W (aka "Poulsbo"). The X70 ships with 1GB of RAM, plus an 8GB or 16GB solid-state drive (SSD), and a 30GB or 60GB hard disk drive (HDD). The Viliv X70 is dubbed "the Communicaton MID," thanks to its multiple connection options, including HDSPA, WiMAX, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. An SD/SDHC memory card slot, speakers, and microphone are also included.
The company did not reveal the battery used in the sleek, 8.3 x 4.6 x 0.9-inch device, but the X70 is touted for an impressive 200 hours of standby time and six hours of video playback. There is no keyboard, but a virtual keyboard is said to be available with the touchscreen interface.
Specifications listed for the Viliv X70 include:Processor -- Intel Atom Silverthorne Z520 at 1.33GHz with SCH US15W chipset
Memory -- 1GB RAM
Flash -- 8GB or 16GB SSD; SD/SDHC memory card slot
Storage -- 30GB or 60GB HDD
Display -- 7-inch WSVGA (1024 x 600)
Wireless broadband -- 802.11b/g WiFi, HSDPA, WiMAX
Bluetooth -- Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
GPS -- SiRF StarIII
USB -- 1 x USB port
Audio -- audio output; mic; stereo speakers
Other I/O -- 1 x multi-I/O for cradle
Battery life -- 200 hours standby time; 6 hours continuous movie playback
Dimensions -- 8.3 x 4.6 x 0.9 inches (210 x 117 x 22.5mm)
Weight -- 1.5 lbs (660g)
Operating system -- Linux; Windows XPAvailability
No information was offered on the pricing or availability of the Viliv X70 MID. More information may be found here .
Apple disappoints–no Jobs or big news at Macworld
(Reuters)
“3G” HP netbook boasts Atom, ExpressCard expansion
1.5-pound mini-laptop boots Linux fast
Marilyn Manson Wants Ex-Wife Back…for Trial
(E! Online)
( Click for larger view of Cisco Wireless Home Audio System )
Designed as a complement to the new Cisco Media Hub networked-attached storage (NAS) server, which also runs Linux and supports DLNA 1.5, the Wireless Home Audio system starts with either a Director or Conductor stereo receiver system. The Director offers a more powerful amplifier than the all-in-one Conductor, which includes built-in speakers and displays, and appears to be targeted at apartments and single-room playback. The Director can be extended with "Player" wireless speaker devices located throughout the house, says Cisco. The devices are all controlled with IR controllers or touchscreen Wireless-N Controllers, and accessories include an iPOD docking station, says the company.
The "Director" (l) and "Conductor" (r)
Cisco's Wireless Home Audio system competes with a growing list of Linux-ready whole-house digital audio systems, including the Logitech SqueezeBox Duet , the Cirgon Encore , the Fiire system , and the Sonos ZonePlayer audio system. Like the latest Sonos system, the Cisco product offers built-in 802.11n (Wireless-N) networking, which provides advanced MIMO (multiple-in, multiple-out) WiFi radios. Although the 802.11n standard is still in draft mode, the technology is being incorporated in a variety of networking equipment, offering higher bandwidth and longer range than 802.11g. Cisco did not make any claims for bandwidth or range, but Sonos says that its Wireless-N system offers twice the range "in some homes," compared to 802.11g.
The Conductor and Director receivers lack storage of their own, instead indexing and streaming music stored on networked PCs, Cisco Media Hubs, or another NAS or media server device, says Cisco. All the devices in the system support the DLNA home media network streaming and discovery standard for locating media around a home. The system can also play music directly from Internet radio sites, and it offers specific support for services such as Rhapsody, audiolounge, and RadioTime. A 30-day free trial is offered for Rhapsody.
Like the Sonos system, the Cisco Wireless Home Audio system can distribute different music to customized "zones," as well as play the same music all over the house. Audio programming can be controlled via LCD displays on the Director/Conductor, via the handheld Controller, or via software running on a networked PC. These software interfaces provide for searching music tracks and artists, and the creation of playlists customized for each room.
Each Wireless Home Audio device uses distributed decoding technology, enabling devices to receive unmodified audio source material without transcoding or compression, says Cisco. The audio is then reproduced and synchronized to within microseconds, thereby "virtually eliminating" echo artifacts, claims the company.
Major components of the Wireless Home Audio system include:
Player
(Click to enlarge) Director (DMC250) -- This stereo receiver offers a 50-watt per channel amplifier, and offers wired attachments to speakers, including an optional Stereo Speaker Kit (DSPK50). Measuring 6.3 x 5.8 x 6.9 inches, the Director provides a 3.5-inch, 320x240-pixel LCD display that can be controlled from the IR controller or the optional touchscreen Controller. In addition to offering built-in Wireless-N, the device is equipped with Ethernet and USB 2.0 ports, as well as extensive audio I/O and a connector for the optional iPOD docking station (see the spec list farther below).
The Conductor -- This all-in-one version of the Director provides a larger, 7-inch LCD touchscreen, as well as an integrated CD player. The Conductor's amplifier drives its built-in speakers, and although designed primarily for standalone use, it can also distribute music throughout a house using the Player extender speakers. Full specs are not yet available, as unlike the other components, the Conductor has yet to ship.
Player (DMP100) -- These Wireless-N extension speakers receive music feeds from the Director, Conductor, or other home theater receivers or stereo systems. The 5.4 x 2.4 x 5.5-inch, 1.3-lb speakers also offer Ethernet connections, as well basic audio I/O.
Controller (DMWR1000) -- The Controller can control the above devices via its Wireless-N radio, without requiring line of sight. The tablet-like device is equipped with a 4.3-inch, 480 x 272-resolution color touchscreen and five-way thumbwheel navigation control. The 3.4 x 1.0 x 6.9-inch device comes with a 3000 mAH Li-Polymer battery pack with 100-240 VAC input, and can recharge via a Mini-USB port, says Cisco.
Controller
The Director (DMC250) is listed with the following specs:Amplifier -- 50W RMS (50W per channel into 4 Ohm load)
Display -- 3.5 inch LCD color (320x240)
Audio outputs -- S/PDIF (Tos-Link), RCA L/R; 3.5mm headphone; 2x2/L-R speaker wire; sub-woofer
Audio inputs -- RCA L/R analog
WiFi -- 802.11.n (Draft-N) Wireless-N (backward compatible to 802.11b/g)
Networking -- RJ-45 Ethernet port
USB -- USB 2.0 A-Connector
Other I/O -- iPod Astron connector
Buttons -- power; volume; WiFi setup; four soft-button LCD interface
LEDs -- on, standby, network function
Audio formats uncompressed -- AIFF, WAV, PCM
Audio formats compressed -- MP3, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, MP2, Real, WMA
Networking standards -- DLNA 1.5; UPnP
Power supply -- 16W/105W internal
Cables -- Ethernet; 6-foot RCA stereo audio cables; AC region cable
Dimensions -- 6.3 x 5.8 x 6.9 inches (161 x 146 x 176 mm)
Weight -- 3.4 lbs (1.55 kg)
Operating temperature -- 32 to 104 deg. F (0 to 40 deg. C)
Operating system -- embedded Linux; Windows XP or Vista required to use PC softwareAvailability
The Cisco Wireless Home Audio products are available now in the U.S., and should be available in Denmark and The Netherlands later in the first quarter, says Cisco. The Conductor will be available later in the first quarter. Pricing is as follows: Conductor (pricing not yet set), Director ($450), Player ($230), Controller ($350), Stereo Speaker Kit ($150), iPod Dock ($80), IR Remote ($30). Cisco also sells the equipment in kit configurations including Premier, Trio, and Executive kits.
More information on Cisco Wireless Home Audio may be found here .
Hospital music therapy room named for AC/DC singer
(AP)
Linux MID sports 3G WLAN radios
The Subversion MultiSite Software Appliance is a software distribution that the user installs on hardware they acquire themselves. The centerpiece of the package is the open source Subversion version control system, which aims to help distributed programming teams collaborate effectively. Subversion runs atop a custom JeOS (just enough OS) Linux OS derived from the rPath Linux distro. The rPath distribution is designed specifically for use by ISVs (independent software vendors) wishing to deliver their products as pre-installed hardware appliances, or as "software appliances."
WANdisco diagram
(Click to enlarge)
WANdisco's Subversion appliance has no reliance on hardware or software configurations, says the company. The appliance is said to run in virtualization environments including VMware ESX, Citrix XenServer, and Windows with Hyper-V.
Stated Billy Marshall, rPath founder and chief strategy officer, "WANdisco is the perfect example of an innovative ISV that understands the value of virtualization and the cloud."
Availability
The Subversion MultiSite Software Appliance is available now, says WANdisco. More information and links to a free download page may be found here .
In addition, rPath has helped WANdisco develop and maintain application images for virtualized and cloud computing environments using the appliance.
Usher to Take Direction From Teenagers
(E! Online)
Appliance distro broadens Linux options
Half-U net appliance runs Linux
According to Intel, its new Atom N280 will be a single-core, single-threading processor built using the chipmaker's 45nm High-k technology. The company cites a 1.66Ghz clock speed, 533MHz frontside bus, and 512K of second-level cache.
With the exception of a tiny .06GHz boost in speed, these figures are identical to those for the 1.6GHz N270 that's already wildly popular in netbooks, so you may be wondering what the point of the new CPU is. Intel hasn't said -- but third-party reports suggest that the N280's key feature could be its use of a new northrbridge/southbridge companion chip known as the GN40. As we'll explain later in this story, such a component could be key to extending the battery life of netbooks, while keeping costs down.
A story published earlier today in the Taiwanese publication Digitimes claims notebook vendors such as Asus, Acer, and Gigabyte will release laptops based on the N280/GN40 combo as early as the second quarter. However, neither Intel nor Digitimes has offered any further background on the GN40, nor confirmed whether it comprises one chip or two.
Some rumors suggest that the GN40 will tackle hardware video decoding, allowing Atom-powered devices to display 1080p HD video for the first time. However, it's also possible that the new chipset and processor are primarily an attempt to cut power consumption.
Either way, the new CPU will disappoint those who were hoping for faster netbook performance. Intel launched a dual-core Atom 330 , targeting low-cost desktop PCs, but has as yet shown no sign of following up with a netbook equivalent.
Background
Intel first released its Atom processors -- targeting low-cost devices that previously used its Celeron -- in April of last year. The initial Z5xx series of Atoms, also known as "Silverthorne," features a 13 x 1mm package, clock speeds from 800MHz to 1.86GHz, and a northbridge/southbridge companion chip known as the SCH US15W (aka "Poulsbo").
The second series of Atoms, announced in June 2008, includes the N270 and 230 , aka "Diamondville." Architecturally identical to the Z5xx series, these are 22 x 22mm CPUs that were designed to be more affordable. Hence, they rely on separate northbridge and southbridge chips -- Intel's 945GSE is commonly paired with the N270; the 945GC with its desktop cousin.
Since then, of course, the 1.6GHz N270 has become wildly popular in the class of low-cost mini-laptops known as netbooks . But, as manufacturers have sought to extend the battery life of their products, they've bumped up against some limitations. While the N270 itself has a modest TDP of just two Watts, its 945GSE (945GCSE northbridge and 82801GBM southbridge) chipset chews up another six Watts.
To get around this, some manufacturers, including MSI with its U100 and U115 , and Dell with its Inspiron Mini 12 , have turned to the 1.6GHz Z530. Given that Silverthorne and Poulsbo together use just 4.5 Watts, improved battery life compared to Diamondville obviously results -- but at a cost. While the N270 reportedly costs manufacturers around $46, the Z530/SCH US15W solution costs them $95.
According to the Digitimes report referenced above, the N280 and GN40 combo will split the difference in pricing, selling for between $60 and $65 in thousand-unit quantities.
Further information
Intel has not officially released information about the N280, but confirmation of its clock speed, bus speed, second-level cache size, and manufacturing process can be found in a sales document on the company's website, here [PDF link]. To read the Digitimes report referred to in this story, see the publication's website, here .
Ricky Martin calls fatherhood a `spiritual moment’
(AP)
Cortex-A8 SoC targets Linux netbooks
Linux MID sports 3G WLAN radios
Pegasus Imaging Corp. announced the acquisition of Tasman Software of Leeds, U.K., bringing Tasman's Linux-compatible, Java/JavaME mobile Barcode Reader software development kit (SDK) into Pegasus's Windows-focused document imaging portfolio. The acquisition follows Pegasus's purchase of another cross-platform imaging firm, Accusoft, in December.
Tasman formerly licensed its Barcode Reader SDK to Apple, Adobe, Atalasoft, Lexmark, and other companies, but Pegasus has now terminated the agreements. Tampa, Florida-based Pegasus will write new licensing and support contracts for Tasman software, it says.
Pegasus bills itself as a leading supplier of ActiveX and .NET toolkits for barcode recognition on Windows-based computers. It plans to incorporate Tasman's barcode technology into its preexisting barcode offerings. The acquisition will also help it to expand to support Linux, Unix, Mac, and mobile device platforms, says the company.
Last month, Pegasus picked up more cross-platform technology when it acquired AccuSoft, which developed imaging SDKs for photo processing, medical imaging, DICOM, and document imaging applications. AccuSoft brings Pegasus its thin-client image viewing browser for Microsoft's Silverlight, as well imaging toolkits for Linux, Unix, Mac, .NET, ActiveX, Windows Mobile, and 32-bit and 64-bit Windows platforms, says the company.
Stated Jack Berlin, president of Pegasus Imaging, "Tasman offers great tools for barcode reading, and we provide the corporate structure to support software developers and integrators."
Nokia alludes to Linux phone plans
Apple to sell copy protection-free songs
(Reuters)
Nokia alludes to Linux phone plans
Apple to sell copy protection-free songs
(Reuters)
( Click for larger view of the CherryPal Bing )
Like the original CherryPal C100 nettop that shipped last year, the Bing netbook and the C114 nettop offer managed "cloud" computing paid for by advertising rather than a monthly fee. The free, Web-based CherryPalCloud provides storage, virus control, application upgrades, and installation. CherryPal's new "Green Maraschino" distribution addresses low-power operation, cloud computing interfaces, and larger issues surrounding green computing, says the company. (See farther below for more on the initiative).
CherryPal Bing
Except for its extended battery life, the Bing appears to be a fairly standard issue netbook, offering an Intel Atom N270 clocked at 1.6GHz, plus 1GB DDRII RAM. For storage, CherryPal offers a 160GB hard disk drive (HDD), plus an SD/MMC/MS card socket, and the netbook's 10.2-inch TFT display boasts 1024 x 600 resolution. For connectivity, the Bing provides 802.11b/g WiFi and three USB 2.0 ports, but no Ethernet port. There is also a microphone, earphone connection, dual speakers, and a 1.3Mpixel camera, says CherryPal. Weighing just three pounds, the netbook is claimed to yield five hours of battery life.
Applications on the Green Maraschino Linux version of the Bing include the Firefox Browser, OpenOffice, and video and music players. There is also a Skype VoIP client, and an Instant Messenger app that supports Yahoo, AOL, Google, and MSN, says the company.
ARM-based CherryPal C114
While the Bing won't ship until March, the upgraded C114 version of the CherryPal nettop is shipping now, says the company. The only apparent difference compared to the original CherryPal C100 ultra-mini PC is that the NAND Flash solid state drive (SSD) has been boosted from 4GB to 8GB.
CherryPal C114
As with the C100 , the 10-ounce, 1.3 x 5.8 x 4.2-inch CherryPal uses 98 percent less energy and includes 80 percent fewer components than a typical PC, claims CherryPal. The CherryPal desktops are also said to boot in 20 seconds.
Like another fruit-flavored mini-PC, the mobile LimePC , the CherryPal is based on the Freescale MPC5121e , which is built around a 32-bit PowerPC e300 core. Like the original CherryPal C100, the C114 offers 256 DDR2 DRAM, two USB ports, an Ethernet port, and WiFi. (For a full list of specs, see our previous coverage .)
Green Maraschino drops from the cloud
The new "Green Maraschino" open source project appears to go far beyond merely offering an optimized Linux distribution. The project aims to "provide an open platform for ultra-low power computing, from silicon to super-cloud architecture," says CherryPal.
Green Maraschino is divided into 10 sub-projects. says CherryPal:Embedded-Linux
Multi-core/multi-processor load balancing and utilization optimization
Device drivers
Browser and plug-ins
Local applications
Connectivity to Internet and cloud
Cloud infrastructure
Cloud applications and services
Grid and cluster engine
Super-cloud infrastructure (cloud-to-cloud)It is unclear whether Green Maraschino is based on the same Debian implementation used by the CherryPal nettops. With this distribution, Debian is unexposed, and all applications and functions are said to be managed via a Firefox-based browser. For its nettops, CherryPal uses a "patent-pending" technology that combines hardware and software encryption, says the company. It also collapses the operating system and browser into a single software layer, a design that CherryPal claims improves performance, and "virtually eliminates any risk of bugs or viruses."
Availability
The CherryPal C114 is shipping now for a price of $250, and the Bing will ship in March at an undisclosed price. CherryPal launched the Bing, oddly enough, at the Sundance Film Festival, and it is offering a special two-for-one deal, ending Jan. 25th. This week only, buyers can purchase both the Bing and the C114 for $400.
The purpose of the campaign is to encourage buyers to sign on as early-adopter "Brand Angels" who are willing to testify for the product and sell it for a small commission. Current C100 Brand Angels will receive a Bing for free. In addition any C114 customers who must wait more than a week for either delivery or refund, will receive a free Bing, says the company.
“Banker” Björk Aims to Thaw Iceland Financial Freeze
(E! Online)
Cortex-A8 SoC targets Linux netbooks
“3G” HP netbook boasts Atom, ExpressCard expansion
Court agrees to pay Spears’ father $75/hour
(AP)
( Click for larger view of the CrunchPad Prototype B )
The CrunchPad is the brainchild of TechCrunch editor Michael Arrington, who last summer announced plans to launch an open-source project to build a prototype. Arrington's goal was to find a "dead simple" touchscreen web browsing device that was light enough to sit on one's lap while watching TV. At the time, TechCrunch was targeting a $200 device, but now "$299 is more realistic," writes Arrington in his most recent post.
CrunchPad Prototype B
Prototype B of the CrunchPad uses Via Technologies's 64-bit, 65nm Nano processor, which Arrington says performs on par with an Intel Atom in their tests. Nano-based netbooks, such as Dr. Mobile's recently announced, Linux ready Freestyle 1300n , have the potential to outperform those based on Intel's ubiquitous Atom N270 -- though with a potential sacrifice in battery life. Third-party comparisons of the Atom and the Nano, using desktop versions of the CPUs, have shown the Nano outperforming the Atom by up to 30 percent. But, while both CPUs have similar power consumption at idle, the Nano drinks significantly more juice under load, reports say. TechCrunch did not report which version of the processor was used, but it is likely the mobile-oriented, 1.3GHz Nano U2350.
CrunchPad (side view)
The CrunchPad is further equipped with 1GB RAM and 4GB flash, as well as WiFi, a camera, and accelerometers that can automatically adjust the screen from landscape to portrait. The device also includes Ethernet and USB ports, a speaker connection, and, at least for the prototype version, a monitor port. The 12-inch display provides a 4:3 aspect ratio, and the 1024 x 768 resolution is said to be high enough to handle "the "vast majority" of websites without the need for horizontal scrolling.
The 12.5 x 9.7 x 1.3-inch case is "about twice as thick as it needs to be without further engineering," writes Arrington. The three-pound weight is said to be two ounces less than an Asus EeePC netbook. This, too, could be reduced, he suggests, by swapping out the prototype capacitive resistance display with a screen that would require fewer than the current set of four batteries. The case was designed and built by David Yarnell and Greg Lalier from Dynacept , says TechCrunch.
The current version of the CrunchPad is said to run a full install of Ubuntu Linux, along with a custom Webkit browser. Developed with the help of Singapore-based Fusion Garage , the system software boots directly to the browser for fast access, and offers a virtual keyboard. Media capabilities are said to include Flash video, as well as video from Hulu, YouTube, and Joost. According to Arrington, the "killer apps" for the CrunchPad include Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Hulu, Wikipedia, Google Docs, and Gmail.
Availability
Hardware for Prototype B of the CrunchPad is nearing lockdown, writes Arrington. The next step, he says, is to determine interest from the investment community before deciding whether to spin off a company to move the product into production. Once in production, TechCrunch has said it will open source the software and hardware used in the project. Current costs per CrunchPad, including codecs, are said to run a little over $200, with final pricing expected to be about $300.
TechCrunch has signed on a new team lead for the project in Louis Monier. Formerly the founder/CTO of pioneering Internet search engine AltaVista, Monier was most recently with search engine firm, Cuil .
More information, including two video demos, should be available here .
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