Linux Devices
Networking appliance expands to 14 gigabit ports
Win Enterprises is readying a 1U rackmount networking appliance that supports a variety of Intel processors up to a Core 2 Quad. The PL-80230 supports up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, and offers CompactFlash and SATA storage, six to 14 gigabit Ethernet ports, USB and serial ports, and PCIe, mini-PCI, and PCI expansion, says the company....
Home energy monitor runs Ubuntu on Atom
Cisco announced an Intel Atom-based, tabletop Home Energy Controller (HEC) device based on OpenPeak's Home Energy Manager (HEM) design. Running Ubuntu Linux on a 1.1GHz Intel Atom, the HEC offers a seven-inch screen, networks via cellular, 802.11n, ZigBee, and ERT wireless, and works with back-end services enabling consumers to monitor and control energy use....
Big-screen Kindle gains new screen technology
Amazon.com announced an updated version of its large-screen. Linux-based Kindle DX e-reader, with the price dropped from $489 to $379. The Kindle DX maintains its 9.7-inch screen, but moves to a new E Ink technology claimed to offer 50 percent better contrast, says the company....
Microsoft tech allows sticking batteries in any way you want
Microsoft announced a hardware solution that will allow users of portable devices -- digital cameras, flashlights, remote controls, toys, you name it -- to insert their batteries in any direction. Compatible with AA and AAA cells, among others, the patented & InstaLoad& technology does not require special electronics or circuitry, the company claims....
Gingerbread will split Android into two, rumors say
Android 3.0 & Gingerbread& will be a high-end format supporting 1280 × 760 resolution and requiring a 1GHz processor, essentially splitting the operating system into two platforms, says UnwiredView. Meanwhile, HTC and Sprint are readying an Android smartphone with a 2GHz processor and 1080p video recording, says OzcarGuide, while TmoNews says HTC is prepping an Android phone for T-Mobile with dual 800MHz processors....
MeeGo project releases early handset code
The MeeGo project has released preview source code for the MeeGo Handset environment, including the first touchscreen support. Meanwhile, Intel has released a video demonstrating a pre-alpha version of MeeGo's tablet environment, showing off five-finger multitouch support....
LiMo-based First Else smartphone bites the dust
Else Mobile announced that its collaboration with Sharp and Access to develop its LiMo (Linux Mobile) compliant First Else smartphone has been canceled, says Engadget. The Israeli company's subsidiary, Else Ltd. (formerly Emblaze Mobile) will cancel the phone project, but will work to license the innovative Else Intuition UI platform and technology to interested buyers....
Mini PCs include bootable miniSD slots, low power consumption
U.K.-based Anders Electronics announced two fanless PCs measuring just 4.5 x 4 x 1.05 inches. The fit-PC2 and fit-PC2i include 1.1GHz or 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z-series processors, bootable miniSD slots, 2.5-inch drive bays, built-in wireless networking, and HD-capable DVI video outputs, the company says....
24-port networking appliance runs on Xeon 5600
Lanner announced a new version of a high-end, 2U rack-mount networking appliance with an Intel 5520 chipset and dual Intel Xeon 5600 processors. The & refreshed& FW-8892 appliance is equipped with a dozen DDR3 memory sockets, an optional Cavium security accelerator chip, up to 24 Ethernet ports, PCIe expansion, and four bays for SATA II hard drives, the company says....
Kindle for Android app ships, but Froyo roll-out hits snag
Amazon released its Kindle app for Android, while announcing a multimedia version for the iPhone and dropping the price of the Kindle, says eWEEK. Meanwhile, Android 2.2 rolled out to Nexus One users, but Sprint suspended its own rollout to the Evo 4G, says eWEEK, and Samsung announced plans for a Froyo update to its Galaxy S....
Mobile development framework rev'd with native mapping
Rhomobile announced a new version of its cross-platform smartphone app development framework, supporting BlackBerry, Android, Windows Mobile, Symbian, WebOS, the iPhone, and the iPad. Now available for free under the open source MIT license, Rhodes 2.0 adds native mapping across devices, a metadata framework for applications with changing underlying schema, and faster sync, says the company....
Thin client supports dual displays
The U.K. firm Netvoyager announced a thin client that runs Linux and provides dual-display support, with both VGA and DVI outputs. The Neterm LX1032, as well as the similar Windows-based XP1032, offer Via C7 or Eden processors respectively, as well as 1GB of DDR2 RAM. 1GB of flash, a gigabit Ethernet port, four USB 2.0 ports, plus smart-card reader and Wi-Fi options, the company says....
Cisco unveils Android-based mobile collaboration tablet
Cisco announced an enterprise-focused tablet based on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom, using Intel's upcoming x86 Android port. Due in the first quarter of 2011, the Cius offers a seven-inch touchscreen, 32GB of flash, 3G and 802.11 a/b/g/n communications, a 720p-capable front-facing videocam, a five-megapixel still camera, plus an optional HD audio docking station equipped with a telephone handset....
Mini-ITX board targets 64-bit industrial apps
Via announced a Mini-ITX board with 1GHz or 1.3GHz versions of its embedded-oriented Nano E-Series 3000 processor. The Via Epia-M840 offers support for dual LVDS displays, up to 4GB of DDR2 memory, dual gigabit Ethernet ports, and a PCI Express x4 expansion slot, the company says....
MeeGo tablet unveiled in China
Red Flag Software has demonstrated a 10.1-inch tablet running its new MeeGo Linux version of Midinux 3.0 on an Intel Moorestown Z6xx processor, says Tech.qq. Equipped with Wi-Fi and 3G, the NPad tablet will go on sale in the third quarter, says the report....
Snapdragon-based Android 2.1 tablet goes on sale
Expansys UK has begun selling a seven-inch WVGA Android 2.1 tablet from Huawei, making it one of the first available Android tablets. Priced at 300 Pounds (about $451) without a memory card or 370 Pounds ($557) with 32GB, the Huawei S7 offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 802.11n wireless networking, Bluetooth 2.1, and a two-megapixel camera....
Multicore PowerPC networking SoCs gain Linux support
Wind River announced a multi-year collaboration with LSI to co-market & tightly integrated& Linux-ready hardware and software for LSI's PowerPC-based, multicore Axxia Communication Processors (ACP). Targeting telecommunications and networking infrastructure, the partners' solutions will include Axxia-optimized board support packages (BSPs) for Wind River Linux, VxWorks, Wind River Workbench, and Workbench On-Chip Debugging, says the company....
Netbook has 14-hour battery life, Bluetooth 3.0
Samsung announced a netbook claimed to offer up to 13.8 hours of battery life. The N230 also offers & Fast Start& technology, Bluetooth 3.0, a 250GB hard disk drive, a 10.1-inch display, and a choice of Intel's 1.66GHz Atom N450 or 1.83GHz N470 processors, the company says....
Rugged server supports six-core Xeons
Kontron announced a ruggedized server designed to operate in temperatures from 32 to 122 deg. F (0 to 50 deg. C). The KISS 4U KTC5520 features single or dual Intel Xeon 5500 or 5600 processors, up to 96GB of DDR3 memory, four drive bays, plus PCI and PCI Express expansion slots, the company says....
Samsung spreads Galaxy S phones across America
Samsung announced new versions of its high-end Galaxy S Android phones for Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Like the original Samsung Galaxy S, which will be sold under that name at U.S. Cellular, the Verizon Fascinate and T-Mobile Vibrant are keyboard-less phones, whereas Sprint's WiMAX-enabled Samsung Epic 4G mimics the recently tipped Galaxy S Pro design, which adds a slider keyboard....