Tiny UMPC runs Linux (LinuxDevices) [LWN.net]

LinuxDevices.com takes a look at ultra-mini PCs from LimePC. "A Chinese firm will introduce a line of Linux-based ultra-mini PCs (UMPC), one of which is said to be the size of a pack of playing cards. LimePC says its self-named product suite will be based on Freescale Semiconductor's MPC5121e system-on-chip (SoC). Although details are sketchy, the LimePC products will include "UMPCs, pad-style PCs with large touchpad LCD screens, notebook and desktop PCs, and mini-ITX developer kits," says Beijing-based Tsinghua Tongfang (THTF). THTF's Korean subsidiary, LimePC, is designing the products. The products will all be equipped with one or more MPC5121e processors, and will offer USB 2.0, 802.11g WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1, as well as 10/100 Ethernet for the desktop models."

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Tiny UMPC runs Linux (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jan 9, 2008 0:34 UTC (Wed) by endecotp (guest, #36428) [Link]

Well I'm always happy to see more architectural variety - these are PPC chips - and cheap
low-power systems on the market. But this company, with their rather grand plans, feels a bit
mysterious.

Apparently, "The LimePC devices all run LimeOS, based closely on the LimeFree OS maintained by
the LimeFree.org open source community." But limefree.org just redirects to limepc.com, which
is content-free and invites you to "request our press information kit". Is there actually a
"LimeFree.org open source community"? It looks as if Google had spidered it and found some
content, before the redirect was set up:

http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:OkhqE6v6aOEJ:limefre...
http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:fut-j1ETVKMJ:limefre...

Quote:

03/11/07 22:10
Today, LimeFree officially makes its public debut after weeks of closed preparation. The
development manager of LimeFree OS is Ryan Quinn, the developer of Symphony OS, Mezzo, and
Orchestra, upon which much of the LimeFree OS is based. Ryan will lead the combined efforts of
development community members and the many contributing software engineers at THTF and
Freescale. THTF and Freescale will continue to provide substantial behind the scenes staff and
monetary contributions to the project. Together, we will see the dream of a lean, powerful,
consumer focused next-generation personal computing platform develop under our combined hands.

Our first goal is to get initial cooperation underway between the open source community and
our project. Functionally, we will all pursue getting the january 7, 2008 LimeFree OS Preview
Edition release ready.

End Quote.

Symphony is an HTML desktop. Curiously the last new item on the Symphony web site suggests
that its name might be changed.....

Does anyone have any further information?

Symphony

Posted Jan 9, 2008 2:18 UTC (Wed) by pabs (subscriber, #43278) [Link]

Symphony OS - that is the one that doesn't release source code, but only an ISO. Sounds like
this lime thing is symphony rebranded.

Tiny UMPC runs Linux (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jan 9, 2008 3:26 UTC (Wed) by PO8 (guest, #41661) [Link]

I'd also point out that everyone I know who's tried to field a system based around the
Freescale part, including us, has had serious problems due to bugs in their silicon that are
hard to work around.  I will believe that this unknown company can pull this off when I
actually see the hardware running.

Freescale problems

Posted Jan 9, 2008 4:11 UTC (Wed) by pjm (subscriber, #2080) [Link]

So the LimePC will be a lemon?

Freescale problems

Posted Jan 9, 2008 10:34 UTC (Wed) by petegn (guest, #847) [Link]

suck it and see   ...  :_(

Tiny UMPC runs Linux (LinuxDevices)

Posted Jan 10, 2008 10:17 UTC (Thu) by nhippi (subscriber, #34640) [Link]


"Though both the hardware and the Linux-based software were extremely raw here, we see promise
in these totally hackable little beasts"

http://www.engadget.com/photos/hands-on-with-the-limepc/