Embedded Linux Newsletter for July 18, 2002

     WELCOME TO THE LINUXDEVICES.COM EMBEDDED LINUX NEWSLETTER 
                           July 18, 2002
      by Rick Lehrbaum -- Executive Editor, LinuxDevices.com
  
                       (online html version)
    http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/jul18-02.html


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_____________________ * * * TOP STORIES * * * ____________________


A LINUX-BASED MOBILE COMMUNICATION PLATFORM
This "device profile" introduces National Scientific Corporation's
StarPilot Linux-based mobile communication platform. The compact
device, which mounts discretely in a vehicle's trunk or under one
of the front seats, provides location information servers that can
connect the car's onboard systems, and its occupants, to a broad
spectrum of wireless data services.  Thanks to the combination of
embedded Linux and PC/104 modular flexibility, developers can
readily add new functions and applications to adapt the device to
unique requirements and future standards.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT7918317611.html


PRIORITY INHERITANCE: THE REAL STORY
In this guest editorial, TimeSys VP of Technology Doug Locke offers
a rebuttal to Victor Yodaiken's recently published whitepaper on
what's wrong with using a technique called 'priority inheritance'
to avoid a problem in real-time systems known as 'priority
inversion'.  Locke says Yodaiken's conclusion is like saying that
'because some carpenters might unsafely use a screwdriver to drive
nails, screwdrivers should never be used.'
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT5698775833.html


DEVELOPERS GIVE HIGH MARKS TO OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Venture Development Corporation (VDC) has released three new charts
from their recent study entitled Linux's Future in the Embedded
Systems Market, which indicate that embedded developers using Open
Source software take advantage of support from the Open Source
community, and are generally satisfied with the support they
receive. Over 60% said they consult the Open Source community on a
weekly or monthly basis, and less than 2% reported that the
responses were not useful.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6684706860.html


UPDATE ON LITTLE LINUX PLATFORMS
Are you looking for small pre-built systems for implementing your 
Linux-based projects or products? Look no further. LinuxDevices.com
has just completed an update to its popular Quick Reference Guide
to Little Linux Systems for Projects and Products. This handy
reference guide lists small systems that can serve as ready-made
platforms for prototyping applications, or as the basis of
application-specific Linux-based systems and devices. The style,
performance, and costs of these systems vary greatly. Lots of
pictures!
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2016997232.html


TWO APPROACHES TO SHARED LIBRARY SUPPORT FOR UCLINUX/UCLIBC
Two companies (SnapGear and RidgeRun) recently announced dynamic
linking support for uClinux using two different approaches. In this
whitepaper, SnapGear CEO Rick Stevenson discusses various practical
issues from both technical and legal perspectives, and compares and
contrasts the two companies' differing approaches.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT3186625227.html


EMBEDDED LINUX POWERS NEW REMOTE TERMINAL UNIT
SIXNET's new VersaTRAK IPm Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) is a small
device used for datalogging, 'supervisory control and data
acquisition' (SCADA), and control applications. The RTU is unique
in that it operates on an embedded Linux platform, thereby
providing users with both the power and flexibility of Linux
open-source software along with the reliability of industrial grade
hardware.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8580641597.html


EMBEDDED LINUX VENDORS FORGE ALLIANCE IN KOREA
MontaVista Software announced a partnership with Seoul, Korea based
Mizi Research whereby Mizi will market, distribute, and support
 MontaVista's products in Korea.  "This partnership not only marks
MontaVista's continued expansion, but also further consolidation in
the embedded Linux market," explained MontaVista's Bill Weinberg.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9717237887.html


TINY FANLESS SYSTEM TARGETS LINUX-BASED APPS
A French company introduced the OpenBrick, a compact, fanless
system targeting applications based on Linux and other open source
 software.  The device contains a PC/104-expandable single-board
computer with a Geode processor, up to 128MB internal SDRAM, and an
extensive list of peripheral interfaces (including Ethernet), plus
both CompactFlash and PCMCIA expansion.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9665405525.html


RIDGERUN CALLS IT QUITS
An article in the Idaho Statesman reports that RidgeRun, a firm
which specialized in providing an Embedded Linux based software
platform specific to Texas Instruments' dual-core (DSP/ RISC)
system-on-chip processors, has gone out of business.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4016185566.html


EMBEDDED LINUX:  IS IT DEAD YET?
Electronic Design editor William Wong points out that embedded
Linux is doing well despite a difficult economy, and contrary to
comments from a number of editors, analysts, and critics that
suggest otherwise. Some vendors are even reportedly in the black 
-- and growing.
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5438639609.html


_______ * * * OTHER NOTEWORTHY NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS * * * ________

Here are some additional news items and announcements of interest
from the past week . . .

*  Sharp's Zaurus PDA suffers security holes
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5415646341.html

*  Interview with preemption patch hacker Robert Love
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2490690755.html

*  Linux Timeline:  100 most significant events in Linux history
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2032492245.html

*  Vote for Linux Journal's 2002 Readers' Choice Awards
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6499374653.html

*  Linux supercomputer to run National Security projects
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2855964500.html

*  Study finds 2/3 Chinese S/W developers plan to write Linux apps
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9886160340.html

*  LynuxWorks to host July seminars
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6001617507.html

*  Virtual Prototyping for Embedded Linux Product Development
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5377333927.html


______ * * * FREQUENTLY UPDATED QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES * * * _____

*  EMBEDDED LINUX INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW ("start here")
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9888936014.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2760742655.html

*  REAL-TIME LINUX
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8073314981.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX GUI/WINDOWING SOFTWARE
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9202043619.html

*  JAVA TECHNOLOGIES FOR EMBEDDED LINUX SYSTEMS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8918758707.html

*  LINUX-FRIENDLY SYSTEM-ON-CHIP PROCESSORS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4313418436.html

*  LINUX-FRIENDLY EMBEDDED SINGLE BOARD COMPUTERS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2614444132.html

*  LITTLE LINUX SYSTEMS FOR PROJECTS & PRODUCTS
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT2016997232.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX "COOL DEVICES"
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT4936596231.html

*  LINUX-BASED PDAs
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT8728350077.html

*  EMBEDDED LINUX MARKET
   http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT5991623822.html


____________________* * * BACK ISSUES * * * ____________________

Missed a previous LinuxDevices.com Embedded Linux Newsletter?
No problem!  Here are back issues for the past month . . . 

  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/jul11-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/jul04-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/jun27-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/jun20-02.html
  http://www.linuxdevices.com/files/newsbriefs/jun13-02.html


______________ * * * VISIT LINUXDEVICES.COM * * * _______________

Be sure to stop by LinuxDevices.com (http://www.linuxdevices.com)
-- "the Embedded Linux Portal" -- for the latest news, articles,
forums, companies, products, jobs, and buzz in the fast-moving 
"post-PC" world of Linux-based intelligent devices, Internet 
appliances, and embedded systems.


_________ * * * QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS? * * * _________

     You can reach Rick Lehrbaum at:  rick@linuxdevices.com
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