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* * * * * WELCOME TO THE LINUXDEVICES WEEKLY NEWSLETTER * * * * *
Feb. 19, 2009

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, relax... Due to the Mobile World
Congress in Barcelona this week, we have a packed newsletter!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

_________________ * * * TOP NEWS STORIES * * * ____________________

________________
NEW LINUX PHONES
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

ANDROID PHONE TO HIT EUROPE IN SPRING
Vodafone and HTC announced the latter's second-generation,
all-touchscreen Android phone. Scheduled to ship to Vodafone customers
in Europe this spring, the Android Magic offers HDSPA 3G connectivity,
and a slimer profile than the G1, lacking the earlier HTC Android
phone's slide-out keyboard.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20EFA:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


NAVIGATION SMARTPHONE RUNS LINUX
Garmin and AsusTek (Asus) have announced a jointly developed smartphone
that offers Garmin's "Nuvi" location-based services (LBS) features and
runs Linux. The Nuvifone G60 offers a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 4GB of
flash, GSM and HDSPA connectivity, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, and a 3-Mpixel
camera with geotagging
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20EFB:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


NINE NEW NTT DOCOMO PHONES RUN LINUX
NTT DoCoMo is distributing nine new NEC and Panasonic handsets that
comply with the LiMo (Linux Mobile) Platform. Designed for its
46-million user Japanese HDSPA FOMA network, the phones all support up
to 7.2Mbps downlinks, and most offer touchscreen, Bluetooth, and
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20EFC:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


WIFI-CENTRIC DUAL-MODE LINUX PHONE REV'D
Malaysian embedded-device firm Gupp Technologies is readying a new
version of its Linux-based, dual-mode (WiFi and GSM) "Phreedom" phone.
The "Phreedom-Monday" offers improved VoIP quality, according to Trinity
Convergence, which is supplying its VeriCall Edge VoIP/multimedia stack
for use in the updated phone.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20EFD:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


CHINESE TELECOM GIANT TIPS ANDROID PHONE
China-based telecommunications equipment manufacturer Huawei
Technologies is showing its first Android-powered smartphone this week
at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Due to ship in the third
quarter, the phone is one of two or three Huawei Android models due that
may ship this year, says an industry report.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20EFE:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

_______________________
OTHER NEW LINUX DEVICES
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

LINUX DEVICE BRIDGES 3G, WIFI IN SPAIN
Telefonica Espana will offer a pocket-sized, hacker-friendly, Linux
WiFi/3G bridge/router to its customers, according to supplier Novatel
Wireless. The MiFi 2352 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot connects up to five
WiFi users to Telefonica's 3G HSPA network, which is capable of
downstream data rates of 7.2Mbps.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20EFF:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


MOORESTOWN MID TO RUN VOICE-CALL ENABLED MOBLIN
LG Electronics is collaborating with Intel on a new line of mobile
Internet devices (MIDs) based on the latter's energy-efficient
"Moorestown" processor. Due to ship in 2010, the MID will run a
Linux-based, MID-focused Moblin V2 distribution that will add cellular
voice capability, says Intel.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F00:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

_____________________
NEW REFERENCE DESIGNS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

MOBILE DEV PLATFORM RUNS LINUX
Texas Instruments (TI) announced an MDP (mobile development platform)
using its OMAP3430 system-on-chip (SoC). Available with a Linux BSP
(board support package), the "Zoom OMAP34x-II" includes a 4.1-inch
multi-touch display, eight megapixel camera, GPS, HDMI output, and a
forthcoming pico projection module, says the company.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F01:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

FREESCALE TOUTS ANDROID ON ARM NETBOOK DESIGN
Freescale Semiconductor is demonstrating an Ubuntu Linux-based netbook
reference design based on its ARM Cortex A8-based i.MX515 system-on-chip
(SoC). Additionally, Freescale announced Android and Xandros Linux ports
to the chip, support from Phoenix Technogies's HyperSpace fast-boot
technology, and support for 3G modules from Wavecom and Option.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F02:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

_________
CHIP NEWS
^^^^^^^^^

TI UNVEILS OMAP4
TI (Texas Instruments) plans to begin sampling its next-generation
mobile applications processors in the second half of the year, it
announced. OMAP4 chips will feature dual, SMP-capable ARMv7-based cores,
along with C64x DSPs, multi-format hardware accelerators, a
"programmable" graphics engine, and an "image signal processor" (ISP).
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F03:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


ARM SOCS TARGET PHONES, NETBOOKS
Qualcomm has announced four mobile chipsets, three with Scorpion cores
based on ARM Ltd.'s ARMv7 architecture. The ARM11-based MSM7227 targets
sub-$150 smartphones, listing specific support for Google's Android,
while the Scorpion-based MSM8260, MSM8660, and MSM8270 target high-end
devices with HD video, the company says.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F04:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


NVIDIA COPS TO ANDROID PORT
Nvidia has confirmed a long-rumored port of Google's Linux-based Android
mobile stack to its Tegra series of ARM11-based mobile applications
processors. Due in the second quarter, the Tegra port of Android marks
the first official Linux support for the Tegra chips, which target
smartphones and MIDs.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F05:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

__________________________________________
LINUX DEVICE DISTRO, STACK, AND TOOLS NEWS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

MONTAVISTA SPINS MID STACK
MontaVista will demonstrate a Linux distribution for mobile Internet
devices (MIDs). The "Montabello" stack builds upon its Mobilinux
distribution with MID-focused middleware and applications, and offers
extended battery life, fast boot-up, and "seamless" wireless handoffs,
says MontaVista's Dan Cauchy (pictured).
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F06:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


LIMO-READY LINUX STACK GOES 3D
Access is demonstrating its Access Linux Platform (ALP) 3.0 at Mobile
World Congress in Barcelona. The new LiMo-compatible "advanced UI"
mobile ALP stack leverages Open GL-ES 2.0 to offer 3D special effects,
and introduces a standardized API that splits logic from presentation
layers, says Access.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F07:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


PHONE STACK RUNS ON LINUX, SYMBIAN
Finland-based embedded and mobile outsourcing house Sesca is
demonstrating a mobile phone stack that runs on Linux and Symbian. Based
on Nokia's open-source Qt application development framework, the "Ample"
stack offers touchscreen support, a customizable GUI, and a reference
implementation for Openmoko's NeoFreerunner.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F08:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


DEBIAN "LENNY" RELEASED
After 22 months of "constant development," the Debian project released
version 5.0 (codenamed "Lenny") on Valentine's Day. The release supports
12 processor architectures, a choice of four desktop environments, and
broad standards compliance, the project said.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F09:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


VIRTUALIZATION CO. AIMS ANDROID AT LOW-COST PHONES
VirtualLogix is demonstrating its VLX virtualization stack running
Android and a baseband RTOS on an ST-Ericsson reference design with a
single ARM9 core. The company also recently announced a new CEO, Glenda
Dorchak, formerly of Windows CE phone and PND specialist Intrinsyc
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F0A:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


LINUX NETBOOK DISTRO PORTS TO ARM
Xandros has ported its desktop Linux distribution -- used in the
pioneering Asus Eee PC netbook -- to two ARM-based netbook platforms.
The ports are part of a larger push to support ARM-based devices,
including 3G-enabled MID-like devices and even smartphones, says the
company.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F0B:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


WINDOWS DEVICE HOUSE COMES TO LINUX, ANDROID
A company specializing in featurephones and PNDs (portable navigation
devices) based on Windows CE has taken a turn toward the Linux-based
Android phone stack. At Mobile World Congress (MWC) this week, Intrinsyc
launched three tools aimed at helping OEMs (original equipment
manufacturers) quickly integrate Android Linux phones.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F0C:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

_______________________
OTHER IMPORTANT STORIES
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CEO INTERVIEW: GLENDA DORCHAK OF VIRTUALLOGIX
Foreword -- Glenda Dorchak joined embedded and real-time virtualization
specialist VirtualLogix in January, taking over the CEO role. Dorchak
has 30 years of tech industry management experience, most recently at
Windows Mobile device specialist Intrinsyc, and plans to focus the
company on high-growth markets, she said.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F0D:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


COMBINING GPL, CLOSED CODE
One of Linux's elder statesmen has published an essay about combining
proprietary software with GPL-licensed software (such as the Linux
kernel) in devices. Focusing on the specific example of mobile phones,
Bruce Perens lists the "do's" and "don't do's" of open and closed code
mixing.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F0E:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


LIMO ADDS NINE HANDSETS, SIX MEMBERS
The LiMo Foundation announced nine new LiMo (Linux Mobile) compliant
handsets from NEC and Panasonic aimed at NTT DoCoMo's wireless network.
The resurgent mobile phone consortium also announced six new members:
Telefonica, Aromasoft, Casio Hitachi Mobile Communications, Marvell
Semiconductor, Opera Software, and Swisscom.
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F0F:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


_____ * * * OTHER NOTEWORTHY ITEMS FROM PAST WEEK * * * _____

* Linux network appliance adds crypto engine
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F10:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* Java LBE prepped for LiMo
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F11:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* The 1,234,567,890th second approaches
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F12:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* Nav software ported to Moblin MIDs
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F13:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* Files and feeds from FOSDEM
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F14:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* Mobile software merger combines Android, LiMo forces
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F15:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* Taming a power-sucking TV
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F16:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&


______ * * * EMBEDDED LINUX GUIDES * * * _____

* LINUX MIDS
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F17:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* LINUX NETBOOKS
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F18:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* LINUX MOBILE PHONES
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F19:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

* THE LINUX DEVICES SHOWCASE
http://web.eweek.com/t?ctl=20F1A:DA009C919076BD0EA3C54E1F6ADA2097&

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