linuxdevices

Developers at Linux consulting firm NthCode have ported Android 1.0 to Nokia's N810 Internet tablet -- and they explain how they did it in a detailed LinuxDevices whitepaper.

The paper details the changes Google made to the Linux kernel, and offers step-by-step porting tips.

LinuxDevices covers the Katana Robotic Arm. "Zurich, Switzerland-based Neuronics has released an open-source embedded Linux version of its "Katana" robot." The Katana Robotic Arm runs Linux with Xenomai hard real time extensions on a Freescale MPC5200-based control board, and is aimed at industry, production, and research applications, says the company."

LinuxDevices: "Available with hardware/software development services, the mini-ITX-format "Korat" board uses AMCC's 440EPx processor, and comes with an open source bootloader and Linux BSP (board support package)."

LinuxDevices: "NEC announced two new POS (point-of-sales/service) computers that run Linux. The TwinPOS 5500 and 3500 feature integrated flat panel touchscreens, resistance against dust and liquids, and optional MSRs (magnetic stripe readers) and customer-facing displays, says the company."

LinuxDevices looks at the BugBase. "Bug Labs will ship its tiny, open-source ARM11-powered BugBase and three add-on modules in October, and will switch to Poky Linux.

Meanwhile, a recent review finds the hackable Linux-based platform to be intriguing, but currently too "flaky" for typical consumers."

LinuxDevices: "China Unicom is distributing a Samsung Electronics phone that runs a mobile Linux stack from Mizi Research, a company that will soon be acquired by Wind River.

Samsung's "Olympics" phone, also called the SCH-i859, is equipped with a Marvell PXA300 processor and a 2.8-inch touchscreen."

Linuxdevices is reporting on the start of a port of Devicescape's connect application.

LinuxDevices looks at the Beagle board, a 3-inch-square board with ARM's Cortex A8 and TI's OMAP3 architectures.

"Jason Kridner, director of open system design at TI, says the Beagle board offers a very user-friendly way to explore the capabilities of the A8 architecture, as well as the C64x DSP, for which a free compiler and open source codecs are available.

For development on-the-go, the board can be powered by a laptop's USB port, and it comes with an "unbrickable" boot ROM, he observed.

LinuxDevices: "Openmoko has begun shipping its Linux-based, open source Neo Freerunner phone to five newly announced distributors, in Germany, France, and India, says the company..."

LinuxDevices takes a look at Roku's Netflix Player.

"Roku's Netflix Player (pictured at left) was announced last month as a way to reduce tech support calls for Netflix.

The device is designed as an embedded Linux alternative to the Netflix Instant application, which runs on Windows PCs.

Subscribers can visit the Netflix website using a laptop or PC and add movies to their Instant queue. The selected items can then be browsed using a TV or projector, using the Player's remote control.