Open source phone

GizmoForYou, a hacker community, launching Linux hardware/software kit for building a modular touchcreen smartphone. Based on the OMAP35x-based Gumstix Overo Earth single-board computer (SBC), the Flow phone offers modules including GPS, 3.5G cellular, Bluetooth, WiFi, and a camera.

The core of the product is the Flow motherboard, which is designed to integrate the separately available Overo Earth module. Other modules attach to the motherboard, including a 3.7-inch 640 x 480 Sharp LS037V7DW01 touchscreen LCD and Flow Sharp LCD module.

Connectivity modules include GPS, USB, and a choice between a plain GSM cellular module and a HSDPA-ready 3.5G/GPS/GSM/GPRS module. Additional options include a 1GB MicroSD card, camera, power supply, battery, and enclosure, with various options available on several of the modules.

Flow motherboard features are said to include:

* 2 x 70 pin connectors for the Overo module from Gumstix
* 80-pin connector for the GSM, GPS, and 3G modules
* Stereo amplifiers
* 2 x speakers and GSM audio amplifier for speakers
* Microphone and GSM preamp for Mic
* PIC16LF877A UI Init (with Bootloader preloaded)
* 2 x general-purpose buttons linked to the UI Unit
* Orientation sensor
* Light sensor
* Level translation for GSM serial connections
* 3G USB HS power supply
* Luxeon 1W LED for the camera flash features
* Dual SIM/MicroSD slot (experimental)
* Camera connector and camera power management
* Power management circuits fully controllable by the UI unit
* Additional pins for connecting external power sources
* Dimensions -- 3.0 x 2.6 inches (76 x 65mm)
* Operating system -- Linux

USB monitor run on linux

Linux users should soon be able to use USB-connected monitors. DisplayLink has released Linux versions of its USB monitor and has partnered with Novell and the Linux Driver Project to develop drivers for desktops and mobile devices. DisplayLink’s chips are embedded in a growing number of USB-connected monitors, such as Mimo Monitors' little Mimo 710 enabling one or more high resolution displays to be connected via a standard USB 2.0 port.

Previously available only on Windows and Mac, the drivers can now be developed for Linux devices now that the source code library has been released under GNU Lesser General Public License v2 (LGPL). The library should enable the development of Linux X Servers, drivers, and other applications that work with the DisplayLink-compatible technology. As a result, USB-to-monitor attachments should be available on Linux devices including netbooks, notebooks, mobile Internet devices (MIDs), mobile phones, embedded displays, embedded devices, and digital signage.

A DisplayLink driver compresses graphics using adaptive compression technology that automatically balances compression methods based on the content, available CPU power, and USB bandwidth. The data is then sent out through the USB port to a monitor or other device with an embedded DisplayLink DL-120 or DL-160 chip, which include a USB port on one side and an analog, DVI, or FPI (LVDS) video port on the other. The chip decompresses the stream and enables instant cloning or extending of a desktop among multiple displays.

To accelerate deployment and development of Linux drivers and other software, DisplayLink has established partnerships with both Novell and the Linux Driver Project (LDP). Company is expecting to launch this USB monitor as soon as possible.

Linux Foundation relaunches Linux web site

The Linux Foundation (LF) has followed up on its acquisition of Linux.com with a promised relaunch of the site. The revamped Linux.com now offers blog hosting, a how-to section, user reviews for products in the directory, and an Ultimate Linux Guru contest.

The LF announced its acquisition of Linux.com from SourceForge in early March. While the LF has assumed control of the site, SourceForge will continue to sell advertising. Linux.com, which saw 21 percent growth in traffic in 2008. It offers industry news and forums devoted to Linux information, software, documentation, and technical answers across the server, desktop/netbook, mobile, and embedded areas.

The redesign aims to "mirror the Linux community process by hosting a collaborative framework where users and developers can connect and increase the collective Linux knowledge and resources for new and advanced users alike," says the LF. Inaugural Linux.com sponsors include Intel, NetApp, Novell, and Red Hat. Each year, Linux.com will award the top-scoring guru as the "Ultimate Linux Guru," says the LF.

Major new Linux.com features are said to include:

* News -- original content and analysis, plus content from LF workgroups, including FOSSBazaar and MoblinZone.
* Community -- new user blogs and reviews, and tools for promoting Linux and open source related groups
* Distribution Central -- showcase of original content from each of the major community distros, with contributions from Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, and Ubuntu, and contributors including Jono Bacon, Joe Brockmeier, Paul Frields, Martin Krafft, and Karsten Wade
* Learning -- centralized repository for Linux documentation, including Man Pages and how-to tutorials from the Linux Documentation Project, plus technical Q&A forums
* Directory -- user-contributed and user-reviewed database of Linux applications, Linux-compatible hardware components, books, hosting, and other Linux-related professional services; plus aggregated Linux application downloads to create an application store.

Hybrid Linux mobile phone

Germany-based ROAD has upgraded its multifunction, Linux-based mobile phone. This phone can act as both a GSM cellular phone and a WiFi-driven PDA and web browser, and it offers a dual SIM-card option. The new mobile phone offers a redesigned 5.1 x 2.5 x 0.9-inch case, a faster 512MHz Marvel PXA270 processor, and much more RAM and flash, with allotments of 128MB and 1GB, respectively. The device also includes not only an SD card, but also the option of dual SIMs, for use with two different phone numbers.

The phone provides both a standard phone keypad and a 63-key QWERTY mini-keyboard. The device includes quad-band GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz) cellphone with EDGE, WiFi and Bluetooth radios, a two megapixel camera, and a USB 2.0 interface. ROAD has added Outlook synchronization and the MS-compatible Softmaker office suite. A Linux SDK is also said to be available for developing third party applications.

Specifications

* Processor -- Marvell PXA270 @ 512MHz
* Memory -- 128MB RAM
* Flash -- 1GB flash and expanded up to 32GB
* Display -- 128 x 160 color phone display (with lightness-sensor); 640 x 240 color TFT touchscreen
* Input -- 21-key phone keypad; 63-key QWERTY mini-keyboard; 4 x external PC control keys
* Cellular -- GSM quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz) with EDGE/GPRS class 12; dual SIM-card option
* WiFi -- 802.11b
* Bluetooth -- Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, class 2
* USB -- 1 x micro-USB 2.0
* Camera -- 2 megapixel
* Applications:
o PIM-Pack (list, contact, calendar, tasks)
o Remote access client
o Messaging client email/SMS
o Web browser
o Softmaker Office Office-Pack (MS-compatible):
+ TextMaker word processing
+ PlanMaker spreadsheet
+ Database
+ PDF-Viewer
+ Drawing program
+ Calculator
+ Notes
+ Audio Player
+ Video Player
+ Games
+ PIM synchronization for PCs
+ Online software updates
* Battery -- Akku 1800mAh Lithium-Polymer (charges via USB)
* Battery life -- 4 hours active, 7 days standby (phone); 5 hours active, 30 days standby (phone off)
* Dimensions -- 5.1 x 2.5 x 0.9 inches (130 x 64 x 24mm)
* Operating system -- Linux 2.6.x with Qtopia-based ROAD graphical desktop and optional SDK

Linux based portable media player

BlueRadios announced a near-eye portable media player (PMP) with a Kopin SVGA micro display. The WiFi-enabled WiPC (Wireless internet PC) weighs three ounces only, offers the viewing experience of a 15-inch display, runs Linux, Android, or Windows CE/Mobile, and consumes one Watt of power. The PMP provides access to Internet-based content including audio and video.

The Kopin "Golden-I" color liquid crystal micro display provides 800 x 600-pixel resolution and "superb magnifying optics. The WiPC offers built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, and "3.5G" modems, and a "cellular handset" capability is planned for a future release. Interactivity is available via voice recognition command and control, as well as a jog wheel and an "optical finger mouse. The WiPC offers a full web browser, with access to multimedia content, streaming media, and the ability to open PDF files. The GPS receiver is backed up with navigation and Location Based Services (LBS) support, and videoconferencing is also said to be available.

Features and specification of PMP

* Processor -- Multitask-enabling dual-core processor
* Flash -- 16GB microSD card and SIM socket card-holder
* Display -- Kopin SVGA (800 x 600) liquid crystal micro display (LCD).
* USB -- 1 x USB on-the-go (OTG) port, also used for recharging internal Lithium battery
* Communications:
o 2G/3.5G cellular modem
o GPS
o Bluetooth
o WiFi
o FM (Tx/Rx)
* Other features:
o Voice recognition command and control
o Optical finger mouse
o Text to speech and vice-versa
* Power -- 1 x rechargeable Lithium cell battery; consumes 1 Watt
* Weight -- 3 oz (85g)
* Operating system -- Linux, Android, Windows CE

Linux based Waterproof panel PC

IEI Technology announced a rugged, Linux-Based, IP67-waterproof panel PC aimed at marine, avionics, military, mining, engineering, and industrial applications. The Sailor-12A and sunlight readable Sailor-12ASR run on 1.6GHz Intel Atom processors, and offer 12.1-inch, 1024 x 768 touchscreens and 802.11b/g/n WiFi.

The Sailor-12A is equipped with a die-cast aluminum enclosure that helps to dissipate heat, enabling fanless operation. The sealed IP67 and NEMA6 compliant chassis, touchpanel, connectors, and optional cables are waterproof, and the system is "designed for high reliability, shock and vibration tolerance, use under an extreme range of temperatures and in harsh environments. The Sailor-12A uses the same Atom N270 and Intel 945GSE + ICH7M chipset typically found on netbooks. The device's WiFi radio supports 802.11n standard, which offers up to twice the range of 802.11g, as well as faster speeds of 300- to 600Mbps. Storage options include a CompactFlash II slot and a 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drive (HDD) bay.

The 12.1-inch touchscreen is said to offer an ambient light sensor for automated screen adjustments to optimize viewing. The optional Sailor-12ASR adds to that with Anti-Reflection (AR) technology and "advanced deep dimming to black" for better readability in sunlight.

Technical specifiaction

* Processor -- Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz with Intel 945GSE + ICH7M chipset
* Memory -- up to 2GB 533MHz DDR2
* Flash expansion -- CompactFlash II slot
* Storage -- 2.5-inch SATA HDD bay
* Display -- 12.1-inch, 1024 x 768 TFT LCD; 400 nits high brightness rating (1,000 nits for ASR model); 500:1 contrast (700:1 for ASR model); anti-reflection, edge lighting, and auto-dimming on ASR model
* Keypad -- Membrane keypad with LCD on/off, brightness, volume, and auto dimming controls
* WiFi -- 802.11 b/g/n with internal antenna
* Power consumption -- 33W
* Dimensions -- 13.6 x 11.8 x 3.0 inches (345.3 x 300.4 x 77mm)
* Weight -- 9 lbs, 4.15 oz (4.2 kg)
* Operating temperature -- 14 to 122 deg. F (-10 to 50 deg. C)
* Operating system -- Linux, Windows CE 6.0, and Windows XP Embedded

Palm Pre - Linux based smartphone

Palm is preparing a low cost follow-up to its upcoming Palm Pre, offering the same Linux-based WebOS operating system. At the well-received unveiling of the Palm Pre smartphone in January, Palm stated that it planned to release several phones based on WebOS, but since then has released no further details. The 3G-enabled Palm Pre may well be be the first Linux-based smartphone aside from Android phones from HTC and Samsung to offer an "iPhone"-like smartphone experience.

Despite possible production troubles, early reports on the Pre continue to be positive, as suggested by the high marks given to the smartphone in the Laptop Magazine article. The general consensus among the analysts was that while WebOS could possibly be extended to mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and possibly even netbooks, a la Android, Palm is focused on smartphones for the near future.

The Pre features WiFi, GPS, 3-megapixel camera, 3.1-inch touchscreen, and Palm's homegrown WebOS Linux phone stack. Offering a rounded design with a keyboard that slides out on a curved slider, the Pre is slightly smaller than the first Android phone, the HTC G1, and it offers a more cramped thumb-oriented QWERTY keyboard compared to the landscape-style slide-out of the G1. Yet, the design appears sleeker than the G1, especially with keyboards extended. In addition, the Pre offers design innovations like a "gesture area" underneath the screen where one can swipe and flip away at the UI without obscuring the screen.

The Pre ships with 8GB of internal memory, of which 7.4GB is available to users. A microUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed support is also said to be available. The 3.1-inch HVGA touchscreen offers 320x480 resolution and 24-bit color, accelerometers, and two additional sensors: a proximity sensor and a light sensor for automatic dimming. The Pre uses Sprint's EVDO 3G network, but a UMTS HSDPA model will come out later that will be aimed at Europe and other international markets, said the company.

The Pre's Linux-derived WebOS leverages industry standard technologies, including CSS, XHTML, and JavaScript, and will offer an open development environment, said Palm. WebOS is said to provide gesture-based UI that includes a card metaphor for sifting through screens and applications. It also offers unified messaging technology called Synergy, which aims to integrate information from multiple sources such as calendars, contacts, and messaging applications into combined, logical views.

WebOS is said to offer extensive synchronization features, as well as persistent connections between applications and the web, providing updates in the background. Other touted features are said to include multitasking with easy switching between multiple open applications, a multi-touch interface with gesture and touch tricks, universal search, and unobtrusive notifications.The Palm Pre is scheduled to be available in the U.S. exclusively from Sprint in the first half of 2009, says Palm.