Slashdot Mirror
Lineo and Embedded Linux on the Move
plaXion writes, "Here's a CNET.com story on how Lineo has taken major steps forward in its effort to sell Linux software for use in TV set-top boxes and other non-PC devices by signing agreements with six Taiwanese electronics manufacturers, Korean electronics giant Samsung, and Korean computing and communications firm DaiShin. In addition they have acquired Rt-Control, which is creating a version of Linux for devices even farther removed from regular computers such as cell phones, digital cameras and even cars. "
The situation with Lineo is exactly the same. You can grab source code to the Open Source components, copy the binaries and do whatever you want with them. Some items in the Embedix distribution are not Open Source, and so you may not copy the aggregate, just like you couldn't copy the theoretical version of Win 2000 mentioned above. Suppose that Red Hat included a copy of MetroX. You couldn't copy the aggregate and share with all your friends. You could only copy the Open Source parts.
Furthermore, Lineo has a solid committment to the Open Source community. Ever visit http://busybox.lineo.com/ or http://tinylogin.lineo.com/? The main reason these exist in their current form and are available to the community is because Lineo has paid me to work on them and release them. Keep in mind that these are the fundamental building blocks of Embedix. Want to build your own embedded Linux distro, grab these and you are mostly there. Why would Lineo pay me to release these? Because it is realised that Open Source works. It works and is the Right Thing(tm) to do.
-Erik -- --This message was written using 73% post-consumer electrons--
Well, better a Linux variant, not a Windows one! Just think... your applicances crash, and what do you get? Burnt toast, sour milk, lots of static, maybe even a huge load of really soapy dishes! Oh, and make sure you have good security, or you might wake up in the morning to cold coffee and think, "Those darn hackers!!"
Caldera has been very good in giving stuff to the linux
- --------
community. They gave the COAS admin system, their distribution
and graphical install system is free too. I don't see why they
would change their mind over Lineo. Ok, so they changed their
mind over OpenDOS. Hmm. But that was their, right, they
bought it.
-----------------------------------------------
UNIX isn't dead, it just smells funny...
-------------------------------------------------
UNIX isn't dead, it just sme
What I'm wondering is, is this going to turn out to be another "exploit the GPL, violate GPL, IPO it for all they can squeeze, then get out" scenario. A certain Linux distributor comes to mind. . .
:) is the only asset a corporation has to sustain a certain market lead and recover the investment through licensing fees, most of those companies won't be pleased if their IP and trade secrets are published in source code form. I know most of us wouldn't take advantadge of a situation like that, but struggling companies would because when you're hungry (For success, money or food) good intentions don't matter...
Two things there, first you can mix and match the GPL with other licenses including non-open ones (We had that discussion over the LinuxCE mailing list with some insightful responses, check the digest in http://www.linuxce.org ) as long as you satisfy all requirements, for the GPL it is to release the source with the binaries of all GPL derived work.
The second thing comes not from Caldera but from harware manufacturers themselves, in a world where profit margins are reducing each day, IP (Intellectual Property in case anyone didn't get it
Caldera (Which I don't use, I'm a happy SuSE user) has been good to the community just like Red Hat, Cygnus, Terra Soft or SuSE have been... only problem here is that they need to be profitable or else they won't exist, and THEY ARE a necessity in order to get the application base to grow with quality products... it had to happen, someday the cool idealism of the Linux community had to face the cold face of corporate consumerism, and until now the results have been positive even with the presence of such sour grapes like LinuxOne...
ZoeSch
I hate to agree with davecrazy but...
Microsoft is really a good example. After they "lost" he trial and this judge spoke of Bill Gates as the devil of all times (metaphorically), they haven't been at all better. One should beleive the company at least slowed down their hyper-licencing and stuff to show the court "We're cool". Have anyone seen that happen?
All right. We all want this to be a good world with free software, cheap hardware, no wars, plages or crime. But as long as there are countries worshipping capital like USA, what can you do? Roy
Your mouse moved. Windows must be restarted for the change to take effect.
Computers are like air conditioners.
- They stop working when you open Windows.
What about the allegations of possible GPL violations by LINEO. Discussed even on linux-kernel? They have neitehr posted source, nor disclosed quite a lot their stuff the last time I had a look.
Baker's Law: Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it
http://www.sigsegv.cx/
Does anybody have any good articles on the differences between Linux for embedded systems and other operating systems, like CE? Who has any opinions it? The thing is I heard some mixed reactions on the subject and I have absolutely no idea who to belief.
Use Adsense for Charity
While Linux itself can be downloaded for free, Lineo hopes to make money by licensing proprietary software as well, in particular, programming tools that will make it easier to create software for their computing devices. The company ultimately plans an initial public offering. Embedix is based on a version of Linux from Lineo's sister company, Caldera Systems.
What I'm wondering is, is this going to turn out to be another "exploit the GPL, violate GPL, IPO it for all they can squeeze, then get out" scenario. A certain Linux distributor comes to mind. . .
More race stuff in one place,
than any one place on the net.
With the current trend towards handheld WAP enabled devices this is the area that is going to see the next big growth explosion.
I am glad that the operating system choice in this area increasing. While we do have some notable choices at the moment (everything from PalmOS to Windows CE) it is good to be able to choose a linux derivative.
Even if you don't want to use it atleast the competition will make the others work harder.
"Do you think we could wipe out world hunger forever if scientists figured out how to make AOL's Free CD's edible?"-
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like this article about Java is the oldest slashdot article, posted back on March 23, 1997. It doesn't even have any comments -- just a summary.
If you want to see what an MS-DOJ article looks like with only 6 comments, look over here. My favorite of the early ones still has to be this one. Even back then, slashdot was having a little bit of trouble with disappearing stories.
"If one is really a superior person, the fact is likely to leak out without too much assistance" -- John Andrew Holmes
It seems to me that Slashdot is heavy on Palm/Transmeta/Linux news but very short on information from the Symbian group (Nokia, Ericsson, Psion et al). They've been developing WAP enabled devices based on the highly succesful and robust EPOC operating system for quite some time now.
Its interesting news to see Linux moving into a new area but in this sort of arena the current leaders live on the other side of the Atlantic, check out Symbian or Psion and A release from Nokia for an overview on the reasons for Symbian and the Bluetooth initative.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi