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. "

Comments

Reality Check folks...

[andersen]

If microsoft included a copy of GNU grep on the Windoze 2000 CD and posted the source code (or links to the source code) on their web site, but distributed the aggregate under their standard non-free EULA, this does not violate the GPL at all.

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.

Embdedded linux is cool, but

[arivanov]

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.

Re:Embdedded linux is cool, but

[Anonymous Coward]

They don't need to disclose modifications until a general release.

Something not quite right. . .

[348]

This seemed a little odd to me. Seeing the advantages of using Linux as a base for PDA's and Set top boxes, I think this is a good move for Lineo overall. However the following paragraph made me re-think and wonder about the longer term.

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. . .

EPOC the US and the myth of CE...

[MosesJones]

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.