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Survey of Linux-Based Gadgets & Devices
An anonymous reader writes "NewsFactor Network recently asked: Where Are All the Cool Embedded-Linux Gadgets? Well, LinuxDevices.com has just updated its answer to that question. The Embedded Linux "Cool Devices" Quick Reference Guide now encompasses 123 Linux-based gadgets and devices in 7 categories, including PDAs, mobile-phones, IP-phones, audio/video entertainment, tablet computers, gateways/routers, servers, wireless access points, robots, web-enabled cameras, telematics, industrial controllers, wrist watches, and last but not least, a DIY category: little Linux systems for projects and products. Lots of great pictures, too."
I see a whole lot of their stuff on the way to production. A very smart company, and their forte is hand-held barcode stuff.
It doesn't mention Lunix, but here's a spiel on their embedded wireless LAN stuff.
One device I didn't see listed anywhere is the Dish Networks 721 PVR.
e iv ers/dishpvr721/index.shtml
http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/products/rec
The link to GNU GPL compliance http://208.45.37.181/ even runs ON a 721... Satellite receiver serving web pages, heh heh.
More importantly, those pages at lInuxDevices haven't been touched since 2002. Most of those PDA's and web pads no longer exist. In many cases the companies no longer exist. Why, God? Why must they post moldy content on /. ?
Well, it was hard, but I realized the line 'in' was bigger around. (to make up for losses due to heat, I'd presume.) ;)
"Draco dormiens nunquam titillandus."
Just don't plug it into the Ether Killer.
cpeterso
This page has a list of systems from High End systems. The company designs robotic lighting systems, and a few years ago bought the company that designs their light boards. the whole hog lightboards run on custom rolled linux. The latest board probably runs around 15-20,000 dollars though, so it'll be a while before I buy one for my garage. :).
the element has a windows logo on the mp3 cd-drive thingy...
Well, dead actually. Call the sales number and you get a recording: "The sales hotline is inactive due to the closure of the company."
"I assumed blithely that there were no elves out there in the darkness"
Too bad the parent post's author is not actually Miguel de Icaza (the Gnome/Ximian guy).
I do not know about compatibility, but why not build one yourself... No joke. This very cool project is one of the many available at the 6502.org page. Then you could port LUNIX to your own computer...
I was under the impression TiVos like my Sat-T60 are linux boxes...
I can attest to the fact that high end Cisco content engines are using the Linux kernel. I don't recall which version (we've since unplugged and returned them) but it sure surprised me when I saw the boot log.
aibo's OS is Apelios ASIMO's OS is VxWorks
because for most products ANY os is pure stupidity.
That's not really true... many embedded devices do run an OS, but it's not one you'll have ever heard of. These OS's are designed specifically for embedded use, and embedded use only -- they're probably not much more complicated than DOS (in fact, most are much simpler as far as interfaces go).
Sure, you can get away without an embedded OS for a lot of stuff, but if you want to do file management (for data recording purposes as an example) or need to deal with anything more than rudimentary I/O then you're much, much better off getting an OS up and running than rewriting all that crap yourself. Especially since for file management you probably want to be able to interface with a floppy disk (or more recently a flash card or USB dongle) that can then be read in a standard PC.
Most critical systems DO run an OS because of this. Part of a critical system is being able to figure out WTF was going on when it failed -- and an OS can provide a lot of services toward that goal.
The key being that all of these OS's have a memory footprint a fraction of the size of Linux... but have most of the features you'd need all the same.