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."

Comments

Aibo? Asimov?

[lingqi]

Doesn't Aibo run linux? How about Honda's Asimov (the robot) I really thought they did - maybe I was wrong, though. Anybody have definitive knowledge?

p.s. I think IBM japan is renting a honda Asimov as its receptionist for nearly 100,000 dollars per year. Who wants to be that it's the highest compensated
1) receptionist - ever
2) linux powered anything - ever (okay, if it ran linux - see above)

It does irks me that a robot makes more than me, though... sigh. I don't mind a 100k/yr job as a receptionist. Fuck, I will do the job for HALF that and do The Robot (dance) for 8 hours a day to impress the people coming in.

Re:Aibo? Asimov?

[Dylan Zimmerman]

It's Asimo. No 'v'.

Asimo might run some sort of Linux, but I seriously doubt it. I mean, the thing doesn't _need_ anything remotely resembling modern operating systems. If the Linux kernel were stripped of most of the extraneous code, it would actually run pretty quickly, but it wouldn't be anything like what most people think of when they say Linux.

It's far more likely that Asimo runs an OS specifically designed for it.

a growing market

[Miguel de Icaza]

The market for embedded computing systems is growing rapidly what with: PDAs, set-top boxes, computer games, smart phones, and other systems are all demanding apps that are smaller, smarter, faster: and that run on multiple platforms

I find Qt/Embedded (QtE) to be extremely resource-efficient for building really surprisingly sophisticated applications that run natively on multiple platforms with a simple recompile. QtE also integrates seamlessly with Java

The NIC is very nice.

[Matey-O]

I've got a Nic (used to be called ThinkNIC) that I turned into a DMZ webserver, running NetBSD. By pulling the CDROM and the modem daughtercard, a full size Harddisk fits perfectly. Tell it to use ports 80 and 22, and you've got a one wire in (power) and one wire out (ethernet).

Inventory Control Device

[alexmogil]

The furniture store my wife work at uses 802.11b wireless monochrome-screened barcode guns for inventory/zoning/price checking. I've seen these types of guns at WalMart/SAMS Clubs (actually... I had to use them. Eeek). I was, of course, trying to break the thing to see what it ran, and I eventually rebooted it to see it ran a very fast derivative of Red Hat.

I was shocked. Wish I knew who the company was that made them. Neat.

Re:Inventory Control Device

[chibiyoukai]

I worked at Wal-Mart about four or five years ago. At the time, our store used barcode scanners manufactured by Telxon for inventory and pricing purposes. They ran some variation of MS-DOS with drivers for the wireless networking. It was kinda neat to be able to break out of its autoexec.bat and force them into a command prompt. I wonder if Telxon switched over to Linux as well since I left.

I think my Zaurus SL-5500 rates as "cool"

[The_Dougster]

Yeah, its somewhat clunky as a PDA (according to the Experts - I like it) but slap in a 256Mb SD card and load it up with mp3's, get a aux audio cable or cdrom-cassette adapter, and it is an awesome mp3 player for your car. Doesn't skip, can set to random shuffle repeat, all your favorite songs, etc. An expensive mp3(ogg) player but it runs Linux, has a Arm/RISC processor, and the James Bond keyboard is slicker than shit through a tin horn.

Missing Catagory ...

[Mooncaller]

Electrical Test equipment. Agilent has several Linux based devises. They had plans to expand its use. But MS got a hold of them (from the inside) and convinced them to use WindowsXP for all new platforms, despite the failure of other Windows based instruments, and the advise of almost every firmware engineer in the company. When Agilent markets a Windows based instrument, they promote the fact that its Windows based. This does not sell the instrument, rather it is done to have a positive effect on stock prices. In reality, press releases that highlight Linux would be appealing to tech savy investors. And its tech savay investors that would be attracted to a company like Agilent. As it is, Agilent marketing has no incentive to do this. If antention was paid to Linux based T&M equipment, Agilent marketing might take notice. Probably not enough to countermand Microsofts wishes, but enough to make a dent.

Seriously Where?

[BenTheDewpendent]

Seriously where can you buy this stuff? I remember looking at this stuff before and then looking for a tablet to buy and none could be found... FIC Aquapad for example I went to FIC and they didn't have it for sale nor did any of their retailers sell it... I think much of that stuff is a) vaporware that vaporised with the bubble b) vaporware that has yet to be finished but will see day light. I am aware some of the products are avaiable but many seem hard to find or get...

Does a c64 count?

[SharpFang]

There's a semi-port of Linux to Commodore 64 (called Lunix) and it provides very wide functionality (as for such a platform :) Personally I'd love to see a 100% C64 compatibile handheld running such thing. And I'm not talking about emulators - I just dream about a sentimental fully-featured 8-bit computer compatibile with some of the old ones (Atari, Commodore, Spectrum, Amstrad...) that's portable.

Are PDA's really "embedded"?

[PhilHibbs]

They have screens, some even have proper keyboards, are these really embedded systems? I always thought that an embedded system was one in which the user wasn't aware what kind of software was in it, it just did the job without command prompts, windows, or dialog boxes. As soon as you expose the operating system, you aren't embedded any more.

This was published over a year ago

[kinnell]

The Embedded Linux "Cool Devices" Quick Reference Guide (Updated Mar. 21, 2002)

When I read this article, it seemed strangely familiar. Then I realised it was exactly the same article which was posted over a year ago.

Re:Sigh

[FroMan]

The important issue is to meet your wife in your computer science classes. You know that one gorgeous woman in your computer science class, I married her.

For my birthday this year, I was allowed to pick up my own breadboard and random resistors and circuts. For Christmas last year I bought her a new case and case modding supplies (I swear I am the only man who can claim he bought his wife a dremel for Christmas and was thanked for it).

The important issue for getting a wife that lets you get what you want, is to make sure she wants the same things.

Re:Sigh

[FroMan]

Cool beans.

Actually right after we got married she bought EQ. Well, after playing with it for a day or so, I bought a copy too. We just kicked our EQ habit around the new year. Now we play PS2 or WCIII together quite often.

Other projects are working on budget software together.

Yeah, we both want to pick up the "I love my geek" t's also. Then we can look terribley "cute" together.

Yeah, dremmels seem to be cat oriented. We built a cat tree a short while ago and the dremel was used extensively. What a wonderful device.