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.

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...

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.