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AMD Demonstrates Linux-Based PDA at LinuxWorld
Misha writes "AMD has demonstrated a new Linux-based handheld at LinuxWorld. The OpenPDA runs on low-power Alchemy chips, with support for USB, Ethernet, UARTS. Here is press release. Among the highlights are: A comprehensive Metrowerks suit as the basis of OpenPDA applications, Qt, Java, Opera browser."
This article reads like an advert to me, is packed with buzzwords and doesn't really give any details beyond that it'll be demonstrated at LinxuWorld, booth 647 today and tomorrow. Could those more informed than I enlighten me as to what advantages does this have over current portable Linux system? Or have insufficient details been released?
Bash script for FP whores
The submission may a bit wrong. According to the linked release, they're running Linux on a (assumably PC-based) simulator, or perhaps their PDA simulator is running on Linux?
AMD (NYSE: AMD) today demonstrates OpenPDA, a Linux technology-based software platform running on the latest version of the AMD Alchemy(tm) Solutions Mobile Handheld Reference Design Kit (RDK).
I don't see any reference to a handheld device -- just to a "software platform". My read of the info was that it was like the Palm OS PC-based simulator.
Or did I miss something?
Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
Here are some articles of merit about this PDA.
Here
Here
and here
--sig fault--
I'm glad that almost no one is scared by SCO's legal crap. Now, I want to know if McBride will visit AMD also... Another reason to buy an Athlon ;)
-- Eduardo B. Fonseca
The combination of the OpenPDA suite and the Au1100 processor sounds like a fantastic combo for the PDA market in opening new doors and ideas. "The Au1100 processor is a MIPS32(TM) technology-based system on a chip (SOC) processor, and is available at speeds of 333MHz, and 400 MHz with power dissipations of less than 200 milliwatts and 250 milliwatts respectively."
30% off web hosting. Coupon code "SLASHDOT".
I want pics ... lots of pics ... (repeat 3 times)
AMD seems to be using the buzzwords that attract geeks ("linux", "open", any cpu that isn't pentium or athlon) instead of buzzwords that attract money ("XML", ".NET") although they do mention "java" but I think that one detracts from both sides of the buzzword fanbase
bite my glorious golden ass.
Of course SCO is going to want $699 added to the price.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE
okbut doesn't use Intel components. The description of the software components is strikingly similar to that of the Sharp Zaurus 5x00 series. If it's cheaper than the Zaurus, I might consider buying one. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to include some of the hardware that's not standardly available on the Zaurus, most importantly 802.11b. What a shame.
Marklar: marklar
That was weird. I swear, for like 30-40 seconds I kept reading and re-reading the title as "AMD Demonstrates Intel-Based PDA at LinuxWorld"
wtf is wrong with me
A suit? That'll be handy.
"Hey, are you just gonna walk into this meeting in jeans and a t-shirt?"
"Actually, no - I've got a suit right......here!"
Well, expect to pay a little more thanks to McBride and Thugs...
According to http://www.sco.com/scosource/linuxlicensefaq.html "The promotional license fee for embedded devices is $32 per device."Yet another reason SCO needs to burn...
Does it function in the grand tradition of AMD products and also double as a space-heater ?
But I think the best thing about this is the increased integration with the PC platform. The specs read like a low-end PC, and the applications available seem about the same. What this means to me is that a PDA running OPENPDA will function less like a separate platform, and more like a piece of my network. I wonder if eventually PDAs will render laptops obsolete - or, rather, if PDAs and laptops will converge.
Since this is blatantly offtopic, it is likely someone will waste a mod point on this post. This is a good thing; by moderating this worthless post down, that mod point isn't doing any real damage, such as unfairly moderating controversial posts or posts that express opinions opposite those of the moderator. It's a built in system of checks and balances! Thank you for wasting your mod point!
Does it run Windows?
Remember, In SCO $699 owns LICENSE!
1) $699 License
2) ???
3) PROFIT!
Pour hot $699 down Natalie Portman's SCO!
others?
...is a proof of courage, silliness or both nowadays, and I personally hope it's a proof of courage. Go AMD!
Cesar Cardoso can be found at cesar at zyakannazio dot eti dot br (or at least I believe so)
To my fellow AC's: quit bitching.
The first poster to comment with the current standing joke gets the Karma. This month's joke is "SCO for just $699," and this guy got it.
You're just jealous because he beat you to it. Poor babies. Go whine to Mama.
I'm assuming that you're not trolling or posting flamebait. (You might have been trying to get a funny moderation, but I don't find your post that funny, personally.)
According to the press release, the Au1100 processor is based on the MIPS processor architecture, which is used in many embedded applications and devices. Most MIPS chips are very power miserly, and hence, don't generate a lot of heat. Bottom line, I doubt this device will function as a space heater, as you suggest.
This story was all ready posted over 30 years ago!
:) scroll down to the bottom
HERE is the article.
And here is where i found it
There's something weird going on here...
oh noes! not another Linux lawsuit....
Just raise the taxes on crack.
Like a couple others have already posted, there is no actual product being launched for the end user! This seems to provide a good reference platform and development tools for groups looking to create their own non-Palm, non-MS handhelds. If no manufacturers pick up the designs, we may never see this "OpenPDA" platform in use. On the other hand, if just a handful of firms decide to base a product on the platform, we might see a standardized Linux based palm top platform develop to compete with Palm and MS PocketPC.
I've never seen a Zaurus first hand, so I have no idea how it compares to "OpenPDA" in the grand scheme of things...
If it aint got bluetooth to talk to my phone (and through my phone the world) then its a wanky toy.
independent GPRS i could just about go for, but failing that bluetooth.
'There is a Light that never goes out.'
Christ...I think you forgot your sense of humor somewhere....
He was just trying to make light of the fact that traditionally, AMD CPUs (at least of the x86 variety since the K6) have generated very large amounts of heat. Don't believe me...go ahead, check their specs..
He wasn't trolling, just being funny, but apparently you missed that.
Geek used to be a four letter word. Now it's a six-figure one.
hey, guess what. AMD CPUs generate no more heat that intel chips(since P4). Claimed and Actual heat dissipation is two different things, one is the truth, and the other is bullsh*t.
Intel claims bullshit is what im saying.
If you actually compared Intel to AMD, you would see that Intel's processors consume more power and put out more heat, therefore its a troll.
The SCO licence for tiny devices is also tiny!
How cute!
technology overkill if you ask me. Ive got a handheld organiser which is space efficient, competitively priced, theoretically infinite storage, its components recycle well, and it uses minimum power. Its not quite multimedia but I use it for all the killer apps -- address book, organiser, calendar and diary.
Its called a sheet of paper.
------
beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his mind he dreams himself your master
Now if only someone would make a cheap PDA other than Palm that plays nice with my Mac. Just wishful thinking, move along, nothing to see here.
-
Upgrade to Linux
OH THE SHAME I fell off the wagon and use sigs again!
Ow! Burned my hand!
The new Zaurii are OpenPDA.
I've got a stunning Zaurus SL-C750 which uses OpenPDA (see the official spec and check out this quote from this article:
"Sharp Electronics, the first OpenPDA licensee, had originally included Lineo's Embedix PDA software stack in the Zaurus. But when Embedix was subsequently acquired by Metrowerks last December, Sharp migrated to OpenPDA, which is similar in many respects to Embedix, especially in its inclusion of the Qtopia GUI framework and PDA app-suite, Opera web browser, and Jeode JVM. Additional OpenPDA licensees will be announced soon, Metrowerks said."
or Windows.
It is just a joke based on AMDs history of making very hot chips.
Now, My last AMD(and I mean that both ways) was an 1400. It is hot, sure it doesn't exceeded its own specs, but its heat causes the case to become very hot and cause other chips to get hotter then there specs. I lost a N. Bridge chip due to heat from AMDs grill^H^H^H^H processor.
It is very possible that there newer chips are cooler, I don't know.
And you should not have to add a bunch of extra fans, a degree in Physical sciences and have written your thesis in 'Case windflow design' just to keep your case at a reasonable temperature.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
how big will the heat sink need to be? Or is it water-cooled?
1) Try to Steal Linux from Commuinity
2) $699 License
3) Profit
the $699 IS step 2, and holy shit the profit part even works. That buys them almost an hour of lawyer time.
AMD seems on the cool mood but now that we have tablet PCs, PDA lags. I mean, it will when a Tablet PC with ATI mobility vidchip will come out.
*Adblock iFrame*
What would be really cool is if an SMP version of these processors could happen. Just imagine a 4 processor laptop version using lowpower SMP. I wonder if anybody has thought about this possibility.
OH THE SHAME I fell off the wagon and use sigs again!
I have really tried hard to like any of the Linux PDAs and I use Linux everywhere else, but they simply aren't competitive as mainstream PDAs; a $99 Zire makes a better PDA than any of the much bulkier and more costly Linux PDAs.
What Linux PDAs need is a completely newly designed GUI, designed specifically for small screen devices, not some adaptation of toolkits that originated on desktops (Qt, Gtk+, Java).
Please don't say things in the headlines like "Metroworks suit". I'm thinking to myself, first SCO, and now this?
(It's spelled "suite", and pronounced sweet, not soot.)
Well, how does *this* benefit from SCO's enterprise, high-performance, Multi-CPU IP?
But I wonder, have there been any problems at linux world, I wonder because I see SCO, RedHat, and IBM are all there on the Exibits List.
;o)
Are folks walking by the SCO booth and giving nasty glares? Spitballs? Is SCO giving away any free stuff? Have they left? Has anyone challenged to meet em in the parking lot? j/k on the last one
Love Music? Got a Band? Are you a Label? http://garageradio.com
Actually, the Au1100 is made for lower power consumption, but it's "big" brother, the Au1500 (spezialized in multimedia applications) gets well hot. I don't know if you could easily put that in a PDA. Works very well though, fast and stable.
If a train station is a place where a train stops, what's a workstation?
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If a train station is a place where a train stops, what's a workstation?
While a lawsuit from Metrowerks might be interesting, I wouldn't call it a "highlight," my gramatically-challenged Slashdot editors.
Have fun: Join D.N.A. (National Dyslexics Association)
If Linux could get this far in developing something competent to Zaurus,...then why couldnt they just buy Zaurus as a whole,..if they assume themselves to be the great.. give it a thought
SD WiFi cards are available. Instead of 2 SD slots, the zaurus has 1 SD and 1 CF slot. SD requires binary only drivers to use, and the sharp zaurus will probably never run 2.6 because of it, unless you want to drop SD support. There is some hope in a GPL MMC driver that allows MMC cards to be used in the SD slot. This is ok for storage only, since WiFi/Bluetooth type cards can still be used in the CF slot. With the 2 SD slot and no CF slot support of this new AMD chip, you are guaranteed to be at the mercy of whoever sells your PDA to keep it working. There will not be GPL SDIO drivers for SD WiFi type cards, so have fun watching your investment go out of date. Best case scenario is you might get MMC storage cards working in the SD slots when you roll your own kernel, but forget SD WiFi/bluetooth. It is ok for average PDA users but as a geek toy it is a real dissapointment.
Java is pretty big in the moble market, dude. Probably bigger then Wince.
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.