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Embedded Linux is a Linux based embedded operating system used in cell phones, personal digital assistants, media player handsets and other consumer electronics devices.
In the past, embedded development was mostly performed using proprietary software coded in assembler. Developers had to write all of the hardware device drivers and interfaces from scratch.
It appeared that the Linux kernel, combined with a small set of free software utilities could be fit into the confines of an embedded devices limited hardware. A typical installation of embedded Linux may require about 2 megabytes of system memory.
Embedded Linux advantages compared to other embedded OSes are:
* Open source
* Small footprint (around 2MB for a minimal installation)
* No royalty costs
* Mature and stable (over ten years of age and used in many devices)
* Well supported
Supporting organizations
The mainstream kernel developers have focused on applications of Linux in desktop and enterprise installations. Several industry groups have formed over the last few years to foster increased use of Linux in embedded applications and devices.
CE Linux Forum
The CE Linux Forum was formed in 2003 to promote the use of Linux in consumer electronics devices. The Forum is a place for members to share their work on features supporting the needs of consumer devices (such as small memory footprint and fast boot time) and to help get such features into the mainstream kernel. CELF operates a remotely-accessible Online Test Lab and presents an annual Embedded Linux Conference and smaller scale technical jamborees in Japan and Korea. The Forum also directly supports some development and mainstreaming work.
Open Source Development Labs
The Open Source Development Labs has been working on industrial embedded applications of Linux since 2002 in its Carrier-Grade Linux working group. CGL produces specifications for Linux features and capabilities tailored to the security, administration, manageability, and high-availability needs of communications and data service networks. In 2005 the OSDL set up a second working group, the Mobile Phone Initiative, to specifically address the needs of Linux on mobile handsets.
Linux Phone Standards Forum
The Linux Phone Standards Forum . was created in 2004 with a mission to create a standard applications environment for Linux-based mobile phones and "converged devices" (devices attached to wired networks providing telephony and media services). The Forum's goal is to allow operators to develop applications and customizations on a set of standard software interfaces, so their software would be portable across devices made by different manufacturers.
Mobile Linux Foundation (real name TBD)
In 2006, Motorola, NEC, Panasonic, Samsung, DoCoMo, and Vodafone agreed to work together on establishing a set of interfaces and standard reference components that would nourish the growth of a third-party developer ecosystem for mobile phone applications and features. This foundation is expected to have a name and an announced work program by the end of 2006.
Embedded Linux Consortium
In San Francisco, California on July 15, 2003 the Embedded Linux Consortium including IBM, Intel, LynuxWorks, Motorola, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Siemens and Sony announced a new phase of standardization activity to prepare specifications that will help product developers manage power consumption, design user interfaces and achieve real time performance for embedded Linux applications. The standards are to create a globally accepted platform offering test suites and branding to enhance the marketability of conforming products. In 2002 the ELC introduced the Embedded Linux Consortium Platform Specification (ELCPS). The target for the first draft of the ELCPS Application Programming Interface (API) was May 2004.
On September 9, 2005 the ELC transferred the ELPCS and its development to OSDL and ceased independent operations.
Mobile telephones running Linux
Native Embedded Linux phones
* [http://www.e28.com E28] E2800 and [http://www.slashphone.com/77/4988.html R2821]
* Motorola A760, A768, A780, E680, A1200
* [http://panasonic.jp/mobile/p901i/amusement Panasonic P901i]
* [http://www.n-keitai.com/n901ic/opn.html NEC N901ic]
* Samsung SCH-i519
* Telepong (ref: [http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2358325949.html linuxdevices.com] article)
* Wildseed (ref: [http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT5512478189.html linuxdevices.com] article)
* [http://imcosys.com/English/Smartphone/smartphone.html ImCoSys] [Smartphone]
* [http://www.road-gmbh.de/produkte/index_01.html Road S101]
* [http://www.purplelabs.com/en/plateforms/embodiments.html Purple Labs] G500i
* [http://www.fic.com.tw FIC's] [http://www.openmoko.com Neo1973] [http://www.openmoko.org (OpenMoko Community Server)]
Win CE phones successfully hacked to run Embedded Linux
* [http://www.handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/EtenG500Home EtenG500]
* [http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Ipaq6915 Ipaq hw6915 (HTC-codenamed Sable)]
* [http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=Universal_Progress (HTC-codenamed Universal)]
* [http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=BlueangelProgress (HTC-codenamed Blueangel)]
* [http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HimalayaProgress (HTC-codenamed Himalaya)]
Small single board computers (SBC) running Linux
* Gumstix - Based on the Intel XScale processors (200MHz and 400MHz).
* ECB AT91 - Based on the ARM9 (180MHz).
* Omniflash - Based on ARM9 (200MHz).
* Applied Data BitsyXb [http://www.AppliedLinux.net Embedded Linux]
* Artila Matrix-500 [http://www.artila.com]- Based on the Atmel ARM9
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