Linaro to drive ARM-based portable devices

ARM, Freescale, IBM, Samsung, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments Form New Company to Speed the Rollout of portable Linux Devices

ARM, Freescale, IBM, Samsung, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments have created the not-for-profit company, Linaro, to provide new resources and industry alignment for open source software developers using Linux on ARM-based Cortex A system on chip (SoC) devices in portable equipment.
Linaro will invest resources in open source projects that can then be used by Linux-based distributions such as Android, LiMo, MeeGo, Ubuntu and webOS.
Linaro will provide a stable and optimized base for distributions and developers by creating new releases of optimized tools, kernel and middleware software validated for a wide range of SoCs, every six months.
Linaro’s base of software and tools will be applicable to a wide range of markets, helping reduce time-to-market for products such as smart phones, tablets, digital televisions, automotive entertainment and enterprise equipment. By providing the common foundations of tools and software for other distributions and stacks to build upon, Linaro enables greater operational efficiency for the electronics industry.
Linaro’s first software and tools release is due out in November 2010, and will provide optimizations for the latest range of ARM Cortex-A family of processors.
Traditionally, the Linux and open-source software communities focused on solving the software problems of enterprise and computing markets with a limited choice of processor platforms. The open source community is transitioning to create advanced Web-centric consumer devices using high profile open source based distributions and a wide range of high-performance, low-power ARM®-based SoCs. Linaro will make it easier and quicker to develop advanced products with these high profile distributions by creating software commonality across semiconductor SoCs, from multiple companies.
In addition to providing a focal point for open source software developers, consumers will benefit by the formation of Linaro. Linaro’s outputs will accelerate the abundance of new consumer products that use Linux-based distributions such as Android, LiMo, MeeGo, Ubuntu and webOS in conjunction with advanced semiconductor SoCs to provide the new features consumers desire at the lowest possible power consumption.
“The dramatic growth of open source software development can now be seen in internet-based, always-connected mobile and consumer products,” said Tom Lantzsch, executive officer of Linaro. “Linaro will help accelerate this trend further by increasing investment on key open source projects and providing industry alignment with the community to deliver the best Linux-based products for the benefit of the consumer.”
Linaro will work with the growing number of Linux distributions to create regular releases of optimized tools and foundation software that can be used widely by the industry, increasing compatibility across semiconductors from multiple suppliers. As a result, Linaro’s resources and open source solutions will allow device manufacturers to speed up development time, improve performance and reduce engineering time spent on non-differentiating, low-level software. Linux distributions, open source and proprietary software projects will benefit from Linaro's investment, with more stable code becoming widely available as a common base for innovation.
Linaro engineers will contribute to a wide range of open source projects covering areas such as tools, kernel, graphics and boot code. Linaro intends to work in partnership with the Linux Foundation to align on core operating principles.
In addition to ARM and IBM, four of the world’s leading application processor companies, Freescale, Samsung, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments, will align open source engineering efforts within Linaro.
“ARM and our partners have a long history of working with, and supporting, open source software development for complex SoCs based on the ARM architecture,” said Warren East, ARM CEO. “As a founding member of Linaro, we are working together with the broader open source community to accelerate innovation for the next generation of computing, focusing on delivering a rich connected experience across the diversity of devices in our daily lives.”
”Freescale is taking a leadership position in shaping the future of consumer electronics by enabling entirely new categories of smart mobile devices based on processors,” said Lisa Su, senior vice president and general manager of Freescale’s Networking and Multimedia Group. “Linaro represents an important step forward in developing the ecosystem for these smart mobile devices through dramatically speeding and simplifying software development cycles and leveraging the power and strength of the open source community.”
"IBM believes that leadership with Linux solutions begins with effective collaboration in the community, and IBM's ten year history of working with the Linux community has resulted in a strong, mutually beneficial relationship,” said Daniel Frye, vice president, open systems development, IBM. "IBM's ongoing collaboration has contributed to the widespread adoption of Linux throughout the data center. We are strong proponents of working with partners such as ARM to further our commitment, ensuring Embedded Linux is the leading platform for innovation in the mobile and consumer electronics markets."
“Samsung is an industry leader in high performance, low power application processors for mobile handset and other consumer devices. We fully appreciate the significance of having an optimized Linux software foundation and tools for our ARM CPU core base products, to support our customers’ needs with high quality solutions,” said Yiwan Wong, vice president, System LSI marketing, Samsung Electronics. “We are pleased to join Linaro as a foundation member and work together with ARM to serve the interests of our customers.”
“Open source has become an engine for innovation in the smart phone and consumer electronics market,” said Teppo Hemia, vice president, 3G Multimedia Platforms Business Unit of ST-Ericsson.” Being an active contributor in the open source community, we are excited to be one of the founding members of Linaro and expect our combined efforts to accelerate the development of Linux-based devices.”
“Linaro is intently focused on delivering critical open source components to enable developers building on ARM-based processors. An important element of that delivery is a more complete, higher quality development toolset that increases performance. In our leadership role, TI will support Linaro’s efforts by leveraging our open source expertise—evidenced by our participation in Linux kernel enhancement submissions and our support of popular industry development boards,” said Remi El-Ouazzane, vice president and general manager, OMAP Platform Business Unit, TI.

Related articles

• ARM, Samsung, IBM, Freescale, TI and more join to form Linaro, speed rollout of Linux-based devices (engadget.com)
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• IBM, Samsung, TI form firm for ARM chips (news.cnet.com)

Japanese firms to create standard mobile apps processor platform

Embedded hardware and software platform compatible with Symbian and Linux

Japanese major operator NTT DOCOMO is teaming up with Renesas Electronics, Fujitsu, NEC, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Sharp to jointly develop a new applications processor platform for mobile phones that will be compatible with both the Symbian and Linux operating systems. Commercial launch of mobile phones incorporating the new platform is scheduled in the second half of the fiscal year ending in March 2012 and will form a major silicon platform for mobile devices. The new platform will offer improved processing speeds for high-quality video and enhanced 3D graphics processing for advanced mobile multimedia functions.
All six companies will utilize their expertise in mobile phone development based on their respective experiences in using existing platforms for either Symbian or Linux. In particular, the new platform will enable mobile phone manufacturers Fujitsu, NEC, Panasonic Mobile Communications and Sharp to avoid having to develop basic application-processing functions on their own, thereby allowing them to significantly reduce development time and costs and conversely invest more time and resources in the development of manufacturer-specific handset features.
The platform is planned to be offered to mobile phone manufacturers worldwide and compatibility with open operating systems such as Android also is under consideration.

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• Japanese Consortium Looking To New Mobile Platform For Symbian And Linux Smartphones (ubergizmo.com)
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• NTT DoCoMo will demo LTE prototype at MWC, launch service this year (engadget.com)

Freescale aims $200 tablet design at smartbooks

Reference design uses ARM Coretex-A8 running Android or Linux

Freescale Semiconductor has launched a smartbook tablet reference design featuring a 7-inch touch screen with up to four times the viewing area of a typical smartphone and based on a form factor that is approximately one-third the size and volume of today’s typical netbook.
The design is intended to enable a second generation of smartbook products with prices less than $200 and featuring form factors that fully leverage the power, performance and functionality advantages of advanced ARM processor technology. It is designed to provide instant-on functionality, persistent connectivity and all-day battery life. The tablet will be demonstrated at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show running both the Android and Linux operating systems.

The design is based on Freescale’s highly integrated i.MX515 processor incorporating ARM Cortex-A8 technology. It also includes Freescale’s MC13892 power management IC, SGTL5000 audio codec and MMA8450Q 3-axis accelerometer. End products based on the design could hit retail shelves as soon as the summer of 2010.
“Freescale’s new tablet opens the door to an exciting new world of compelling form factors specifically designed and optimized to support common online activities including social media, high-quality audio/video playback and light gaming,” said Henri Richard, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing for Freescale. “We believe the tablet will emerge as a popular form factor for the next generation of smartbooks. By introducing this prototype reference design, Freescale intends to play a vital role in propelling the mainstream adoption of smartbooks.”
The design is the first platform in Freescale’s Smart Application Blueprint for Rapid Engineering (SABRE) series. The SABRE tablet platform for smartbooks incorporates feedback from a recently completed end-user research study conducted in conjunction with Savannah College of Art and Design’s prestigious Industrial Design program.
“Semiconductor providers looking to differentiate in the nascent tablet market will need to offer solutions-focused system reference designs if they are to succeed with the world’s foremost consumer electronics OEMs,” said Jeff Orr, senior mobile devices analyst at ABI Research. “There is clearly strong end-user demand for tablet form-factors, and new reference designs look to play a major role in helping OEMs speed tablet smartbook products to market.”
The Freescale tablet includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and also features a 3D desktop framework with touch screen/QWERTY keyboard support. 3G modem and RF4CE protocol options are available. The tablet’s modular approach to 3G connectivity lets systems designers select carrier-specific air interfaces appropriate for different regions. Modules can be pre-certified by carriers and selected to match a range of features and performance targets. This method makes it easy to migrate quickly to new modem technologies as they are introduced.
Example smartbook platform applications intended to run on the tablet include a web browser with Adobe Flash Player and multimedia plug-ins, a media center, PDF and image viewers, a mail client, an RSS reader, an office suite, handwriting utilities and various widgets for Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Weather SMS and other applications.

Smartbook reference design features:
* 200mm x 128mm x 14.9cm and weighing 376 grams; no need for fan or heat sink
* i.MX515 applications processor provides high performance and low power
o ARM Cortex-A8 core
o OpenVG & OpenGL/ES graphics cores
o HD video decoder hardware
* Power management IC:
o Battery charging system for both USB and wall charging
o Output buck converters for the processor core and memory
o Boost converters for LCD backlighting
o Serial backlight drivers for displays and keypad, plus RGB LED drivers
* Display: 7-inch (1024 x 600) touch screen
* Memory: 512 MB DDR2
* Storage: 4-64 GB internal storage; removable micro SD
* Connectivity: 3G modem (option) 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, RF4CE (option)
* Ports: USB 2.0 and USB mini (also for charging), audio in/audio out, SIM card
* Audio: speaker, microphone
* Camera: 3 Mpixel (video recording up to VGA @ 30fps)
* Battery: 1900mAh, USB charging
* Sensors: MMA8450Q 3-axis accelerometer and an ambient light sensor

Partners

Freescale and its partners offer a range of support, including turnkey designs. Inventec Appliance Corporation (IAC) provides expertise in design and manufacturing services for handhelds and netbooks. Freescale has also partnered with Thundersoft for software integration customization and optimization. For companies wishing to manage their projects internally, Freescale offers design aids including block diagrams, schematics, lists of materials and a Linux board support package.
The smartbook reference design is expected to be available for evaluation beginning February 2010 through local Freescale sales representatives. Reference design details are available at www.freescale.com/smartbook.

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Something ELSE to take on the iPhone

Emblaze Mobile of Israel (now calling itself Else) is to launch a mobile phone to take on the iPhone. The First ELSE was previewed this week in London and has a 3.5in capacitative touchscreen, 5 megapixel camera, A-GPS and Wi-Fi.
The ELSE uses a Linux mobile operating system platform called “ELSE Intuition” developed jointly between Emblaze and ACCESS of Japan, and the handset will be launched with its own apps store, hence the early preview to encourage developers to support it and the interface - it uses gesture control and opens applications by simply drawing one letter on the touch screen. If it can't get traction with developers then it will fail.
It will launch on 3 in the middle of next year.
Emblaze has slowly moved up the value chain, from developing mobile video codecs to applications processors (used by Samsung) and now the operating system, handset and apps.

Key Intel deal with Nokia for mobile chips

Coming soon after Intel's acquisition of Wind River, the tie up of Intel and Nokia to develop new mobile chips is a telling move. Intel needs to migrate into the smartphone business before its laptop starts declining - the move to a 'pocketable' format is the key here.
Intel sees this step as further uniting the Internet with mobile phones and computers in a long-term relationship to develop a new class of Intel Architecture-based mobile computing device and chipset architectures which will combine the performance of powerful computers with high-bandwidth mobile broadband communications and ubiquitous Internet connectivity.
Both companies are expanding their longstanding relationship to define a new mobile platform beyond today's smartphones, notebooks and netbooks, enabling the development of a variety of innovative hardware, software and mobile Internet services.
Taking advantage of each company's expertise as leaders in their respective fields, these future standards-based devices will marry the best features and capabilities of the computing and communications worlds and will transform the user experience, bringing incredible mobile applications and always on, always connected wireless Internet access in a user-friendly pocketable form factor.
The Intel and Nokia effort includes collaboration in several open source mobile Linux software projects. Intel will also acquire a Nokia HSPA/3G modem IP license for use in future products.
"This Intel and Nokia collaboration unites and focuses many of the brightest computing and communications minds in the world, and will ultimately deliver open and standards-based technologies, which history shows drive rapid innovation, adoption and consumer choice," said Anand Chandrasekher, Intel Corporation senior vice president and general manager, Ultra Mobility Group. "With the convergence of the Internet and mobility as the team's only barrier, I can only imagine the innovation that will come out of our unique relationship with Nokia. The possibilities are endless."
The effort also includes technology development and cooperation in several open source software initiatives in order to develop common technologies for use in the Moblin and Maemo platform projects, which will deliver Linux-based operating systems for these future mobile computing devices.
The companies are coordinating their Open Source technology selection and development investments, including alignment on a range of key Open Source technologies for Mobile Computing such as: oFono*, ConnMan*, Mozilla*, X.Org*, BlueZ*, D-BUS*, Tracker*, GStreamer*, PulseAudio*. Collectively, these technologies will provide an open source standards-based means to deliver a wealth of mobile Internet and communication experiences, with rich graphics and multimedia capabilities.
Hosted by the Linux Foundation, Moblin is an optimized open source Linux operating system project for Atom-based MIDs, netbooks, nettops, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), and embedded systems.
Maemo is a Linux operating system, mostly based on open source code and powers mobile computers such as the Nokia N810 Internet Tablet. The Maemo platform has been developed by Nokia in collaboration with many open source projects. For more information see www.maemo.org.

HSPA modem license

Building on today's announcement, Intel and Nokia have signed an agreement that will enable Intel to license Nokia's HSPA/3G modem technologies with the aim of developing advanced mobile computing solutions that deliver a powerful and flexible computing experience, combining 3GPP modem technology with the high performance and low power consumption of future Intel Architecture-based platforms.
The Nokia modem license complements Intel's broadband wireless technologies and will enable the company to extend chipset solutions incorporating Nokia's modem technologies across its mobility offerings in the future.

TI launches OMAP4 for 1080p video

Texas Instruments has launched its multicore OMAP4 mobile applications platform with support for 1080p video record and playback, 20 megapixel (MP) imaging and
approximately a week of audio play time. The new platform provides significant improvements in performance and play time compared to today’s most popular Smartphones, with 10x faster Web page loading times, more than 7x higher computing performance, 6x higher video resolution, 10x better graphics performance and 6x longer audio play time.
At the heart of the OMAP 4 platform is a 45nm system-on-chip with four main engines: a programmable multimedia engine based on TI’s C64x DSP and power-efficient, multi-format hardware accelerators; general-purpose processing based on the dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore supporting symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) and capable of speeds of more than 1GH per core; a high-performance programmable graphics engine; and an Image
Signal Processor (ISP) for unparalleled video and imaging performance.
“For the past decade, TI has focused on providing an optimal balance of high performance and low power consumption in our OMAP product line to address our customers’ needs to quickly and easily address new market trends,” said Greg Delagi, senior vice president and head of TI's Wireless Business Unit. “The OMAP 4 platform will enable a new class of mobile devices that will redefine the boundaries of smartphones and MIDs.”
The new platform will support popular leading mobile operating systems and is validated for real-world use cases, taking into account the many elements of the mobile consumer’s experience to simplify application creation and help handset manufacturers get to market quickly.
The first members of the family are the OMAP4430 and OMAP4440, including:
o Four powerful, high-performance processing engines:
* General-purpose processing dual-core Cortex-A9 MPCore
* Programmable multimedia engine based on TI’s C64x DSP and power-efficient, multi-format hardware accelerators
* POWERVR SGX540 graphics engine
* Dedicated ISP
o Full 1080p multi-standard HD record and playback
o Digital SLR-like performance with 20 MP imaging
o 3D user interfaces supporting life-like graphics, intuitive touch screens, large local displays beyond WSXGA and HDMI compatible external displays
o Industry-leading power management technology:
* 10+ hours of 1080p HD video playback, 4+ hours of 1080p HD record
* 140+ hours of CD quality audio playback

The OMAP 4 platform will support Linux variants such as the Android Mobile Platform and LiMo, as well as Symbian OS and Microsoft Windows Mobile. Additionally, software for the OMAP 4 platform is tested and validated up to the application level, dramatically reducing development time. Further easing the design process, the OMAP 4 platform includes:
o Pre-integrated support for mobile connectivity, including TI’s current and future combo WiLink Wi-Fi solutions, NaviLink GPS solutions, and BlueLink Bluetooth solutions;
o Pre-validated modem interface software to easily connect the OMAP 4 platform to any external modem;
o New companion power and audio management solutions (TWL6030 and TWL6040 specifically designed to address the performance needs of the OMAP 4 platform; and
o Broad portfolio of other hardware solutions optimized for the OMAP 4 platform, including: DLP Pico projection technology, analogue components and other complementary technologies.
TI's OMAP 4 platform and development tools are expected to sample in the second half of 2009, with production expected by the second half of 2010. These products are intended for high-volume wireless OEMs and ODMs and are not available through distributors.

MontaVista Introduces Customizable Linux-based Mobile Internet Device Platform

MontaVista Software has launched a Linux-based software platform for Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) that provides an integrated set of applications including a web browser, document reader, email client, contact manager, and calendar suite. The Montabello platform is designed to give users of mobile internet devices an Instant ON, Always ON, Always CONNECTED user experience.
Building on the proven MontaVista Mobilinux platform, Montabello adds the required middleware and end-user applications needed for MIDs. MontaVista Linux provides the advanced power management, fast startup, connectivity management, and support for custom hardware and form factors that MID manufacturers require. By integrating the middleware and providing a fully customizable applications layer and user interface, MontaVista lets manufacturers focus on delivering a complete product, not investing scarce resources developing software infrastructure.
* Instant ON: Fast OS boot with instant resume
* Always ON: Optimized for battery life using dynamic power management
* Always CONNECTED: Connection management with seamless roaming on Wi-Fi and 3G networks with Auto VPN, and fully integrated Bluetooth.
* Mobile application suite which includes a web browser, document reader, email client, contact manager, calendar and more
* A rich application environment that leverages the extensive Linux software ecosystem with developer interfaces for the Linux and Java developer.
“The MID market is developing rapidly. It’s important for manufacturers to be able to deliver products to market quickly, efficiently, and on-budget,” said Rusty Harris, CEO of MontaVista Software. “By leveraging a platform like Montabello, our device customers can focus on building the best products, and not developing a complex software infrastructure. By selecting Montabello, device manufacturers get a 6-12 month head-start on their project, improving time to market and enabling them to realize significant development cost savings.”
Unlike server or desktop Linux solutions, which must be redesigned for mobile applications, MontaVista Linux was designed from the beginning to meet the requirements of mobile and embedded devices. Montabello is an extension of this expertise and is currently in use by select customers on ARM architecture, with device shipments set for later this year.