MESSAGE
| DATE | 2002-09-08 |
| FROM | Ruben I Safir
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| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Phikips - ther Anti_DRM Company
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Previous Hardware Story: TI to put mobile phone on a chip Back to
latest Index Philips pushes Linux for consumer electronics 17:44
Thursday 5th September 2002 Matthew Broersma
Philips and Intel are using Linux and XScale to make it easier for
manufacturers to build next-generation home entertainment devices
A new project by Intel and Philips is using the Linux operating system
to boost the market for converged consumer electronics. The Pronto++
reference platform, announced on Tuesday, is based on Intel's XScale
line of embedded processors and, initially at least, an embedded Linux
distribution.
Pronto++ grew out of of Philips' Pronto line of advanced remote
controls, and the companies expect to make converged devices such as
digital media players and Internet set-top boxes as easy to use as a
remote. "In a single device, consumers will have access to interactive
digital content consisting of music, pictures, video, gaming and other
unique infotainment services," said Peter Green, general manager of
Intel's Extended Computing division, in a statement.
Advertisement Matrox RT .X10. Find out why we chose it. Click here for
another great offer! The platform runs on Intel's PXA250 processor,
which uses ARM-based XScale technology. A representative said that the
platform will initially use a third-party embedded Linux distribution,
although the vendor has not been named. It will also run with other
embedded operating systems, including Microsoft's Windows CE. Customers
will get reference hardware and complete hardware, software and
interface designs, though they will be able to customise the products'
look and feel.
A number of manufacturers have already ventured into the converged home
entertainment market, but Pronto++ aims to make the process of coming up
with a new product much cheaper and faster. Because companies do not
have to design their own product from the ground up, the process will be
30 to 50 percent faster, Philips claimed.
Linux is used in some consumer electronics, such as the TiVO digital
video recorder, because it is freely available, stable and highly
customisable.
So far, converged devices have not proven an enormous success, with
consumers showing little interest in "Internet appliances" that provide
online access without a PC. More recent attempts have focused on
integrating PC technology into home electronics such as stereos, with
some manufacturers selling stereos that are able to download music files
from a PC or the Internet.
Sony and Microsoft are hoping to turn their respective gaming consoles
into home-entertainment hubs by giving them online access.
Philips said it is working on a number of Linux consumer electronics
products based on Pronto++, and will unveil the first one at the CEDIA
(Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) home electronics
trade show on 25-29 September.
See the Hardware News Section for the latest update on everything from
MP3 players and PDAs to supercomputing.
Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet
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