At the Linux World conference and exposition here, VTech Information, a leading Portland, Ore. consumer-focused technology company, announced the selection of Transvirtual Technologies, Inc., developers of the PocketLinux Platform, as the provider of Linux and PocketLinux expertise for the Helio PDA product line.
In support of this agreement Transvirtual began presenting the PocketLinux Platform running on the Helio device at LinuxWorld this morning in order to raise awareness of the hardware and software platform. In addition, VTech and Transvirtual began seeding the Linux / Helio market by identifying key Open Source developers and providing them with Helio PDAs and assistance via the developer site www.pocketlinux.com.
The web site resource for developers, partners and other interested parties is www.pocketlinux.com. This site includes discussion groups, community-building facilities and a host of other tools for developers.
VTech and Transvirtual have also mutually agreed to cooperate in the design of a Linux based PDA device suitable for the consumer market. This device will be based on VTech's Helio hardware platform and the PocketLinux software platform. Both companies agree that by providing a truly "open" PDA platform to the marketplace, it will enable large-scale adoption by 3rd party developers and result in a definitive advantage to the consumer. The companies have set a preliminary target date of Q1 2001 for the completion of this project.
Helio PDA: Exceptional Power in a Tiny Footprint.
The Helio has a 75 MHz., 32-bit RISC processor, 8 MB of SDRAM, plus 2 MB of flash. It sports a 160 x 160 pixels, 16-level gray scale, full-graphic, electro-luminescent blue-green backlit display, and a 1024 x 1024 resistive analog touchpad. The Helio ships standard with integrated audio for voice recording / playback and alarm notification, one standard RS232 port, and one high-speed serial data communication port. The Helio can be powered for up to 30 days of normal use or 20 hours of continuous operation via 2 AAA alkaline batteries.
PocketLinux: Cross-Platform, Embedded Linux, Integrated Graphics and Industry Support
PocketLinux includes Kaffe, a totally independent, "clean room" implementation of the PersonalJava 3.0 specification, requiring no source code licenses from Sun Microsystems, a powerful embedded implementation of the Linux operating system, and integrated support for XML, the Extensible Markup Language that is becoming the dominant common approach for information sharing and application interoperability around the world. This powerful, integrated environment lets developers build innovative applications rapidly and deploy them across multiple platforms quickly and easily. Users of such applications get the information they need, where, when and how they need it.
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