CONTENTS: May 1, 2004

• Best of the Web - Featured Sites
  • News Summary - Top News
    • SNDF - Smart Networks Developer Forum
    • Embedded Linux - The Controversy Continues
    • Other Top News
  • Cool New Web Sites
  • Conference Calendar

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. , formerly known as Motorola, Inc.'s Semiconductor Products Sector (SPS) , has just completed the ' Smart Networks Developer Forum ' in Dallas, Texas. The show has grown tremendously, and become a 'not-to-be-missed' event among network developers. SNDF was a major event for RapidIO , with many announcements from member companies. Among them:

• Xilinx - A New RapidIO Serial Endpoint IP core ;
• Mercury & Tundra - Ensemble, A Serial RapidIO Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (AdvancedTCA) Development System ; and
• GDA Technologies - GRIO, Silicon IP Cores Based on Serial and Parallel RapidIO .

The other major news of SNDF surround Linux. Metrowerks (now a subsidiary of Freescale ) made a major commitment to Linux by announcing new Linux development tools, hosted on Linux itself. The new toolsuite supports PowerPC, ARM, and ColdFire (Full release here ). It follows TimeSys' promotion at ESC last month of its TimeStorm Linux Tool Suite . The tool allows developers to utilize any embedded Linux distribution in their design process. Both announcements are major steps forwards towards robust, commercial Linux tools for embedded systems.

As TS Elliot observed, April is the cruelest month. April saw a cruel debate begin over whether, or not, Linux is 'safe' for military and aeronautic systems. Green Hills Software 's CEO, Dan O'Dowd, began the controversy by criticizing Linux as dangerous for military systems in remarks at the Net-Centric Operations Industry Forum. The company then released a series of white papers on its Web site, substantiating its critique. In response, Lynuxworks CEO Dr. Inder Singh posted a rebuttal to what he termed FUD: 'Sweeping generalizations that Linux poses a national security threat are shortsighted and self-serving,' wrote Dr. Singh. It seems as if the anti-Linux crusade, abandoned by Wind River Systems , has now been picked up by Green Hills .

Among other top news stories of the month, AMCC announced an agreement to acquire intellectual property assets of IBM 's 400 series of standard embedded PowerPC products, in addition to a Power Architecture license. Under the terms of the agreement, AMCC will license intellectual property and acquire the assets for approximately $227 million in cash. (Release here ). And VDC Corporation announced results of a new study , indicating that the global market for embedded merchant computer boards reached $3.3 billion in 2003 and is expected to reach $4.3 billion by the year 2006, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%.

> To browse all 'news' by topic area, for the last thirty days, click here .

eg3.com 's mission is to research, identify, and promote cool new Web resources - white papers, demo's, seminar's, free code. etc. Here are the top new Web sites we have found in the last month. Among conferences, several announced that they were 'ready for registration:'

• Microchip Masters' Conference , focused on PIC - July 21-24, 2004, Scottsdale, AZ.
• Windows Embedded Developer's Conference , focused on Microsoft Windows Embedded platforms, June 28 - July 1, 2004, San Diego, CA.
• Embedded Processor Forum , focused on new chip-level and IP embedded processors, May 17-20, 2004, San Jose, CA.

With the war in Iraq and homeland security issues, many embedded designers are looking to the military for design prospects. One interesting site is the Joint Tactical Radio System , a DoD initiative to improve software radio technologies in the military. The Military and Aerospace Show comes up May 18-19, 2004, in Baltimore, MD, and is co-hosted with the Homeland Securities conference.

Among new sites, don't miss the ZiLOG 2004 Flash Nets Contest . Submit a design using the eZ80Acclaim processor, and win up to $10,000 in cash prizes. On a more practical note, directories were hot this month - with some important new directories announced: Embedded Directories.com , covering PC/104, VME, PMC, and Blades, and Extension Media , with new directories in MIPS, 8-Bit, and PowerPC. We also found Mixed Signal and DSP Design Techniques , a free online book from Analog Devices .

> To browse all 'best of the web' sites, for the last thirty days, click here .

( conference, 4 stars ) - 5/9/2004, Las Vegas

NetWorld+Interop
NetWorld+Interop provides networking, Internet and telecommunications professionals with a uniquely comprehensive forum for education and hands-on evaluation of products and services in order to make critical purchasing decisions. NetWorld+Interop affords buyers from enterprises, carrier/service providers, and resellers/integrators the opportunity to experience live technology demonstrations first-hand.

( conference, 4 stars ) - 5/17/2004, Orlando

Software Test Automation Conference and Expo
The demand for software test automation tools and services continues to grow at a rapid pace --- 30% or more per year according to some estimates. With eBusiness and eCommerce continuing to drive this figure, companies are still trying to find tools and support to help them automate effectively. The Software Test Automation Conference and EXPO addresses the issues associated with these endeavors.

( conference, 4 stars ) - 5/17/2004, San Jose

Embedded Processor Forum
If need to understand the microprocessor, these are the two events where the industry's leaders gather to hear the largest collection of first disclosures of next-generation chips anywhere. Analysis of industry trends that you can use to plan your product strategies * Full-day seminars that give you the information you need to make the right microprocessor choices * Networking that puts you in touch with key colleagues from around the world.

( conference, 4 stars ) - 5/18/2004, Baltimore

Military and Aerospace Show
The Military & Aerospace Electronics East Show 2004 will be co-located with Homeland Security Solutions Conference & Exhibition. The Military & Aerospace Electronics East 2004 Show features a series of government and industry presentations crafted to industry experts offering a glimpse into the most important opportunities in defense and aerospace programs over the next one to five years.

> To browse all 'conferences' , click here .

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