Handheld Linux Mobile Computer shown at the Paris Linux Expo Thursday February 3, 2000. A NEC Reference design board for developing a low cost WINCE Handheld computer will be shown today running Linux VR software with a few custom PIM applications. A color screen version of a PALM PILOT type interface. One button press to open an application. What is it? Brad LaRonde has put taken a NEC Vr4181 Osprey reference board and ported the Linux kernel to run on this handheld computer. The Linux VR software is programmed into a 16MByte Flash Module. The Osprey has 16Mbytes of SDRAM, a 240h x 320v ALPS TFT Color LCD screen with backlight, touch panel interface, a compact flash card slot, 4 application function buttons, and serial port, microphone DMA audio input, DMA audio output to a speaker. The Vr4181 IC contains an internal LCD controller so this makes it a single chip controller. The handheld portion is encased in a clear plastic shell. With the case off and the flash module removed, the handheld connects to a Debug Reference board that contains a 4 7 segment LEDs, a parallel client port for downloading software, a debug serial port, a debug EPROM, a flash module interface connector, a National DP83905 Ethernet interface, several HP debug connectors for a logic analyzer. Why Linux VR? Brad LaRonde, Mike Klar along with many other individuals decided that it might be possible to take their existing WINCE handheld and palm computers with large DRAM memory size and port Linux to run on them. Since the WINCE is held in mask ROM, Linux would have to be loaded first into RAM and then jumped to for the kernel to boot up. "CyaCE" pronounced See-ya-CE is WINCE application the loads the Linux kernel image into DRAM and jumps to this image to start Linux executing taking over the WINCE. You lose all the information in the WINCE RAM disks, but can watch the Linux Kernel boot up. Here are five reasons to look at Linux VR software as a potential solution for your Handheld or Internet Appliance embedded device. 1.) Time to Market 90% of the code is completed. You can spend your time perfecting the 10% of the code that makes your application unique. 2.) Low Cost No royalties, still takes time to setup an environment. 3.) Full control of source code In embedded systems, you need the source code to track down bugs. The full source code allows trimming away of code that is not necessary for the function of the device. 4.) Versatility Availability of wide range of free software and device drivers. TCP/IP stack already apart of the Linux software. 5.) Linux Support can be purchased from organizations like LinuxCare and Montevista Software Weak Points to consider: 1.) Some special device drivers may not be available for your design. 2.) Time to setup and understand the Linux Kernel. 3.) GUI is not as advanced as a commercial GUIs Remember the NEC Vr4181 MIPS processor supports the WINCE O/S from Microsoft, Inc, too. Where can I download the Linux VR software from? Get the source from the CVS server at http://linux-vr.org Linux VR supported device list: Vadem Clio 1000 Everex Freestyle Casio NEC MobilePro/MobileGear IBM z50 The IBM z50 handheld computer has been discontinued. These can be picked up from discounters selling for $285 delivered to your door in the United States. Check CDW and other websites for availability. With this z50 containing a NEC Vr4121 MIPS CPU you can begin development of your handheld Linux application. You can also purchase a Vadem Clio-1000 directly from www.vadem.com Website to download a Vr4181 brochure and 3 pictures. http://home.earthlink.net/~fred_finster/ltc Other Related Websites: http://linux-vr.org CVS source of linux for NEC VR Microprocessors Vr4111,Vr121,Vr4181 http://linuxdevices.com Interesting articles of what is happening with Linux Devices http://linuxembedded.com Plethora of information on linux for embedded devices. http://www.linuxce.org Links to source code for Hitachi SH3 and Intel StrongArm dedicated to help port Linux to many different handheld computers originally designed to run Windows CE. http://www.ltc.com Brad LaRonde's Linux-MIPS pages Website http://microwindows.censoft.com Microwindows Source code available http://microwindows.org/ http://www.viosoft.com Linux MIPS development tools http://www.peanuts.gr.jp/~kei/Hard-Float http://www.peanuts.gr.jp/~kei/Linux-vr http://www.linux-expo.com/ Paris Linux Expo Show http://www.linux-expo.com/international Paris Linux Expo Show in English http://www.vadem.com Designer of this Vr4181 Chip. Also sells the Clio-1000 Vr4111 70Mhz processor) and the Clio-1050 (Vr4121 131Mhz processor). http://www.clio.com http://www.necel.com/windowsce Brochures, Data Sheets for many NEC Vr microprocessors and companion chips Where the NEC Osprey Vr4181 reference board will be shown February 3, 2000. Thursday, February 3rd - 9:00am - 12:45pm: C5 - Embedded Linux applications - SALLE 242 B Moderator: Sebastien Huet (Linuxembedded.com) Has anybody had any luck using Richard Wisenoecker's GCC-WinCE efforts? His demos compile (with copious warnings), but nothing happens upon execution. The files may be found at: http://www.innonet.at/~wisi/index.html