By Rachel Chalmers
Lineo Inc, formerly Caldera Thin Clients Inc, has clarified its roadmap for the embedded Linux market and has announced a deal with MeterNet Corp for a Linux-based set-top box. Lineo’s roadmap was announced at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose, California. The company promises a distribution of Linux specifically targeted at embedded devices: Embedix. There’s also a software development kit with compilers, debuggers, profilers, a graphical IDE, ISV applications and Target Wizard, a component selection and configuration tool. On top of Embedix, Lineo plans to offer Embrowser, a micro web browser for set-tops, handheld devices, kiosks and point of sale systems. While Embrowser is currently based on DR-DOS, a Linux port is under way.
As for the hardware, MeterNet’s catchily named wb8680L runs on a Cyrix processor and boasts Ethernet connectivity. A standard model with Embrowser for DR DOS is available now. A Smart Card version will be released next month and a Linux-based version is promised for the first quarter of 2000. The interface has been optimized for display on television. The partners claim their device is especially suited to applications like online banking, multi-level marketing and apartment management, where vendors want to promote their brand while enabling net-based transactions.
