At LinuxWorld 2007, Palm, the device manufacturer (not the OS manufacturer - that one is now called ACCESS) was showing off a new device called Foleo, a sub-notebook form factor which has a nice 10 inch screen and full size keys. This is a fanless ARM CPU based machine that runs a Linux Kernel and a lightweight Window Manager plus proprietary apps such as Opera, MS Office compatible apps for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc. It also has a VGA out so that you can hook it up to a projector.

The machine also has a SD slot, a CF slot and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. I am impressed by the fact that they actually got the embedded part right - no moving parts. I am not sure how hackable it is, but the hackability of this device may make it an attractive mobile device. Some critics argue that its too big for a pocket and too slow to be a laptop. In my opinion, I prefer laptops that don't roast my body parts every time I run an app. As far as mobility is concerned, all I really need is a browser for most of the things I do. A VGA out is a huge plus.

There has been a lot of movement in the embedded space lately, especially with respect to Linux. So, let's take a look at where this is going. First, when I see the term "embedded", I think, no moving parts. The two things that typically move inside a computer are fans and drives. Fans are needed for cooling. Cooling is needed because processors generate heat when they process. So, to avoid cooling fans, we need a cooler processor, that can be cooled by air (and maybe a good heat dissipation system), but needs no fans. A processor can keep its cool if the code it processes is efficient. So, there you go. An embedded system needs efficient code and a cool running processor.

There seems to be a strange sentiment going around in the open source business community about respecting proprietary companies, or as Ali G would put it: "Respek the competition". At LinuxWorld, Jim Zemlin was found saying that the market has become a Windows-Linux Duopoly (I am sure Steve Jobs would disagree), so we should respect the likes of Microsoft. From a blog on the same:

“We should respect Microsoft,” Zemlin said, citing Microsoft’s marketing prowess and ability to build a massive ISV community as well as generally accepted industry standards.  He also pointed out that the Redmond, Wash. Software company is aggressive in business but said it should not be demonized. “It’s not that big of a deal. It’s in the interest of [Microsoft] to slow the growth of competitors.”

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Mark Shuttleworth seems to be at it again. Go Mark! He's stirred a hornet's nest by openly calling out to Microsoft to disclose the 235 patents that open source software supposedly violates. eWeek has an article that states:

"That's extortion and we should call it what it is," he said. "To say, as [Microsoft CEO Steve] Ballmer did, that there is undisclosed balance sheet liability, that's just extortion and we should refuse to get drawn into that game. On the other side, if Microsoft is concerned about its intellectual property, there is no one in the free software community that wants to violate anyone's IP. Disclose the patents and we'll fix the code. Alternatively, move on."

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Its that time of year again-- no I'm not referring to the start of a new academic year, i'm talking about Linux World.  I am going to try to squeeze an afternoon or morning in to check out the exhibit hall (free with registration) and maybe a conference session (one free per exhibits only pass). It looks as if there will be some decent sessions worth seeing.  Who else from SF State is planning on attending?

Here is a list of tracks and sessions being offered...  http://www.linuxworldexpo.com/live/12/events/12SFO06A/conference/tracks
Free Exhibit pass here --> http://linuxworldexpo.com/live/12/TB296182//SN298548 or https://register.rcsreg.com/regos-1.0/linuxsf2007/ga/index2.html