Category: Ubuntu

Calxeda ECX-2000 ARM Cortex-A15 Server Processor

Posted by – December 3, 2013

Calxeda shows their new ARM Cortex-A15 based ECX-2000 supporting 16GB RAM on quad-core, used by HP in one of their new HP Moonshot ARM Server platform. Performance is 2x to 3x faster than their previous ARM Cortex-A9 Server platform. Calxeda also has 2 64bit ARM Server chips on their Roadmap with full production systems to be expected for early 2015 or so.

You can read more about Calxeda ECX-2000 at http://www.calxeda.com/ecx-2000-family/

$50 Merrii HummingBird Kit Allwinner A20 Development Board and PCB Design House Tour


The Merrii Hummingbird Kit is a cheap $50 Allwinner A20 Development Board, with Android 4.2.2 and Linux 3.4 currently available officially. It has two USB hosts, an OTG, Gigabit Ethernet, line in, HDMI output. The Hummingbird motherboard which is only slightly larger than a credit card. It has all the basic functions of a PC when connected TV and to a keyboard/mouse, it can support things like spreadsheets, word processing, games, HD videos and more.

Merrii provides a forum for Hummingbird enthusiasts, developers to share advancements developed for the system, the latest information of the A20 Hummingbird system will also be released through the forum.

Users can download the official firmwares (Android 4.2.2 and Linux 3.4) separately by PhoenixSuit tool to burn to hummingbird development system, while Merrii also will provide Android and Linux SDK for enthusiasts to research.

The Linux System GUI provided by Merrii is based on Qt 4.7.3 graphics library written, the function of this program is for individual system tests of a variety of OS resource. As we all know, Android OS is a very excellent OS, but the drawback is system structure is very large, it will consume more hardware resource and start slowly. Compared to Android, A20 Hummingbird Linux system will consume less hardware resources, start quickly and can run smoothly at a lower configuration and less cost. And if the user wants to do dedicated system rather than just a APK, then they can choose Linux, but the disadvantage is likely to develop cycle is relatively longer.

Linux GUI of hummingbird system is written by Qt, Qt is a development framework of cross-platform C + + GUI application which developed by Trolltech in 1991. It can develop GUI program and non-GUI program, such as console tools and servers, the program can be run on Windows, MAC OS X, Linux \ X11, embedded Linux because of cross-platform, hummingbird Qt is running on the embedded Linux.Based on this system,it can be applied to video surveillance, POS, advertising machine, automotive system and other fields. Linux UI interface as following,

Due to the expansion interfaces of hummingbird development system are much more than some other similar products, and it has got global high attention. Thus making it very powerful,rich social environment and market value. the more people participate, the more rapid development, the greater the potential market, followed by the more purposes. Currently,besides the children’s education above-mentioned, it also can be used as basic computer, home theater HD player etc.As following:
• Multimedia player
• PlayStation
• IPTV
• Emulation box
• Auto PC
• Car GPS
• smart robot
• Server
• Electronic Album
• remote surveillance
• Home alarm apparatus / automation system

Hummingbird Kit Contact Details
Contact Person:Dora
TEL:(86)755-28805788#611
QQ:406289497
Skype:dora.liu330
E-mail: ljx@merrii.com

Industry Core Board and Digital Signage Board
Contacts: Rebecca
TEL: 86-755-28806588 EXT: 815
Skype: rebeccadai09011
E-mail: dn@merrii.com

Design Service Group
Contacts: Allen
TEL:(86)755-28805788 EXT:646
Skype: yemazhang
E-mail: zmh@merrii.com

Hummingbird Kit A20
Hummingbbird Kit A20 with LCD
Hummingbird Kit A20
DSC00133M10 照片 010a
DSC00133M20

InSignal Samsung Exynos5420 Arndale Octa Board

Posted by – November 23, 2013

InSignal shows the Exynos5420 Arndale Octa Board, with four ARM Cortex-A15, four ARM Cortex-A7, six Mali-T628, adding eMMC, PCI, HDMI, Sound, USB device, USB Host, Ethernet, Camera module, providing full development board platform for developers wanting to develop solutions based on the Samsung Exynos5420, possibly the fastest ARM Processor on the market today. We may see quite advanced software development for Android, Chrome OS (or Chromium OS), Ubuntu and more. People can order it right now for $179 at pyrustek.com

faytech touchscreen factory tour


Watch as Arne Weber, the General Manager of faytech ltd. conducts a 48-minute tour of his factory based in Shenzhen China. Having been in the Touchscreen business in Germany for many years, Arne and his Chinese wife Fan relocated to China 2008, opened a factory and began to manufacture their own proprietary designs of Touchscreen Monitors and Touchscreen PCs in March of 2010. The business has grown substantially since its inception, and now occupies over 15,000 square feet in the Hongmen Technology Park, in Shenzhen. With a staff of over 70 people, faytech has in-house engineering and product design capabilities and manufactures faytech branded products that are sold in countries around the world. In 2013 faytech was awarded an ISO 9001:2008 certification for meeting internationally set standards for their manufacturing operation. Known for their unique designs, and excellent craftsmanship, German engineering, Asian manufacturing, and global service has become the trademark of this up and coming company in the touchscreen industry. faytech now has sales, distribution, and service in Germany, China, and in the USA. Fan, Arne and their team are very proud of their continuing development of unique and interesting products. faytech products are being used by some of the largest companies in Europe including Siemens, Bosch, and Continental, used in NYC during Fashion Week and at the world famous Madison Square Garden, in US based car washes, Brazilian and Tunisian police cars, trains in Spain, earth moving equipment in Africa, on fitness equipment in Germany, and many other international programs.

Contact this industrial touchscreen solution supplier:
faytech Co., Ltd.
Fl. 4, Bldg. C, Second Phase,
Hongmen Tech. Zone,
Shangxue Duan, Jihua Rd.,
Longgang, Shenzhen
Tel: +86 (0) 755 89580612
sales@faytech.com
support@faytech.com
http://www.faytech.com

ARMdevices.net Shenzhen Sourcing Service launched


Do you need help/advice sourcing bulks of devices out of Shenzhen? You can now get support and sourcing service from me at http://138.2.152.197/sourcing/ and from my new team of experts in Shenzhen to connect you with the best prices, the best quality, the most reliable Shenzhen factories making Tablets, HDMI Sticks, Smartphones, Laptops, Wearables and any of the other emerging devices from the Shenzhen tech market.

For a fixed fee of $500, you can talk to me on video-chat (Google Hangout or Skype) for at least 1 hour, at a time of your choosing, I’ll tell you what I know for what you want to know, and you get to be connected by emails with my sourcing expert partners here in Shenzhen. We will do our best to get you to the best possible prices/features for the devices that you are looking to import into your country.

Have you been looking at all my videos and checked the business cards visible to $20/year members, but you are still unsure which factory is the best for what you want? Do you want ideas for devices to sell? Do you want my opinions on what may be best for your market? Do you want to ask me questions and do you need my advice on email? This is the service for you.

Check it out at http://138.2.152.197/sourcing/

Ubuntu on phone, tablets, latest demos

Posted by – July 29, 2013

Here’s Ubuntu OS for phones built on Android BSP (Board Support Package). They can bring on various phone devices in very short time. Ubuntu OS makes playing videos easier. Ubuntu User interface is very sleek. Through Preview window you can see the videos while playing games or working on any other app. Ubuntu OS runs on different engine no need of engines like JAVA, Dolby. Ubuntu applications written by CUTE support HTML5. It’s different software architecture. Ubuntu provides complete ecosystem also provides SDK system for developers they can use CUTE create their own apps. So that Simple app can run both PC and Phone. Ubuntu OS runs on high end phones, require powerful CPU capable to run both Android and Ubuntu OS at the same time. To do this optimization required of phone feature complete like you can write SMS from desktop in all languages. Users don’t need to have other laptop or PC to communicate between Android and Ubuntu. It’s an Unique experience run Both OS on One Phone. For now Android apps can’t run on Ubuntu. It is possible only after optimzing aspects like graphics. Android apps for Touch. but running CUTE apps is different thing.They can easily Ubantu open source can be write on Android code.there is lot of room for optimization like display performance VD development finally putting them together is easy concept. Ubuntu lowered the basic effort to put Ubuntu on Android. BSP drivers are almost same so effort for OEM is easier to adapt Ubuntu on their hardware. Last year Ubuntu was on OMAP4. Now on qualcomm S4. Wrote with “Ubuntu control app”. User can control Ubuntu session by phone only. If click on shut down Ubuntu control app the phone still can work on Android.

To run Ubuntu 1GB RAM. 1.5Ghz Dualcore CPU are minimum requirements. Aiming to different market segment.
People who think that Android is not sufficient they can turn on Ubuntu. Android is designed for small phones where as Ubuntu they design for large screens. Legacy of Linux is for big screens and multitasking. The main focus is running Ubuntu on multiple device like phone, tablet, TV and many more.

Calxeda ARM Servers developed by Foxconn, Aaeon and Gigabyte

Posted by – June 6, 2013

Saving a lot of money compared to using x86 for cloud computing, web serving and for storage servers, Calxeda is able to show some of the latest Calxeda ARM Powered server solutions being developed and released to the server market by Foxconn, Aaeon and Gigabyte.

Rockchip RK3168 dual-core 28nm HKMG ARM Cortex-A9 launched


Here’s my latest walk through the Rockchip booth featuring Chen Feng Vice President at Rockchip, walking through all the latest developments at Rockchip. Including their equation for performance per dollar per power consumption. Rockchip’s Android software optimization strategies, including some talk about some of their Chromium OS and Ubuntu experiments and some little talk about what Rockchip wants to do to support the hackers that want to build on top of their platform. Please join the ARMdevice Unlisted Mailing List https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups=#!topic/armdevices-unlisted to suggest how this description can be improved and to help me write the next batches of titles and descriptions so that I can release more Hong Kong HKTDC trade show videos sooner!

Filmed at the HKTDC Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) 2013

Adam Conrad talks to Zach Pfeffer at Linaro Connect Asia 2013

Posted by – March 25, 2013

Adam Conrad, Software Engineer at Canonical talks to Zach Pfeffer about his experiences developing and optimizing Linux on 68k then on ARM.

Wookey of Linaro working on Debian for ARMv8 64bit

Posted by – March 6, 2013

Wookey talks about his work at Linaro on booting Debian on the ARMv8 64bit platform, and he talks about his work on ARM Powered devices over the last 20 years and on ARM Linux devices since 1999.

Greg Kroah-Hartman at Linaro Connect 2013

Posted by – March 6, 2013

Greg Kroah-Hartman of the Linux Foundation, Maintainer of the Linux Stable releases, talks about what he is doing at Linaro Connect 2013.

FXI Technologies, on the history and status of inventing the HDMI Stick

Posted by – March 3, 2013

FXI Technologies invented the HDMI Stick, first having shown their Cotton Candy for the first time in November 2011. Here running on the Samsung Exynos 4 processor. They now have 250 partners working on the device, integrating their ideas, technology and applications, providing and upgrading their own solutions, they have hundreds of developers developing solutions and applications for it. They expect to have the Ubuntu platform ready by the end of March. FXI Tech inspired all other SoC vendors and device makers to integrate all other SoCs into HDMI sticks since then.

Ubuntu Mobile OS and Ubuntu for Android at CES 2013

Posted by – January 9, 2013

Canonical launches their new smartphone OS. I ask them what the difference is between Ubuntu Mobile OS and Ubuntu for Android on mobile.

Ubuntu for Android is imminent

Posted by – November 15, 2012
Category: Opinions, Ubuntu

An official Canonical YouTube channel released this video:

This can mean that Ubuntu for Android is imminent. They seem to suggest that consumers can soon choose Ubuntu support next time that they buy a smartphone.

Here are some of my questions about Ubuntu for Android:

– Does Canonical work only on specific exclusive hardware and chip makers? Is there some kind of exclusive partnership with a Samsung or other Smartphone/chip maker to optimize and fully hardware accelerate Ubuntu on Android for them?

– Does the PC/Laptop Docking happen through a standard MHL connector compatible with multiple designs/sizes of phones and tablets?

– Are most Android 5.0 phones going to be compatible with alternative OSes to boot on top of Android? Can we soon just download the 700mb Ubuntu app made on Android Native Development Kit (NDK) on Google Play Store (if our Android device is officially supported with full hardware acceleration) to activate the on-top-of-Android-boot functionality?

– Can Chrome OS on Android be available at the same time? How about Google TV on Android? My big guess for Android 5 is that this multi-OS strategy is going to be a deep new feature of the next Android release. Dock your next Android device and it can switch or boot on the external HD display any alternative Linux OS such as Chrome OS, Google TV, Ubuntu, and maybe even Windows RT.

Also watch my previous Ubuntu for Android videos:

AppliedMicro Shows ARM 64-bit X-Gene Server on a Chip Hardware and Software

Posted by – November 3, 2012

Vinay Ravuri, Vice President and General Manager, Server Products at AppliedMicro gives an update on the 64bit ARM X-Gene Server Platform. At ARM Techcon 2012, AppliedMicro, ARM and several open-source software providers gave updates on their support of the ARM 64-bit X-Gene Server on a Chip Platform.

ARM Versatile Express TC2, ARM Cortex-A15 with ARM Cortex-A7 in big.LITTLE configuration

Posted by – November 2, 2012

Versatile Express is ARM’s development board using real prototype silicon for developers to be able to work on future upcoming ARM designs months in advance of their release. Here is the Versatile Express TC2 being used to demonstrate software solutions that use the big.LITTLE configuration with a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 and a triple-core ARM Cortex-A7.

InSignal ArndaleBoard Exynos5250 ARM Cortex-A15 Mali-T604 Development Board

Posted by – November 2, 2012

The $249 http://arndaleboard.org is the worlds most powerful ARM based development board, providing developers with an ARM Cortex-A15 with Mali-T604 Samsung Exynos5250 development platform. It includes Android support now, Chrome OS and Ubuntu support to come soon and more also later. This video includes an unboxing of the development board bundled with the optional $250 7″ touch-screen.

Marvell Armada XP Server Platform in the Mitac GFX

Posted by – November 2, 2012

Marvell is in production with their Armada XP ARM server processor platform, here demonstrated in the Mitac GFX server. You can also watch my Mitac server videos filmed last Computex:
MiTAC GFX ARM Server Launch: Gary Rumney and Ian Ferguson talk about ARM Powered Servers
MiTAC GFX ARM Server

HardKernel Odroid-X2, Exynos4412 1.7Ghz 2GB RAM development board

Posted by – November 1, 2012

HardKernel presents their latest update to the ODROID-X Exynos4412 quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 development board. This new ODROID-X2 ships with the 1.7Ghz (1.8Ghz over-clockable) Exynos4412 quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, with 2GB RAM, and a higher clocked 533Mhz Mali-400 quad-core GPU. The price is $149, the 16GB eMMC memory (4x to 5x faster than booting/running from SD Card) is $39 extra, the $9 power adapter is recommended also, then also add about $30 for shipping. Here is Ubuntu running, with support for doing things like compiling the Linux kernel on this ARM powered device supposedly with a performance superior to the first generation Intel Core i3 processor. Mali-400 hardware acceleration for Ubuntu should be coming soon, it’s already there for Android of course. The ODROID-X2 should start shipping from http://hardkernel.com by the end of November.

Pictures of their catalog, click for full size:

Calxeda ARM Cortex-A57 64bit Server Processor announced

Posted by – October 31, 2012

Calxeda’s VP of Marketing Karl Freund talks about the status of Calxeda’s ARM Powered server solutions and how they are launching their upcoming ARM Cortex-A15 32bit and then ARM Cortex-A57 32/64bit processors, what type of markets they expect to reach in the months and years to come.