Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft), Author at CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

February 27, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

LAVA Project Update – ELC 2012

Paul Larson of Linaro gives a LAVA Project update at Embedded Linux Conference 2012. Abstract: The Linaro Automated Validation Architecture (LAVA) is an open source framework used at Linaro for running automated tests on Ubuntu and Android based images, kernels, and more. I introduced LAVA at ELC a year ago. Since that time, considerable progress has been made on the project, and many new components have been added to it. This talk will briefly re-introduce the project to those who may not have heard about it, as well as introduce the new developments. You can download the presentation slides at elinux.org. Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011. www.cnx-software.com

February 27, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Comparing Power Saving Techniques For Multicore ARM Platforms – ELC 2012

Vincent Guittot, ST Ericsson and Linaro, compares power saving techniques for multicore ARM plaforms at Embedded Linux Conference 2012. Abstract: CPU hotplug is used on ARM platform as a power management feature for aggressive low power use cases. It has not been initially designed for that purpose, which implies some constraints on its use but the same power consumption level can’t be reached with the scheduler load balance and/or additional features like cpuset up to now. This presentation will discuss how CPU hotplug matches the low power use case requirements and how we can get closer to this behavior with sched_mc. Then we will also show what prevents the scheduler to reach the same power consumption level as CPU hotplug and how we can solve some of these issues. This presentation is aimed at anybody who is interested to understand why ARM platforms still use CPU hotplug and what should […]

February 26, 2012February 27, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

The Internet of Things – ELC 2012

Mike Anderson, CTO and Chief Scientist for The PTR Group, discusses the Internet of things at Embedded Linux Conference 2012. Abstract: Consumers increasingly want inter-operability of their devices. They want to program their DVR via their mobile phone. They want their music available everywhere. They want their television to update social networking sites. But, as developers, how do we make this possible? This presentation will discuss the imminent “Internet of things” and how we can extend connectivity to previously “dumb” devices like TVs, refrigerators, and other appliances and how this connectivity is directly related to IPv6 support. The target audience for this presentation are platform developers looking to enable connectivity in a new class of intelligent appliances. This presentation is targeted at introductory-level developers with some understanding of the IP protocol stack. You can also download the presentation slides on elinux.org. Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as […]

February 26, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Ubuntu on ARM: Improvements and Optimizations Done by Linaro – ELCE 2012

Ricardo Salveti de Araujo, developer platform lead for Linaro, displays the improvements Linaro have added to Ubuntu on ARM. Abstract: Since Linaro’s start, there was a need to have a supported platform for ARM, that could use the Linaro changes, to improve the ARM experience in general and to show the results of the work done by Linaro. In this session, it’ll be presented why Ubuntu was selected as the base platform for Linaro, describing the benefits and the areas Linaro is continuously investing to improve it. It’ll also be described the current state of the platform, showing some of Linaro’s achievements and also how we’re working to support the main SoC boards available, like Panda, Beagle, Origen, iMX53 and Snowball with the latest development by Ubuntu and Canonical, like Ubuntu TV, Phone and Tablet. You can also download the presentation slides. Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 […]

February 26, 2012February 26, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

The Yocto Project Overview and Update – ELC 2012

Saul Wold, User Space Architect at Intel Open Source Technology Center, discusses the latest on the Yocto Project at the Embedded Linux Conference 2012. Abstract: The Yocto Project is a joint project to unify the world’s efforts around embedded Linux and to make Linux the best choice for embedded designs. The Yocto Project is an open source starting point for embedded Linux development which contains tools, templates, methods and actual working code to get started with an embedded device project. In addition, the Yocto Project includes Eclipse plug-ins to assist the developer. This talk gives a walk-through of the key parts of the Yocto Project for developing embedded Linux projects. In addition, features will be described from the latest release of Yocto. At the end of the talk, developers should be able to start their own embedded project using the Yocto Project and use it for developing the next great […]

February 26, 2012February 26, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Status of Embedded Linux – ELC 2012

Tim Bird, software engineer at Sony, discusses recent development in embedded Linux at the Embedded Linux Conference 2012. Abstract: Tim discusses changes to the kernel, improvements to embedded-related sub-systems, and new industry initiatives likely to affect embedded Linux developers in the future. Also, Tim discusses the direction of the Linux Foundation CE Workgroup, and their contract work and projects for this year. Last year highlights are also discussed, as well as ways to continue to improve Linux going forward. Here are the key points of this presentation: Linux Kernel Version changes: 2.6.38 to 3.3-rc3 Technology Areas: Bootup Time – With improvement in the kernel, bootloader and user-space Graphics – 2D/3D implementation. New /dev/ion and CMA graphics stuffs Accelerated Rendering – e.g. Renderscript Graphics Drivers – e.g. PowerVR Multimedia – Gstreamer, Android Media Layer (stagefright) and codec wars (e.g. patent issues with WebM/VP8 that interferes open source licenses). File systems – […]

February 25, 2012February 25, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Binary Blobs Attack – ELC 2012

Zach Pfeffer, Android Platform Lead at Linaro, talks about (GPU) Binary Blobs and the problems they cause at Embedded Linux Conference 2012. Abstract: Binary Blobs Attack!!! Most SoC vendors distribute binary blobs with Linux kernel shims. These binary blobs enable graphics engines, DSPs and other cores on ARM and other architecture SoCs. These binary blobs tend to be tied to specific kernel versions which limits unreadability and hackability and complicates device manufactures, which slows down innovation and the introduction of new and unique computing devices. Here’s what I noted from this presentation: Most of the issues at Linaro come from (GPU) Binary blobs, they delay projects and cause projects to cost more as FAE and more engineers must be involved in solving problems. Blobs are here to stay mostly due to legal reasons (patents). Binary Blob are usually OS independent, e.g. the same binary is used in Windows and Linux, […]

February 24, 2012June 4, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 18 Comments

Low Cost Freescale iMX6 Quad Sabre Lite Development Board

i.MX6q SABRE Lite Board is a low-cost development platform based on Freescale Quad Core Cortex A9 i.MX 6Quad Application Processor. This will probably be the first low cost ARM quad-core development board to hit the market. Nvidia has previously announced the CARMA Tegra 3 CUDA Development Kit, but the price has not been announced and when I look at the picture of the board and the specs, “low cost” does not come to mind. Here are the technical specifications for the Sabre Lite board: Quad-Core ARM® Cortex A9 processor at 1GHz per core 1GB DDR3 @ 532MHz 3 display ports (RGB, LVDS, and HDMI 1.4a) Two camera ports (1xParallel, 1x MIPI CSI-2) Multi-stream-capable HD video engine delivering H.264 1080p60 decode,1080p30 encode and 3-D video playback in HD Triple Play Graphics system consisting of a Quad-shader 3D unit, and a separate 2-D and separate OpenVG Vertex acceleration engine for superior 3D, […]