Hmmm this could be interesting

[Mitchell Smith]

This could be an interesting little device for speakup to run on.

[Updated Jan. 22, 2003] IBM unveiled an open standards based Linux/Java PDA
reference design at LinuxWorld in New York this week. Based on the IBM
PowerPC
405LP embedded processor, the reference design, dubbed the "embedded Linux
application platform" (e-LAP), is intended to jump-start PDA manufacturers,
who can use the design as is, or can modify it to meet their own PDA,
electronic book, or "personal media device" requirements.

The e-LAP reference design PDA includes . . .
List of 17 items
. PowerPC 405LP Processor
. 32MB SDRAM
. 32MB Flash (NOR)
. 64MB M-Systems DiskOnChip Flash device
. 4-inch LCD color display (240 x 320 pixels)
. TCPA security chip
. Stereo speakers, audio in, audio out
. AC power-in
. Integrated microphone/speech input chamber
. SDIO slot
. Philips USB 1.1 (one client port, two host ports [one is disabled])
. Speech-on button
. Navigation mouse
. 4 programmable input buttons
. Li-Ion battery (1700 mAh)
. Bluetooth 1.1 (via Toshiba SDIO card)
. Xilinx XCR3128XL FPGA (128 macrocells, 3000 gates)
list end
Additionally, a plug-in "developer sled" adds the following options, for
development and debug purposes . . .
List of 6 items
. USB 1.1 host
. 10/100 Ethernet
. Serial port
. 8- or 16-bit PCMCIA slot
. JTAG debug port
. Flash programming port
list end
IBM's PowerPC 405LP system-on-chip processor, which seems poised to compete
with Intel's XScale processors for mobile device design wins, is described
in
its preliminary data sheet as a "highly integrated device offering
high-performance at ultra-low power". The chip contains a 32-bit PowerPC
405D4 RISC
core processor (with MMU) which dynamically scales from 152 to 380 MHz, and
also includes an SDRAM/RAM/ROM/Flash controller, DMA and interrupt
controllers,
extensive power management, color LCD controller for 1/4 VGA up to XGA (2K x
2K pixels), touch panel interface, 2 16550-type serial ports, IIC (master
and slave), CODEC interface, and up to 32 general purpose I/O lines. The
405LP implements a technology known as
dynamic power management,
for both processor and memory power requirements, in order to maximize
battery life in mobile devices.

The reference design's software stack includes MontaVista Linux Consumer
Electronics Edition, Trolltech Qt/Embedded and Qtopia PDA application suite,
and
Opera browser. Additionally, an IBM WebSphere software development kit,
which will be made available in the second quarter, is also being previewed
at
LinuxWorld. The IBM-supplied software will include a J2ME certified Java
Runtime platform for devices (IBM's WebSphere Micro Environment) along with
support
for multimedia, data connectivity, and speech and handwriting recognition.

The integrated hardware/software reference design will initially be supplied
through the IBM Microelectronics Division. In addition, the IBM Engineering
& Technology Services group will be available to assist device manufacturers
in modifying the reference design to match their specific requirements. The
reference design will become available beginning March 1, 2003, a spokesman
said.