06.07.07

Linux Developers Yawn at LG-type Deals with Microsoft

Posted in Deals, FUD, Fuji Xerox, GNU/Linux, LG, Microsoft, Patent Covenant, Patents, Samsung at 8:31 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Yesterday we saw another attempt to instill and spread fear throughout the embedded Linux industry. This happens to be an industry where Linux is expected to become very dominant and even reign (as seen in HPC), if it does not already approach that status. Let us remember that, among other factors, Microsoft signed a deal with companies such as Samsung and LG in order to scare developers (and mind you, there was no explicit disclosure of patent numbers, let alone a number of patents).

Fortunately, the world which revolves around embedded Linux yawns and continues to ignore the FUD. It’s safe to say this based on a recent survey. The polling process took place around the time other such deals were made.

As a result, patent worries are down among Linux users over the last three years. LinuxDevices.com’s latest reader survey, published earlier this month, suggested that only about 22 percent of embedded Linux developers take patent concerns seriously, down from 33 percent two years ago.

No only is this fear unfounded, but it also appears to be on a sharp decline. Linux continues to thrive in the mobile-, embedded-, and devices-oriented area. Only yesterday, for instance, the following three announcements were made:

Intel shows more advanced ultraportable

Instead of Windows, the MIMD uses Midinux, a Linux operating system for mobile devices from China’s Red Flag Linux.

And these ones:

Pepper Computer Announces Pepper Linux Support for Intel-Based Mobile Internet Devices

Pepper Computer, Inc. today announced Pepper Linux support for Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) based on Intel low-power processors and chipsets.

Canonical refines mobile Ubuntu Linux

“Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded edition is expected to deliver fast boot and resume times, and reside in a small memory and disk footprint,” Canonical said in a statement.

These are just 3 among several new Linux devices/ports that are being introduced in a single day. LinuxDevices.com boasts about half a dozen a day.

The LG deal was probably irrelevant in the sense that it does not appear to scare anybody. Developers move on while media chooses a sensationalist tone to create the illusion that a difference was made.

Will we be seeing more Linux devices than ever before? You bet. Here’s a new video of one (Palm Foleo).

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