SBC for internet appliance reference platform

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 5, 2001

Arcom has announced that Espial has selected its SBC-Geode-GXM processor board as the hardware platform for its TotalIA, a Linux and Java-based Internet appliance reference platform.

Arcom today announced that Espial has selected its SBC-Geode-GXM processor board as the hardware platform for its TotalIA, a Linux and Java-based Internet appliance reference platform.

"The Arcom SBC-Geode board met our requirements to a tee," said Bob Egner, Vice President of Marketing for Espial.

"The design of the Arcom board is ideally suited to Internet appliances, particularly in its use of the popular National Geode processor.

In addition, Arcom has the capabilities to deliver large volumes of boards at the right price which makes it easy for our customers to ramp up quickly into volume production." Espial's TotalIA reference system integrates all core technologies, including both hardware and a software stack that will help manufacturers of Internet appliances and other smart devices get their products to market faster with lower risks.

"As an out of the box solution, the TotalIA Linux-Java based device platform provides device OEMs with significant value and time to market advantages by enabling device OEMs to differentiate and focus on innovation, value-added features and branding," stated Jaison Dolvane, President and CEO of Espial.

The Espial TotalIA reference platform includes Tao Group's Java Virtual Machine, Espial's DeviceTop Java technology-based application and service platform as well as the embedded Linux operating system and the National Semiconductor Geode based processor board as supplied by Arcom.

Espial also provides core applications such as the full-featured Espial Escape web browser, Ebox email and Assistant personal information management technologies.

Additional features include full service delivery, remote device upgrade and management capabilities, together with rich multimedia support for Macromedia Flash and MP3 - all in total footprint of less than 14 MB.

The SBC-Geode-GXM is an EBX compliant board, based on the MMX-enhanced 233MHz Geode processor.

It comes fully loaded with all standard PC interfaces as well as a full range of multi media features: Video (Chips and Technologies 69000 HiQVideo graphics accelerator), Ethernet (PCI 2.1 compatible), Flash Disk (solid state max capacity 16Mb), Touchscreen, dual USB and Soundblaster interfaces and support for STN, TFT and EL flat panel displays.

The board is capable of driving high resolution modes on CRT and flat panel displays simultaneously.

Expansion is provided via a PC/104 interface.

The board will run all popular operating systems including, DOS (Datalight's ROM-DOS and Flash Filing system pre-installed), Windows 95/98/NT/CE, QNX and Linux.

The development kit used in the TotalIA reference system includes Arcom Embedded Linux, a pre-defined build of Linux based on the Red Hat 6.2 distribution.

It has been optimized for use on Arcom hardware platforms and is pre-loaded and configured into the embedded flash.

It offers a compact version of Linux with a proven background combined with a high reliability flash filing system.