LINDON — Lineo Inc. unveiled new software Monday designed to make Linux imbedded systems easier for developers to use and customize.
Company officials said the Lineo Embedix Software Development Kit 2.0 will allow developers to more easily configure, customize and deploy Linux-based embedded software solutions for end-use products.
The SDK 2.0 costs $4,995 and begins shipping this month.
The product "is a major departure from anything you've seen in the past," said Tim Bird, Lineo's chief technology officer.
"In terms of the look and feel of the tools, you'll probably see things that look similar in appearance to other vendors' products . . . but we really believe this tool is unique on the face of the planet in its ability to open up Linux to other developers," he said.
Lineo's embedded systems products allow original equipment manufacturers to make devices and systems that interact with the Internet.
Among the devices using the products are digital televisions, DVD players, personal video recorders and set-top and cable boxes; Internet infrastructure such as routers, modems, switches, gateways and network-attached storage; and handheld devices such as personal digital assistants, mobile phones, entertainment systems and scanners.
Dan Montierth, Lineo's technology products director, said the SDK 2.0 would target all common developers and would be attractive because it will be easy to deploy and support features they need.
"The SDK is really targeted to the big broad brush of imbedded developers," he said. "The real issue is we want the customers to have choice, and we want to remove any barriers they have."
It especially will be attractive to developers who want Linux but may not be Linux gurus, he said, "providing a tool so others can leverage all the advantages of Linux but not deal with the complexities of Linux."
The SDK 2.0 also has "snap-in" architecture so the developer can add new hardware and software support and features. That cuts out the middleman in that process, allows the features to appear to be native to the developers' design and helps Lineo also. "It gives them more customers they can leverage and makes our product look more powerful because it incorporates their features," Montierth said.
Bird said the SDK 2.0 should be a springboard for Lineo, a 3-year-old company with about 400 worldwide employees. "We really view this as a major step, not just for us, but for Linux in the embedded space," he said.
E-MAIL: bwallace@desnews.com