Embedded Systems Conference packs ’em in

San Francisco, Calif.— While many recent trade shows have drawn fewer exhibitors and visitors, this year's Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) initiated its new venue, San Francisco's Moscone Center, with packed aisles and people who actually attended the conference sessions. Linux continues to generate buzz, but the operating system is maturing with companies showing real products built ...

By Gary A. Mintchell, senior editor May 1, 2001

San Francisco, Calif.— While many recent trade shows have drawn fewer exhibitors and visitors, this year’s Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) initiated its new venue, San Francisco’s Moscone Center, with packed aisles and people who actually attended the conference sessions.

Linux continues to generate buzz, but the operating system is maturing with companies showing real products built on it and real applications. Microsoft continues to expand its embedded presence with a larger booth and well-attended talks on its embedded platforms. CompactPCI still shows strength as a computer form factor, although PC/104 and STD bus are still in evidence. Software tools, modeling, and development environments continue to improve. Finally, tools and products were available to web-enable just about everything.

Companies and products to watch included Microsoft’s (Redmond, Wa.) “Talisker” beta 1, its next Windows CE version. Talisker will focus on increased componentization, wireless and intelligent networking, web, and multimedia. It also showed an embedded roadmap including a forthcoming embedded server.

Meanwhile, Zendex (Dublin, Calif.) showed an embedded control board with ZF Linux. SBS Technologies (Carlsbad, Calif.) has advanced cooling for CompactPCI, as well as additional gigabit Ethernet products. Project Technology (Tucson, Ariz.) has enhanced its BridgePoint UML (unified modeling language) software development tools.

Metrowerks (Austin, Tex.) revealed its online university, CodeWarriorU.com, has registered more than 65,000 people for free programming training. The company announced expanded support for Motorola processors with its CodeWarrior development tools. Real-Time Innovations (Sunnyvale, Calif.) announced its now-available ScopeTools, a suite of analysis and diagnostic tools. Rabbit Semiconductor (Davis, Calif.) has core modules with Ethernet and a TCP/IP kit for 8-bit microprocessors.

VMIC (Huntsville, Ala.) introduced a PMC 2-gigabit fiber channel host adapter. MEN Micro (Carrollton, Tex.) highlighted new CompactPCI single board computers and a Profibus master PC-MIP card. The company also now offers free Linux support for its I/O M-modules.

WinSystems (Arlington, Tex.) continues to develop STD bus computers including a 386sx-compatible SBC. QNX (Kanata, Ontario, Canada) has extended RTOS support for SH-4, ARM, StrongARM, and Xscale chips. Intrinsyc (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) unveiled CerfCube for Windows CE, a web-ready, low-cost server device.

For more information on the ESC, Circle 347 or visit www.esconline.com or www.controleng.com/freeinfo .