Small embeded linux device
 

Hi

The more I use Linux the more I want to do with it. I am trying to get more information about small embeded systems which can be used to develop custom solutions.

The idea device for me would have only WIFI and a camera. It should be as small and cheap as possible.

My main programming language is JAVA so idealy I would like direct hardware access from it.

Lastly I dont want to use old hardware but am more interested in being able to sell the device as a product if the software adds value.

What are my options.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

i dunno about java support or resale value but one of the prior maemo devices (n770, n800, n810) is probably your best bet

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

You had a look at BeagleBoard?

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

Thanks looks good but does not seem to support WIFI on wired connections. Apart from that it looks good.

Compared to some hardware I found from China the price seems high and it looks like a complete solution would need more hardware which ups the price.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

Usually what you specified doesn't really come cheap. The BugLabs hardware will provide exactly what you want, but you'll be looking at an immediate investment of $700+. Whereas with the Beagleboard xM or the Pandaboard both include wired ethernet and have USB you can plug a wifi dongle into, as well as a USB webcam.

Either of those you could load Android on and have some sort of Java environment.

And depending on the hardware you're seeing from China, it may have poor developer support.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

Thanks

You are correct about the costs. I think I have two choices to try and find a linux hardware solution which seems to cost a few hundred dollers or bite the bullet and build somthing and program it at a lower level which would bring the price down to under 100.

Its a shame that from a comercial point of view a linux solution cannot compete.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

Linux solutions can definitely compete, the question is if your requirements are too high for the price range you're estimating, especially with the Java requirement. The Rev. C Beagleboard ($125) has USB On-the-go. The xM is $150, and that's actually LOW for hardware of that type (typical dev systems for that processor go for $1200+.)

Additionally, these systems are not Linux-only.

Perhaps you should look at something like this:

http://designsomething.org/leopardboard/default.aspx

Parts listings here.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

The java requirement was to make my life easier. But just trying to find a linux solution which competes with the range of hardware from China is hard. Having said that I have found a company form China selling a matchbox sever for $60 dollers for orders of 50 units. I am still waiting for the full specs. But from an inital email it looks like supporting WIFI and the ability to add a pin hole camera.

I will let you know once I get more information about the device.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

Sounds like you may want a Plug Computer type of device in combination with a webcam.
I use a sheevaplug as a home server and can recommend it but, it has no wifi. The more recent Guruplug does though.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

Check out the Gumstix also. I've never used one, but they look cool

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

Thanks

I had seen the Shivaplug before but it did not have WIFI. The GuruPlug though is new to me and looks like what I wanted.

Do you know what the supported Linux is and it includes gst-launch.

UPDATE: I just could not wait for a response from the company so I just ordered the GuruPlug Server. I will give some feedback once I get my hands on it. Thanks again.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

My Sheevaplug was shipped with an alpha of Ubuntu 9.04 which I had to update with the final release. Not sure what distro is on the guruplug.
For tinkering with your plug computer the plug computer forum is a great resource and full of helpful people.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

Pandaboard.
less than $200. Cortex-A9.

Re: Small embeded linux device
 

I was going to mention them, but you beat me to it.

I played around with a gumstix for a project my employer was bidding on and it is a pretty nice little system. No Java, as far as I know, but they do have a nice Debian-like packaging system with lots of add-on packages. There's on on-board LCD controller, ethernet (although you need an add-on board for the PHY), a couple serial ports, and a bunch of I/O.

The main selling points are the physically small size and that the price is quite reasonable in small quantities. A couple hundred for a development system IIRC.

We were going to mount it as a daughter card on a bigger board with various peripherals on it. Unfortunately, we did not win the contract so I didn't go any further with my testing of it.