On Target: Embedded Systems

Can Google Defend Open Source Software?

As you probably know, Google is currently entrenched in a battle with Oracle over the use of Java in Android. The trial may be only a month old, but the war began with the original suit filed in August 2010 for alleged copyright and patent infringement related to the Java programming language. However, this case is not just about Google defending its use of the technology or simply lining its pockets. The outcome of this trial has the potential to cripple the Android ecosystem and other open source projects as well. The copyright phase of the trial has the attention... Read more →

Embedded/Real-time Operating System Market - Uneven Growth in 2011 – Slower Growth Expected Over the Forecast Period

In 2011, growth in the market was uneven and the rate of growth below what VDC had forecasted from last year. Suppliers in the market expressed mixed views on the state of the market in 2011 and the challenges they faced during the course of the year. VDC estimates that the market for embedded/real-time operating systems was greater than $1 billion in 2011, an increase of slightly more that 5% from a revised 2010 estimate. Over the forecast period we expect this market segment to grow at a combined annual rate of less than 6% per year through 2014. OEMs... Read more →

Embedded Bits and Bytes – In case you missed these announcements from the last several weeks...

AdaCore, provider of tools and expertise for the mission-critical, safety-critical, and security-critical software communities, announced that Embraer Defense and Security has selected the GNAT Pro Ada development environment from AdaCore as a primary tool set to develop the Operation Flight Program for the AMX Modernization program. http://www.adacore.com/press/embraer-amx-upgrade/ ARM announced the availability of a high performance, power-optimized quad-core hard macro implementation of its flagship ARM® Cortex™-A15 MPCore™ processor. http://www.arm.com/about/newsroom/arm-announces-cortex-a15-quad-core-hard-macro.php Atego, the world leading software tools and professional services supplier for complex, mission- and safety-critical systems and software engineering has launched the DO-178 Process Library for its ground breaking process definition, management... Read more →

Embedded Bits and Bytes – In case you missed these announcements from the last several weeks...

AdaCore, a supplier of Ada development tools and support services, announced a merger with SofCheck, Inc., a Lexington, Massachusetts-based automated software quality (ASQ) company. http://www.adacore.com/2012/01/10/adacore-sofcheck-merge/ Atego™, a software tools and professional services supplier, for complex, mission- and safety-critical systems and software engineering announced that it has secured an additional, multi-million dollar equity investment. http://www.atego.com/pressreleases/pressitem/atego-secures-major-multi-million-dollar-equity-investment Cavium, Inc. announced a technology and marketing collaboration with Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) to offer Intel® WiDi-based products designed to enable superior wireless display consumer experience. http://www.cavium.com/newsevents_Cavium_Collaborate_Intel.html Coverity announced record growth in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, achieving the highest Q1 bookings, revenues and new... Read more →

Is Android Coming to a Secure Device Near You?

What Happened? In case you missed it, the National Security Agency (NSA) announced last week the initial public release of a security-enhanced (SE) version of Android based on SE Linux. As stated by the NSA, the primary objective of SE Android is to “identify and address critical gaps in the security of Android.” The enhanced security features of SE Android are designed prevent malicious attacks by restricting the permissions of Android applications (superseding user-approved settings) while also isolating individual apps from each other. VDC’s View The openness of Android has been widely regarded as both a blessing and a curse... Read more →

Can Commercial Operating Systems Stay Relevant in Consumer Facing Devices?

While the recent smartphone struggles of Research In Motion and Microsoft have proven to be main points of mobile media fodder for 2011, the corresponding strengthening of the market positions of Apple and Android have further underscored the shift in mobile operating system business models. Just a few years ago, the smartphone market was dominated by three main platforms: Symbian, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile. Then, in 2007, everything changed with the release of the first iPhone and the formation of the Open Handset Alliance. Closed, OEM controlled platforms have always had a place in the mobile market as evidenced by... Read more →

Will Quad-core Phones Give QNX another Shot at Saving RIM?

In a blog last week, we highlighted the lack of consumer electronic devices shipping today with multicore chipsets. Smartphones, on the other hand, have already begun to make that transition and the inclusion of these new processors has even emerged as a point of marketing for many OEMs. To date, however, these mobile multicore devices have mostly used dual-core processors. As there are more and more announcements (and speculations) about the forthcoming inclusion of quad-core processors in mobile phones, we are left wondering how or if this change could impact the supplier landscape. The multifaceted impact of multicore processors Whereas... Read more →

Part II: Will Android Erode the Software Development Tool Market?

In case you missed it, click here Part I of our analysis. Over recent years, the commercial software development tool market has faced a number of pressures, which – to one degree or another – have eroded the commercial market’s growth potential. Whether you look at the continued evolution of open source tools or just the growing tendency of both OS vendors and silicon suppliers to bundle (or even give away) toolkits with their flagship products, traditional standalone software development tool (SDT) vendors are facing a growing set of obstacles. Given this already challenging set of circumstances, can the increasing... Read more →

Will Android Erode the Software Development Tool Market? - Part I

ARM recently announced a free toolkit (ARM Development Studio 5 Community Edition) for the Android application developer community. At a high level, you might be thinking, “so what, aren’t there already a number of free Android app tool kits available?” And, to a certain extent, you wouldn’t be wrong…until you start to consider the “so what” part. For one, make no mistake about it – This is not your run-of-the-mill open source toolkit; ARM is in the business of delivering premium tools. In fact, they have an entire division with P&L responsibilities focused on it. This new toolkit supposedly can... Read more →

Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) – Boston 2011

VDC attended the 2011 Embedded Systems Conference in Boston on September 27 and 28 and held face-to-face meetings at the conference with over 20 exhibitors. This year’s ESC included greater than 100 exhibitors and was part of what UBM Electronics called Design Days Boston. Design Days Boston featured four events including ESC as part of one show including DesignMED North America, DesignCon East, and designing with LEDs. These four programs span a wide range of technologies and interests and were supported by numerous technical sessions. Conference organizers reported at the show that registration was up 10-15% year over year. During... Read more →