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Applications & Other Blog

Opening Military, Aerospace, and Government Apps: “MAG” Panel e-Cast

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer Monday

MAG is shorthand for Intel and the Intel® Embedded Alliance partners renewed focus on military, aerospace, and government applications. In this exclusive online event, a panel from Intel, Emerson, and RadiSys discussed the uses of and trends surrounding open standard computing platforms running on Intel Architecture processors. Read more...

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Roving Reporter: IVI Part 4: Innovative technologies geek out vehicle apps

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer 3 weeks ago - last edited 3 weeks ago

Software providers, board manufacturers, and complementary silicon vendors are advancing automotive electronics innovation using Intel architecture as the base technology. Read more...

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Roving Reporter: Digital Signage Comes Alive, Part 1

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer 3 weeks ago - last edited 3 weeks ago

Digital signage is a fast growing area using embedded computing to attract, engage, and inform consumers. In this series, we're looking at what goes into a digital signage system. This first installment has an overview of what makes up a system, and what leading companies from the Intel® Embedded Alliance see as make-or-break points to consider. Read more...

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Roving Reporter: IVI Part 3: Reference design outlines roadmap for hardware

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer 4 weeks ago - last edited 4 weeks ago

An IVI system needs a reliable hardware platform to speed development and ensure interoperability. Read more...

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BLACK SAND

by 4 weeks ago - last edited Friday

Black Sand is an initiative within the Embedded Group to enable an ecosystem of developers, scholars, students, hackers and hobbyists adding hardware and software support for a related series of low cost Embedded Atom Boards. Read more...

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Roving Reporter: IVI Part 2: Software platforms enhance the driving experience

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 09-28-2009 06:33 PM - last edited on 09-30-2009 07:49 AM

Moblin and other software projects are extending Internet and multimedia capabilities to the dashboard. Read more...

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Roving Reporter: IVI Part 1: Open source steers auto tech development

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 09-21-2009 04:38 PM - last edited on 09-24-2009 09:56 AM

Packing tons of digital content into your car requires a standardized platform for infotainment. Read more...

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Taking Advantage of Medical Stimulus Spending

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 09-19-2009 10:10 AM

Governments worldwide are pouring billions of dollars into health information technology. This is a huge new opportunity for embedded developers, but the opportunity comes with challenges. This Embedded Innovator article shows how designers can address these challenges with standards-based solutions from Advantech. Read more...

Attachment 2009, Embedded Innovator_Advantech_Final.pdf 1468 KB
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Cut Power and Improve Manageability in Point-of-Sale Terminals and Kiosks

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 09-19-2009 10:07 AM

In today's difficult market conditions, retailers need kiosks and point-of-sale solutions that can both enhance their sales and lower their total cost of ownership. These solutions must provide high performance and low power, along with reliability, security, and ease of maintenance. This Embedded Innovator article shows how designers can meet these goals with a retail-specific Emerson motherboard. Read more...

Attachment 2009, Embedded Innovator_Emerson_Final.pdf 1380 KB
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Intel® Embedded Design Center - The First Six Months

by Administrator on 09-15-2009 03:55 PM - last edited on 09-15-2009 03:55 PM

Welcome to the Intel® Embedded Design Center (Intel® EDC) team blog! There are exciting things happening in the Intel® EDC – your one stop shop to designing with embedded Intel® Architecture.  Thousands of users have registered to take advantage of the many resources provided within the Intel EDC like reference designs, platform related collateral including confidential documentation, training, online support and step-by-step guidance.  We value your input so the Intel  EDC team has made it easy to reach us with site feedback tool links located throughout the site.  We respond to each piece of feedback we get. In fact, your feedback has helped us enhance the user experience, improve navigation, and provide content relevant to embedded developers. Keep your comments and suggestions coming!

Here are a few of the actions we have taken to enhance the Intel EDC in the last 6 months:

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Roving Reporter: Kontron Puts the Brains in Smart Roads

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 09-02-2009 05:14 PM - last edited on 09-02-2009 05:29 PM

Kontron puts the brains in smart roads. Find out how in this Roving Reporter. Read more...

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Roving Reporter: RadiSys targets in-home controls with SBC

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 08-11-2009 09:02 AM - last edited on 08-17-2009 08:18 AM

RadiSys talks with the Roving Reporter on targeting in-home controls with SBC Read more...

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Roving Reporter: Micro Industries posts all the right signs for retail

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 07-23-2009 10:00 AM - last edited on 09-02-2009 05:31 PM

Micro Industries posts all the right signs for retail. Find out more with the Roving Reporter. Read more...

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Off-the-shelf Solutions Drive CapEx Value

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 07-14-2009 06:50 AM

Caught between lower capital expenditure by carriers and demands for new technologies, such as LTE, EPC and IMS, many telecom equipment providers are being forced to use off-the-shelf solutions for new system development. 

Off-the-shelf solutions can dramatically reduce total cost of ownership for both equipment providers and their customers enabling quicker time to market and lower development costs (see Capex Likes Standards). ATCA is the leading standardized platform for telecom and computing applications that require high availability. ATCA components and applications ready systems are available from over 50 vendors ranging from chassis and blades to fully integrated systems. Off-the-shelf OS and middleware solutions are also available from software vendors or pre-integrated into application ready systems. 

LTE is now recognised as the technology of choice for 4G wireless networks across the world. Many carriers are also planning to implement EPC (Enhanced Packet Core) and IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) to realise the full potential of LTE to support high-speed data and voice services. By using off-the-shelf solutions telecom equipment providers are accelerating product development. Initial trials are taking place during 2009 with early deployment in 2010 and a full rollout planned by multiple operators starting in 2011 with CAPEX for Global LTE Base Station 2011 Estimated at $3.3 Billion. Subsequent years will require significantly higher Capex to deliver 4G services worldwide. 

By using off-the-shelf solutions telecom equipment providers can deliver greater value to carriers as they deploy these new technologies and roll out 4G services. Down the road the use of standardized platforms such as ATCA should deliver further dividends for carriers as they seek to upgrade these systems to support additional services. 

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Standardized Data Centers; Now There’s an Idea!

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 06-16-2009 04:00 AM - last edited on 06-16-2009 09:35 AM by Moderator

The PC market has thrived on standard components and standard chassis allowing fierce competition and huge volumes. Rackmount servers fit this model with a 1U, 19" chassis and common components. Bladeservers offer significant benefits over rackmount servers but do not fit the PC model with multiple blade formats and proprietary chassis. The plans by PICMG to develop ATCA Extension specifications (ATCA Attacks the Data Center) should bring the benefits of the blade server in a standard format that gives data center managers the vendor freedom they have with rack mount servers.

 

Rackmount servers provide a standardized solution for data centers but are inefficient with each 1U chassis integrating power supply and cooling as well as CPU, memory and storage.  Switching is provided separately. Bladeservers share power supply and cooling in a chassis that integrates switching and I/O but ties data center managers into a single supplier for upgrades.  ATCA was developed for carrier grade telecom applications but has many characteristics that are valuable in a mission critical data center including system management and dual redundant components.

 

There is now significant commitment to ATCA from Tier 1 telecom equipment providers, growing volume and a well established ecosystem.  The time is now right to extend this successful platform out of the central office into the data center (see Watch out blade server market - here comes ATCA!).

 

The initial proposal for ATCA in the data center defines double wide blades, increasing power per blade to at least 600W and allowing the use of 34 mm z-height memory modules used in 1U blade servers. Replacing the rear transition module in a standard ATCA chassis with a second row of server blades supports fourteen doublewide blades. This concept is really bringing the 1U rackmount server into a standardized blade server format.

 

Although blade servers offer significant benefits, many data centers continue to use standard 1U rackmount servers. With the right cost base and the double wide format ATCA can deliver the benefits of both rackmount and blade servers in a standardized platform. This looks like it could be the winning formula for the standardized data center.


Message Edited by Felix_M on 06-16-2009 09:35 AM

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Network Application Platforms – General purpose or specialized processors?

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 06-15-2009 06:45 AM

The Network Applications Platform (NAP) is fast becoming the ubiquitous workhorse of both infrastructure and enterprise networks. While NAPs often take on many guises, IP traffic is at the core of all applications. Maximizing reuse and development efficiency, while creating innovate and feature rich solutions is crucial for success.


We all have a tendency to look at the past through “rose tinted spectacles.” The traditional networks all
seemed so simple and straight forward. There were clear demarcation lines between the voice and data
networks of the core infrastructure. Even as enterprise networks evolved from basic Ethernet backbones
to major data centers and farms of webservers, the PBXs running the phone network were in a whole
different world.

 

What are the key applications today where these architectural choices are coming into play?
Undoubtedly “Triple Play” application platforms that can support voice, data and video are a major
industry focus. With all the major functions in the mix that might previously have been tailor made for
specific processors, (high speed processing – GPP, voice and codec processing – DSP, network and IP
packet management NP) the design and cost considerations can become more complex. With everything
traveling together on high speed IP networks, “wire speed” deep packet inspection application platforms
for firewalls, encryption and other security devices are growing rapidly.


There are numerous examples of both general purpose and specialized processors that can fit the bill for
these types of applications. Read more at http://www.advantech.com/ePlatform/Whitepaper.aspx?doc_id={9F21752B-0F30-403B-B921-7FAC1E012F9

Attachment NAPD.pdf 452 KB
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Roving Reporter: MEN Mikro Elektronik aims to plow new field -- precision farming

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 06-09-2009 10:53 AM - last edited on 09-02-2009 05:34 PM

MEN Mikro Elektronik aims to plow new field: precision farming. Find out more with the Roving Reporter. Read more...

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Openness and Standardization are keys to Digital Signage Industry

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 06-08-2009 07:54 AM

Digital Signage, the emerging hot item at 2009 Computex Taipei. Despite of the economic downturn, digital signage industry retains strong growth. The digital signage industry includes not only manufacturers but also content providers and advertising media. Openness is a factor of success, with openness, there will be more space for innovation. Standards are also important because standard content formats and bridging technologies enable the end-users to address heterogeneous system from a single centralized system.

 

There are huge opportunities to grab, IPC vendors, panel makers and communications equipment makers all show interests in this market. With Intel ATOM processor, low-power consumption digital signage platform is made possible.  The new trends will be touch screen, 3D and wireless.

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Rugged reliabililty of AdvancedTCA

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 05-27-2009 12:12 PM

There is one “boat ride” that I wouldn’t recommend for relaxation, but it does a fine job of testing the mettle of embedded computing solutions – specifically AdvancedTCA® in this case. Read more...

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Performance Hike Drives Down ATCA Costs

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 05-25-2009 03:47 AM

 

The introduction of the Intel® Xeon 5500 Series Nehalem processors is having a dramatic impact on the performance and cost of ATCA based systems. With two quad core Intel® 5500 Series processors on an ATCA blade, the performance per slot is more than double that of an Intel® Xeon 5408 based system and over 5 times that of the many existing ATCA platforms with Intel Xeon LV dual core processors. For applications that do not require the extra processing this performance increase allows significant cost reductions of up to 80%.

 

ATCA vendors have quickly adopted the Intel Nehalem processors (Fast Intel® Xeon 5500 processors are a perfect fit for ATCA). The availability of ATCA blades from four vendors when Intel released details of the new processors is unprecedented and demonstrates the importance placed on this development by ATCA vendors and their customers.

 

ATCA blades integrating a single Intel Xeon 5500 Series processor have been introduced by  three vendors; Advantech, Kontron and Radisys. These single processor blades deliver higher performance than previous dual processor blades and at a lower cost. Processor power consumption is also reduced by up to 50%. Emerson Network Power has introduced a dual Intel Xeon 5500 Series processor blade that delivers more than twice the performance per slot of previous generations.  Maximum power consumption for this blade, at over 300W max., is above existing ATCA specifications. There are already several ATCA platforms supporting 300 W per slot and there will be many more in 12 months time.

 

Whether you use single processor blades or dual processor blades, the Nehalem processors, and the performance increase they bring, will dramatically reduce the cost of ATCA platforms for most applications. I expect these blades to very quickly become the standard fit for the majority of new ATCA based systems.

 

 

 

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The xTCA eco-system – what is your limit?

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 05-21-2009 08:39 AM

Beyond 300W ATCA - The key questions are: where in the network will these 300W and beyond standard-based blades find their homes? What CPU and memory configuration will take full advantage of the new architecture? In other words, what is your limit? Read more...

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Roving Reporter: Emerson Network Power rings up retail possibilities with new motherboard

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 05-19-2009 05:27 PM - last edited on 09-02-2009 05:36 PM

Emerson Network Power rings up retail possibilities with new motherboard. Find out more with the Roving Reporter. Read more...

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Dreaming…

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 05-19-2009 02:18 PM

If I've been only dreaming of all the places where multi-core technologies are designed in and the places where the migration path for these multi-core technologies will take embedded, don't wake me up. Read more...

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ATCA is live and thriving and going beyond Telco

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 05-04-2009 01:25 PM - last edited on 05-04-2009 01:25 PM

It was quite encouraging and impressive to see ATCA, or should I refer to xTCA, is live and thriving judging from the number of customers and ecosystem players attending the event. With key notes from some of the industry leaders like NSN, Ericsson and Intel, the event kicked of a dialogue on how well things are going for ATCA. Read more...

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15 Billion Connected Devices - Powered by the Embedded Internet

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 04-28-2009 05:03 PM

But can you image 15 Billion Intelligent Connected Devices? This is the expectation by 2015 according to research firm IDC. Today millions of intelligent devices are already connected and controlling each other without the need for human intervention. Read more...

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Multi-Core: In Berkeley?

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 04-14-2009 10:08 PM

Come along and explore the unexpected places where multi-core is showing up. Read more...

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Roving Reporter: RadiSys takes care of industrial automation applications with virtualization.

by Intel Brown Belt Embedded Developer on 04-14-2009 03:07 PM - last edited on 09-02-2009 05:38 PM

RadiSys takes care of industrial automation applications from top to bottom with virtualization. Find out more with the Roving Reporter. Read more...

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What’s your talent?

by Intel Green Belt Embedded Developer on 04-09-2009 03:19 PM

We all strive to figure out what we all do best with our particular natural talents and, hopefully, be able to put them to real good use in the world. At the corporate level, it’s no different. Each company does at least one or two things really well for the benefit of its customers. Intel’s thing is its innovations in silicon, with its latest offering – the Intel Xeon quad core 5500 series – being no different. Read more...

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