A Linux Device That Could Beat the iPhone, Apr 08, 2008

Lenovo has introduced a Linux-based mobile Internet device that could be an iPhone killer in terms of the user experience. While the device's hardware is significantly larger than the iPhone, it is also vastly more capable.

The "Podzilla" open source application suite was ported to a relatively inexpensive line of flash-based mp3 players. Originally developed by the iPod Linux project, the software now runs on SanDisk's $100-$150 Sansa e200 devices, reports Sebastian Duell, chief SansaLinux project developer.

The free Linux operating system handles big tasks like running supercomputers and ATMs. Now Linux has a chance to finally crack Microsoft Corp.'s hold on computing's most visible domain - mainstream PCs - because of the rise of innovative, inexpensive machines.

The Brazilian Electoral Supreme Court announced last Friday that Brazil's 2008 elections will use 430,000 electronic voting machines running GNU/Linux and open sauce voting applications.

The full-function, ultra-affordable ultraportable, shipping with Linux or Windows XP, will likely fly off the shelves.

Workloads running on Linux servers are shifting to become more business oriented, including databases and line-of-business applications, and the operating system appears headed for measurable growth over the next three years, according to a white paper released Tuesday by IDC.

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