Transmeta Poised to Release Mobile Linux OS

Transmeta's version of Mobile Linux could make its way into the hands of developers as early as next week, providing a version of the open-source OS optimized for mobile devices running the company's low-power Crusoe processor.

Although no definitive launch date has been set, company officials say they will make the operating system's code available to the open-source community for review and modification via the GNU General Public License process very soon.

Transmeta has been tooling its flavor of Mobile Linux since the introduction of its Crusoe processor, a low-power chip that has yet to realize its full potential in mobile computing devices, according to officials for the company.

Enhancements to Transmeta's Mobile Linux were discussed at the recent Linux World Expo in New York. Most enhancements address the Crusoe chip and its ability to use software code emulation in its processing, officials say.

Improvements in power management have been added that will allow Crusoe to power down to lower processing modes while running light workloads.

Mobile Linux will also further assist Crusoe in running without a hard drive, a significant advantage for ultra-mobile, lightweight devices.

"We made Linux so small the whole kernel fits in 8MB and can be stored in flash memory," says Transmeta CEO Dave Ditzel.

Crusoe already can operate without a hard drive and has been shipping in Gateway's Connected Touch Pad, a hard-drive-less personal computing appliance, since last December.