Variscite Adds High Performance ARM Module

Variscite offers system-on-modules, single board computers and evaluation kits with TI ARM processors.  They have recently released the VAR-SOM-4460 for high performance multimedia, advanced graphics and video applications.  It features the TI OMAP4460 with two ARM Cortex-A9 cores running at 1.5GHz.

If you don't need all that power and are looking for a low cost module, Variscite also offers the VAR-SOM-AM35  starting at $49 with a TI 600MHz Cortex A8.  It features a CAN bus controller and targets industrial and automotive applications.  It supports Android, Linux, Windows Embedded CE and Windows Embedded Compact 7.

Microsoft Forms Closer Partnership with ARM

Press Release: Microsoft Licenses ARM Architecture - ARM

Microsoft supports ARM in a wide range of products.

There is wide speculation about this new agreement between Microsoft and ARM.
EETimes
Network World
eWEEK.com

Microsoft embeddedSpark Summer Challenge Opens

The Microsoft embeddedSPARK 2010 Challenge is now open with designs due June 8. The winner will receive a cash prize of $15000, $5000 for second and $1000 for third. The top three will present at the Embedded Systems Conference in Boston this Fall.

Qt Now Available Royalty Free For Embedded Linux

Nokia owned Qt Software (formerly Trolltech), is offering a royalty-free license for the latest release of its windowing system Qt 4.5. The Linux port of Qt was formerly called Qtopia, now called Qt for Embedded Linux. It is advertised to be optimized for embedded and includes features to aid embedded developers. These include C++ class libraries, built-in support for hardware-acceleration, a free cross-platform IDE and the ability to simulate the device display on your development workstation. Also available for consumer electronics development are Qt for Windows CE and Qt for S60 on Symbian OS.