Linux

From MobileRead

Linux is one of several Unix like implementations.

1 Overview
2 User Front End
3 Ubuntu
4 Embedded systems
5 For more information

[edit] Overview

Linux features a customizable kernel and generally uses GNU commands and shells. For eBook readers and PDA's it can be cut down to a very small footprint to allow it to run on smaller low power devices.

As with all operating systems Linux provides a framework for applications to use. It is the application that actually provides the eBook reader functionality. There are several applications available for Linux systems depending on the desired eBook format. The application must be compiled for the particular Linux implementation hardware that you are interested in so not all Linux applications are available for all hardware configurations.

There are several specialized versions of Linux some of the variations are described below if they are applicable to mobile devices.

[edit] User Front End

Linux, like Unix, is a base OS that has a basic kernel which is consists of a set of system calls to a User Interface and manages the work being done of the computer. However the user only really sees the User Interface which can vary the look and feel depending on the implementation. It can be a command line but is more likely to be a Graphical User Interface (GUI). Some GUI user interface packages include:

Gnome a Desktop package from Gnome
Qtopia an API for custom versions of embedded Linux from Trolltech
X window system from MIT (also used in regular Unix/Linux):
- Stripped down X.org implementation (e.g. in Nokia 770)
- nanoX small X implementation (e.g. in HanLin eBook).

Many eBook Readers use an embedded version of Linux but have their own user interface (typically a menu interface) as they basically boot direct into the application.

[edit] Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a community developed, Linux-based operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. It contains all the applications you need - a web browser, presentation, document and spreadsheet software, instant messaging and much more. A special Mobile version exists for MID devices. See http://www.ubuntu.com/

[edit] Embedded systems

Most eBook readers use an embedded Linux system. The largest companies in this business are Wind River and MontaVista. MontaVista is the one used on the Sony Reader.