Phoronix: Realm Systems BlackDog
Jan 18, 2006, 02:30 (0 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Michael Larabel)
[ Thanks to Phoronix for this link.
]
"Flash media storage for general usage, or also referred to as
thumb drives, pen drives, and USB flash drives have exploded with
popularity in recent years. With these drive capacities now
exceeding 4GB, and transfer rates increasing ever so rapidly, users
have turned to these devices in order to prepare miniature file
back-ups, file transfers, and sharing data--among other things.
However, when it comes to the subject of mobile storage and
computing, only time will tell what the next generation devices
will look like. The engineers at Realm Systems have designed a new
product that is roughly the size of two thumb drives yet rather
than simply offering data storage capabilities they have designed
an entire Linux server. In fact, the server is the world's smallest
being able to fit in the palm of your hand. For operation, the
device is dependent upon an existing computer system running
Microsoft Windows XP or Linux. The Realm Systems server, dubbed the
BlackDog, is designed to be a new mobile open-source platform for
mobilizing software applications. Although the BlackDog does
require a USB port on a client computer for operation, it is fully
extendable to meet any needs thrown its way with thorough SDK
software and immediate detection when plugging into either Windows
or Linux. Behind the scenes, the 400MHz PowerPC processor is
running Debian Linux with the 2.6.10 kernel and 64MB of RAM. Other
features for the Realm Systems BlackDog include a biometric scanner
and MMC expansion slot. Will this 1.6-ounce computer be able to
emerge itself into a new class of mobile computing? Today we are
taking the Realm Systems BlackDog for a walk as we see the
viability of this very product..."
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