On CE - For Dealers, Distributors and OEMs of Consumer Electronics throughout EMEA

Linux Foundation Exec. Director, Jim Zemlin calls this new embedded Linux "the open-source uber-platform for the next gen computing devices: tablets, pocketable computers, netbooks, automotive IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment)and more."

Imad Sousou, director of Intel's Open Source Technology Center, says, "The MeeGo Netbook user experience is the first to appear, with the development of the MeeGo Handset user experience moving to the open in June."

MeeGo, says the Foundation, gives Linux desktop developers a system they will be able to pick up and use more quickly than they can Android.

Go Meego

You can't help but wonder what they all would have done if the iPAD flopped? At least 20 new tablets could be found at Computex.

ARM Holdings, the maker of processing cores popular in Android devices, estimates there will be about 40 tablet devices just using Arm-based processors this year. Android tablets were on display at Arm's private showroom: Foxconn's 10" N928-1, the 7"Lifepad by Prowave, and Malata with a 10" touchscreen.

WonderMedia Technologies showed off a range of new tablets based on its PRIZM SoC and Android. Tzumu Lin, President and CEO, is already predicting segmentation in tablets: "There's clearly a large and growing interest in the tablet form factor, but what we're seeing now is a rising consumer demand for some diversity in size, shape, style and price."

Of course, big business draws in the Big Companies. HP hopes its Hurricane will be a competitor, using the WebOS it bought when HP bought Palm. Blackberry is planning a tablet-like device. Lenovo has shown a new tablet that also hooks up to a regular keyboard when you need that. Even Google has promised a tablet soon.

Go Products based on WonderMedia SmartTouch

Back to the channel… Google launched the Nexus One with grand plans to radically change the way consumers purchased phones.

Now the company says it will stop selling handsets online and instead partner with carriers to sell the N1 in-store. And use its own website to promote Android phones available globally.

Google says customers simply wanted a hands-on experience before buying a phone... D'uhhhh.

Go Google Nexus One

As regional markets mature, TV makers are under increasing pressure to innovate their brands. It’s a brand new world as IP, content and TV collide and throw off new opportunities to add intelligence to the box.

DisplaySearch  thinks the industry should  look at the global TV market in a different way. Instead of thinking in terms of regions and sizes, the market researcher says we should understand our customers based on their usage.

Not a bad idea at all: segment the users by those who want basic essential broadcasting to those who prefer high-end hub-like usage.  Those who want cutting edge IP services and those who don’t.