Chronolytics Inc. has a unique development platform for significant embedded, networked applications. Our platform uses the Samsung S3C6410 processor. This is a variant of the processor used in the iPhone. The platform is networked 802.11B/G. The LCD is 800x480x16 bits (65536 colors). There are hardware accelerators for H.263, H.264, MPEG4 and VC-1 (WMV9) decode.Chronolytics can make a device like this do "anything" it is capable of doing.
If you or your company have an application that would work on our platform or would like to discuss other handheld platforms, please contact us.
For the following software downloads, please read the following:
Your download implies acceptance of this software agreement.
Announcing an s3c6410-based XWindow accelerated graphics driver (XAA)Release xf86-video-s3c64xx-0.0.1
Major Features:Acknowledgements:
- XAA accelerated fills, lines, expands, blits, offscreen pixmaps/stipples
- Hardware alpha-blended 28bit cursor
- XVideo Support (using the Samsung Post-Processor colorspace driver)
- The most excellent XAA base code was done by Matan Ziv-Av <matan at svgalib dot org>
- The original XVideo code was done by Jetta Tang <jetta.tang at hhcn dot com>
- The g2d and pp drivers upon which this code is based were provided by Samsung Semiconductor. Thanks.
- Time and Materials and Hosting donated by:
Chronolytics Inc. Real-Time Embedded Software <dave at chronolytics dot com>
Announcing a Unified SmartQ5 / SmartQ7 Image with 2D XWindow Acceleration
The "unified" image differs only in a machine type flag set in the install image firmware. Everything else is binary-identical for Q5 and Q7. This will allow developers to support both / all platforms without having to compile "everything" twice (and having multiple test units available). Because of the "machine type" flag, two install images are required (SmartQ5 and SmartQ7) but their content is identical (except the 2 byte id). Contrast this with Q5/Q7 compile time switches in qi, u-boot, linux and file mods in initramsfs. Crazy.
Samsung apparently has problems with the PLLs running at certain frequencies. 800MHz and 532MHz appear to be very stable. SmartDevices chose to not include a DVFS (Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling) circuit that the Samsung design documents imply is required for correct / power efficient operation. The issue is that the ARM core and internal power need to be scaled with frequency and are often 100mV different. The SmartDevices design uses a single fixed voltage VDDarm = VDDint = ~1.2V. Although a decent compromise, it does not follow the Samsung's design guidelines for variable frequency S3C6410 low power operation.
Design limitations not withstanding, the 800/666/166/55.3 clock scheme in this release appears very stable on our test units.
There is a "known" bug that the SmartQ installer will run "our" installer without passing the correct machine type. This will cause the screen to appear shifted, off-color etc.
If your screen is "shifted" in the installer: let it time out. It will do a full install (which is what you really need to do in this case anyway.) After the upgrade, unplug the power and power off. After the LCD gets initialized wrong, a power-off will restore function on the next boot.
If you have a failed install from the SmartQ installer, retry. The install may fail because it is unable to un-tar lzma. However, it will load the "new" installer. On the second install, you will have the right installer.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
PLEASE NOTE: This is partially tested SmartQ5 image.
Don't load this unless you have a good alt-boot strategy. Seriously.
I had several very quick responses to my plea for Q5 pics. Thanks to all.
Bug in "hovering" This is a problem with the A/D driver. It is fixed in the the next release.
Midori crash on slashdot.com The stacktrace shows this to be in WebKit library (not Midori). The Karmic for ARM is missing "modern" pieces to easily fix this. But it is so annoying, it must be fixed. Besides, a fix may shut up a "known-whiner" on smartq-mid. (Or maybe not...)Alt-BootWe have been in contact with Roberto of zenvoid-qi fame. There are technical issue for alt-boot qi with the one-true-smartQ release that need to be worked out. First, the machine type is set in the install firmware header that zenvoid does not use. And, second, zenvoid ditches u-boot from which the installer alt-boot is started. Moving to a qi-only boot with alt-boot and alt-boot-install capability will take some work. Volunteers?
Verify the MD5 of your download. A large percentage of failed installs are
due to crap-ware in the install. "gpg --print-md MD5
Rename the image "SmartQ7" or "SmartQ5", place it on a SDHC card, hold the "install" key down ("splat-window" key on the Q7 or "+" for Q5 key) while momentarily hitting the reset button (on the lower right side.) Hold down the install key until the LED goes yellow.
NOTE: This image will reformat the main flash in order to recover the ~70MB wasted in the default image.
If this is the first image with .txz compressed filesytems, it will take 2 installs to "work". THe first install will install an initramfs that supports the txz compressed filesystems, the second install will work as "normal".
For people who are not "comfortable" installing firmware, it is really not that bad. I have done 100s of firmware installs and have never bricked a unit (permanently). The key to success is to make 100% sure you are running from wall power. Even a freshly charged battery cannot deliver programming voltage to the flash for an entire install.
The only unit I ever bricked (temporarily!) had a broken power connector so that I was programming from battery inadvertently. The fixes to LED color in version 5 allow the user to tell from a glance whether the unit is running on wall power or not. The "hard bricked" device required soldering to recover but it remains my "guinea pig" image test unit to this day.
Embrace change. Don't fear the install.
The desktop with web browser, PDF reader, Ebook reader, MP3 audio player, Video Player and 32GB storage (~8 full length DVDs).
The playing full screen mode MPEG-4 encoded video. Image from Star Trek "Shore Leave" used without permission.
