[January 08, 2004] Transmeta Announces Crusoe Embedded System Development Kit Transmeta announced the availability of its new Crusoe Embedded System Development Kit (ESDK), a highly optimized and cost-effective reference platform for evaluating the Transmeta Crusoe processor and for developing a range of embedded mobile devices for use with Microsoft Windows CE .NET and Windows XP Embedded operating systems. The ESDK features the low-power, high-performance Transmeta Crusoe model TM5800 800MHz processor featuring 512KB of L2 cache memory and integrated Northbridge functionality consisting of DDR memory controller, a serial ROM interface and a 32-bit, 33MHz PCI bus interface. This combination facilitates system design, reduces board space, enhances performance and provides best-in-class performance for Microsoft Windows CE .NET. "The compact design of the ESDK utilizes the inherent energy efficiency properties of the Transmeta Crusoe processor coupled with Transmeta's innovative LongRun® power management technology, which dynamically adjusts voltage and clock frequency to conserve power," said Arthur L. Swift, senior vice president of marketing for Transmeta. "In doing this, the ESDK is an ideal solution for an array of small form-factor devices evolving out of the burgeoning embedded market, such as handheld mobile devices, Smart Displays, point-of-sale systems (POS), thin clients, set-top boxes and other portable media centers and consumer devices." The ESDK contains certified board support packages (BSPs) and optimized device drivers for the Microsoft Windows CE .NET 4.2 operating systems. A Microsoft Windows CE .NET boot loader comes with the kit to ease the adoption process of the ESDK, providing developers with a stable environment to develop a wide variety of Windows CE .NET-based devices. The ESDK also features the LongRun Monitor for Windows XP Embedded, a graphical utility that displays the processors' use of power in MHz and voltage. This flexible management of system performance and battery life assists developers in creating high-performance, low-power solutions designed to provide users with compelling new choices in the embedded space. "Transmeta's Crusoe processor provides the combination of optimum performance and power efficiency for next-generation devices running Windows Embedded operating systems," said Todd Brix, group product manager, Embedded Devices Group, Microsoft Corp. "With the Crusoe ESDK, developers will be able to pull together the essential elements to shorten development time, enhance the value of hardware platforms and reduce costs overall." Transmeta has chosen Vibren Technologies™, a Microsoft Gold-level Windows embedded partner (WEP), as the system integrator of choice to assist customers in developing products based on the ESDK. Vibren Technologies is an industry leader in embedded systems development and provides guidance through every phase of development -- from consulting to design and deployment. Vibren Technologies has a solid track record of helping market leaders to engineer, test and deploy winning solutions. "Vibren is pleased to partner with Transmeta to provide system integration services for Transmeta customers," said Dave LeClair, vice president of technology, Vibren Technologies. "Transmeta's ESDK will reduce the overall development cost and reduce time to market for vendors developing Windows embedded mobile devices." [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]