The battle lines are getting clearer these days on the embedded device fronts. At one time there were approximately as many choices for an RTOS as there were systems that needed one. There were constant calls for a shakeout, but it never quite seemed to happen. Slowly over the last few years things have gotten a lot clearer.

Microsoft has gone from a laughingstock in the embedded space to a serious player. Even their cellphones are becoming interesting, probably because the hardware has grown into their requirements. A recent EE Times article gave them a chance to tout their new version of the smartphone edition of Windows CE.

The other side of the line has rallied around Linux. The support from Sony and IBM is well-known, and old-guard embedded companies like Wind River are joining this side as well. Some companies are even straddling the fence, such as Bsquare, which has been true-blue loyal to Microsoft in the past but is now supporting both.

The argument has always nbeen that embedded systems is too big and diverse for any meaningful consolidation. Could it be that hardware has grown to the point where a general-purpose operating system can start really hitting critical mass?

Larry Mittag