[TheEngineer]

Smart move. While the GPL has been a catalyst for hobby-style development, the value-added business guys don't like it... for good reason.

I agree. (Did I really just say that?) ;-)

Like you said in your post, the Linksys router case was a wake-up call to embedded developers to be on the lookout for IP grab by the GPL.

My interpretation of Microsoft's move is that it will continue to charge a per-device license for WindowsCE, yet still allow proprietary source code modification and redistribution.

The Linux's Hit Men article that you posted here on FR back in October underlined one of the biggest problems with the GPL in embedded systems. Microsoft is moving to take advantage.

Maybe CE will get some help with its quality too.

The article that you referenced stated: "the onboard computer crashed". Was it the WinCE operating system? The application written by BMW? The computer hardware itself?

[TechJunkYard]

The article that you referenced stated: "the onboard computer crashed". Was it the WinCE operating system? The application written by BMW? The computer hardware itself?

Touché.

I was actually looking for this article, which describes software problems in the 745i. Some 745i problems are fairly well-known now and upon further reflection I will concede that it looks like there are problems with BMW's applications, generally, not necessarily with CE itself.

The article I linked earlier was about a problem with the 5xx series and it wasn't clear whether that model even runs CE.

[Bush2000]

TJY, we've been through this before but apparently you never seem to learn:

http://www.aardvark.co.nz/daily/2003/n051301.shtml

"Once the computer failed, neither the door locks, power windows nor air conditioning systems would function, leaving the Minister and his driver trapped inside the rapidly heating vehicle."

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/Mar02/03-04BMWpr.asp

"The iDrive concept and the Control Display enable easy operation of, and convenient access to, the myriad of features at the driver’s disposal, including the navigation, telephone, climate control and entertainment systems."

iDrive doesn't control the door locks or power windows. How, exactly, is that Windows CE's fault?

[N3WBI3]

Im sorry I have trouble feeling bad for a company that got a free framework to run their software on, thus saving millions of dollars in development complaining because they should abide by the license.

the GPL is not an IP grab, you can use it as a base but if you include its code or dynamically link to it you dont have to release the code. Fact is if Linksys wrote their own interface to ride on top if uLinux then there is no issue, I am not familiar enough with their code but I would bet they are just using IP tables...