TomTom. Source: Mr ATM on Flickr. License: CC-BY 2.0

TechFlash reports that Microsoft has sued GPS manufacturer TomTom for patent infringement. Some of these patents have to do with TomTom’s implementation of Linux.

Five of the patents in dispute relate to in-car navigation technologies, while the other three involve file-management techniques. Gutierrez said Microsoft has reached licensing agreements with with other in-car navigation vendors over the same patents, and it remains open to “quickly resolving” the TomTom dispute through licensing.

Microsoft has said previously that Linux and other open-source programs violate more than 200 of its patents — elevating the tension that has long existed between Microsoft and the open-source community. Asked if this TomTom case is the start of a broader legal campaign over those alleged violations, Gutierrez said no.

Well, we’ll have to just wait and see.

• TechFlash [Print version]
• Slashdot

Linux Devices has discovered that Garmin navigation devices run Gnome on GNU/Linux.

Garmin has posted Linux source code for its Nuvi 8xx and Nuvi 5xxx-series GPS navigation devices. The Nuvi 8xx offers a 4.3-inch, 480×272 display, and appears to be based on a Marvell PXA-3xx processor, Gnome Mobile Linux, and GeoClue location technology.

(Click for larger view of Nuvi 880)

It had been rumored since the Nuvi 880 and Nuvi 860 shipped several months ago that the devices were equipped with embedded Linux, but when LinuxDevices asked Garmin for source code in March, the company replied: “Unfortunately, the information about the operating system of Garmin devices is considered proprietary.” The Garmin Linux source code page, however, now lists source code for version 2.6, 2.7, and 2.8 of the Nuvi 8xx software, as well as versions 3.7 and 3.8 for the Nuvi 5xxx.

Interesting…are they tivoized?

• Linux Devices