Intel Atom C3000 “Denverton” Processor Targets Low Power Servers

[Update: Some pictures have been removed due to some NDA issues] Intel Atom “Avoton” server processors are the equivalent of Bay Trail processor for mini PCs, laptops and tablets, and with the upcoming release of Apollo Lake processors, Intel has a matching family codenamed “Denverton” that will be used in servers and NAS. Information about the new processors is scarce, but Anandtech spotted an early motherboard prototype last month at Computex. MA10-ST0 motherboard main specifications: SoC – Intel Atom C3000 “Denverton” processor with 4 to 16 cores @ 1.8 GHz; QKP2 code; 14nm process System Memory – 4x RDIMM/UDIMM slots for DDR4 @ 2400 MHz Storage – 4x SATA 3.0 breakout ports supporting up to 16 drives (8x shared with PCIe slot); 32GB eMMC flash Video Output – VGA Connectivity – 2x 10GbE SFP+ ports; 2x Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 ports (via Intel I210); 1x extra RJ45 port (for management?) USB […]

$40 Weeview Eye-Plug USB Dongle Allows You to Record 3D Videos and Photos with Your Smartphone

3D Televisions have not been very successful since their market launch, but with the advance of virtual reality kits, 3D video could make a comeback. If you want to record your own 3D videos, you’d need a 3D camcorder with most models now discontinued. A cheaper and possibly more convenient solution would be to use your smartphone with an extra camera connected to your smartphone’s USB OTG or USB C port, and that’s exactly what Weeview Eye-Plug W9 is doing for around $40 in Taiwan. The app then leverages the rear or front-facing camera (the thing can rotate) of your smartphone, and create a 3D video by combining the two videos from the phone’s camera, and Eye-Plug into a single video. The downside is that resolution is limited to 0.3 MP (VGA) because of the USB 2.0 interface, but an upcoming version with USB type C support will be able […]

Marvell IAP220 “IoT” Processor Targets Low Power Touchscreen Enabled Appliances

After IAP140 quad core Cortex A53 processor found in Brillo compatible AndroMeda Box Edge, Marvell has recently introduced another IAP processor for the Internet of Things with IAP220 dual core Cortex A7 processor targeting “low power cost sensitive home automation, industrial, security, and wearable applications”. IAP220 SoC specifications: Processor – Dual ARM Cortex-A7 core up to 1.0 GHz GPU – 3D GPU with OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0 support MCU – ARM Cortex M4F Memory I/F – LP-DDR2/3, DDR3 Storage – eMMC and SDIO interfaces Display – MIPI video and command mode; LCD display Video – Full HD encode and decode with H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, MJPEG and more Camera – Digital video camera interface, 2x, 2-lane CSI Audio – I2S, TDM; support for multiple PDM (pulse-density modulation) microphones and speakers Sensor hub • Low power sensor processing Management I/O – SPI, GPIO, PWM? (the product brief says PWD instead), UART, 1-wire, I2C […]

Jide Remix Pro is a Remix OS 3.0 2-in-1 Laptop Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 Processor

Remix OS appears to getting more and more attention, and is now found in an increasing number of hardware platforms. Jide has also been working on the new Remix OS 3.0 version based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and showcased it in Jide Remix Pro 2-in-1 laptop / tablet reference design powered by Snapdragon 652 octa-core processor. Jide Remix Pro specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 (APQ8074) octa core processor with 4x Cortex A72 cores @ 1.8 GHz, 4x Cortex A53 cores, and Adreno 510 GPU System Memory – 3GB  RAM  Storage – TBD internal storage; micro SD card slot Display – 12″ IPS display with 2K resolution (2160×1440) Camera – 8 MP rear camera; 5MP front-facing camera Audio – 2x speakers; combo audio jack Connectivity – dual band WiFi, Bluetooth 4, optional 4G-LTE with SIM card slot (replacing micro SD slot), GPS, USB – 1x USB 2.0 port, 1x USB type C […]

Innodisk shows off M2DOM’s at Computex 2016

DOM’s or Disks on Module are quite popular with embedded system makers, but they’ve traditionally used slow interfaces like PATA or USB 2.0, with some more recent models using SATA or USB 3.0. At Computex, Innodisk was showing off an entirely new entry which should hopefully become the new standards for motherboard DOM’s. By using a horizontally mounted M.2 connector (B keyed) with a screw hole on each side, Innodisk has created a compact connector for DOM’s that build on industry standards. The great news here is that the same connector can be used for USB 3.0, SATA and even PCI Express based DOM’s. Innodisk does of course offer a full range of compatible products, starting with the M2DOM U30 featuring a USB 3.0 interface. This is the “slowest” product in the range with speeds of up to 100MB/s and available in capacities from 8-64GB. Next up is the M2DOM […]

Biostar launches the Racing P1 mini PC Powered by Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Processor at Computex

Biostar is a long time maker of mini-ITX boards for industrial and embedded applications, but at Computex this year they revealed a new mini PC for consumers, which they claim is the world’s smallest. At 129 x 82 x 29.6mm the Racing P1 is small, but we’re not sure it’s the world’s smallest. Spec wise you’re looking at: SoC – Intel Atom x5-Z8350 (up to 1.92GHz) System Memory –  4GB onboard DDR3 Storage –64GB eMMC flash, MicroSD card slot Video Output – HDMI Audio –HDMI and 3.5mm combo jack Connectivity – 1x Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 USB – 1x USB 3.0, 4x USB 2.0 ports Power Supply – 5V/4A The Racing P1 also has an RGB LED hiding behind the logo on the top of the unit and apparently this has some kind of user control via software. It might not be the most exciting mini PC […]

Synaptics Natural ID USB Dongle Brings Fingerprint Authentication to Older Laptops and Computers

Many new smartphones features a fingerprint scanner, and some computers such as Kangaroo Mobile Desktop also include one, but you’ll soon be able to add a USB dongle to your existing notebook thanks to Synaptics USB dongle reference design featuring the company’s Natural ID secure fingerprint authentication module. The dongle will allow secure authentication with a single touch of a finger, and be compatible with Windows Hello and Microsoft Passport. So I’m not sure the press release claim that it will work “on any notebook PC” is valid if you use Linux or an older Windows operating system that is not Windows 10. The solutions is also FIDO Certified (Fast IDentity Online), so it will be compatible with other certified software, services, and devices. The company is now showcasing the solution at Computex 2016.  USB dongles will sample in Q3 2016, with mass production scheduled for Q4 2016. But if […]

ECS previews Intel Apollo Lake based Liva-Z mini PC at Computex 2016

If anything is clear from having walked around this year’s Computex, then it is that the mini PC is here to stay. Beyond plenty of socketed boards using Intel’s new STX form factor from just about every vendor, there are also plenty of other mini PC’s on display. One that caught our eye at the show was ECS’ new Liva, tentatively named the Z. The following specifications were revealed by ECS: SoC – Intel Apollo Lake System Memory –  2x DDR3L SO-DIMM’s Storage – 32GB/64GB eMMC flash + 1x M.2 2280 for SSD (unclear if it supports PCIe drives) Video Output – Mini DisplayPort, HDMI (no revisions mentioned) Audio – DisplayPort, HDMI and 3.5mm headphone jack Connectivity – 2x Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 USB – 1x USB 3.0 Type-C, 3x USB 3.0 ports Power Supply – 19V/2.1A It’s so far the only Intel Apollo Lake system we’ve […]

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