Author: Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments on DAB Embedded OpenWrt Router Board Combines Atmel SAMA5D3 SoC and Altera MAX 10 FPGA

DAB Embedded OpenWrt Router Board Combines Atmel SAMA5D3 SoC and Altera MAX 10 FPGA

DAB Embedded, a Belgian engineering company specialized in research and development of electronic products, has designed DAB-OWT-SAM5 router board powered by Atmel SAMA5D36 Cortex-A5 processor and Altera MAX 10 FPGA, which runs OpenWrt or Windows Embedded Compact 7, and targets IoT applications. DAB-OWT-SAM5 board specifications: SoC – Atmel SAMA5D36 ARM Cortex-A5 processor @ 536MHz with Floating-Point Unit. FPGA – Altera MAX 10 FPGA with integrated ADC (Exact part number not disclosed) System Memory – Up to 512MB DDR2 Storage – Up to 2GB NAND flash, 1Mbit SPI flash, micro SD slot Connectivity – 2x Fast Ethernet ports, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi (Direct, station mode, and soft-AP) via Atmel ATWILC1000B module Display Interface – LVDS connected to FPGA USB – 1x USB 2.0 host, 1x USB 2.0 device Expansion Connectors Wired interfaces – RS232, CAN 2.0 A/B, KNX, RS-485/422, etc… Wireless connectivity – Zigbee, Z-Wave, KNX RF, etc… Power Supply – 5V DC […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 12 Comments on OpenRex NXP I.MX6 Open Source Hardware Board Design Files Released

OpenRex NXP I.MX6 Open Source Hardware Board Design Files Released

OpenRex is an open source hardware board powered by NXP i.MX6 designed by Fedevel, and the company has announced the release of Altium project design files including both schematics and PCB layout source files, as well as manufacturing documentation. OpenRex board specifications: SoC – NXP i.MX6 processor @ up to 4 cores @ 1.2GHz with 2D and 3D GPU MCU – NXP LPC1345FHN33 ARM Cortex-M3 micro-controller System Memory – DDR3-1066 (533MHz) up to 4GB Storage – SATA, micro SD slot, 1x I2C EEPROM, 1x SPI FLASH Video Output / Display I/F – 1x HDMI up to 2048×1536 resolution, LVDS, parallel RGB display output, touchscreen connector (Optional 4x Analog input) Audio – HDMI output, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack, Camera – 1x Parallel CSI camera (shared with RGB output), 1x MIPI CSI connector compatible with Raspberry Pi (shared with LVDS) Connectivity – 1x 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet USB – 2x USB 2.0 host […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 6 Comments on Microchip Introduces MPLAB Xpress Cloud-based IDE and MPLAB Xpress Evaluation Board

Microchip Introduces MPLAB Xpress Cloud-based IDE and MPLAB Xpress Evaluation Board

Microchip has just launched MPLAB Xpress online IDE with some of the most used features of the company’s MPLAB X IDE, as well as a free – in limited quantities – MPLAB Xpress evaluation board based on a PIC16 micro-controller. Let’s get through the development board specifications first: MCU – Microchip PIC16F18855 MCU with 14KB flash, 1KB SRAM, 256 bytes EEPROM USB – micro USB port for power and programming Expansion Headers Unpopulated mikroBUS header supporting one of 180 Click boards Unpopulated 2x 14-pin header with GPIOs, I2C, SPI, UART, ADC, etc… Misc – Reset button, user button, potentiometer Dimensions – N/A Playing with hardware is always more fun, but if you just want to evaluation the online IDE, you don’t even need the board. Visit MPLAB Xpress Code Examples page, load one of the example, possibly log-in if you want to save changes to the 10GB free online storage […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 41 Comments on Voyo V3 mini PC Unboxing and Teardown

Voyo V3 mini PC Unboxing and Teardown

Voyo V3 is one of the first Intel Atom x7-Z8700 based mini PC announced so far, comes with 4GB RAM, and a 128 GB SSD. It was announced at the very beginning of the year, at the time it was not shipping yet. The good news is that the device is now available, as GearBest sent me one sample for review. I’ll start by checkout the hardware inside and out today, before publishing a full review in a few days. Voyo V3 Unboxing I’ve received the computer in its retail packaging. Everything is in Chinese, and the model is called MiniPC-Box_V3. A 12V/2A power supply, mini HDMI to HDMI cable (80 cm), a warranty card, a “qualified certificate”, and MiniPC-Box_V3 user’s manual are also included in the package. There’s something different with the power supply: it features a USB Type-C connector since that’s what the box is powered with. Voyo […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on Linaro Connect 2016 Bangkok Schedule – March 7-11, 2016

Linaro Connect 2016 Bangkok Schedule – March 7-11, 2016

Linaro Connect Bangkok (BKK16) will take place on March  7 – 11, 2016, and the schedule is now available for the 5-day event with keynotes and sessions. Whether you’re going to attend or not, it’s always interesting to check the schedule to find out what’s going on in terms of ARM Linux development. The five days will focus on work by different Linaro groups, but really sessions are mixed for any given day, and I’ve created a virtual schedule for each day with available information, as Linaro has become a little more closed to the outside than when it was launched a few years ago. Monday 7 – LITE (Linaro IoT & Embedded Group) 1400 – 14:50 – Evolution of the Reference Software Platform Project The Reference Software Platform lead project was introduced in Linaro Connect San Francisco 2015, and since then it evolved and matured with the completion of […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 19 Comments on $25 ODROID-C0 Development Board Targets IoT, Wearables, Robots and Drones

$25 ODROID-C0 Development Board Targets IoT, Wearables, Robots and Drones

Hardkernel started to mention ODROID-C0 board last November, a cost-down and smaller version of ODROID-C1+ board powered by Amlogic S805 quad core Cortex A5 processor with 1GB RAM, dropping Ethernet, and a few USB port, but gaining a  Li-po battery management unit. The company has now officially launched the board, which can be purchased for $25 on Hardkernel website or via distributors such as Ameridroid. ODROID-C0 specifications: SoC- Amlogic S805 quad core ARM Cortex-A5 @ 1.5GHz with ARM Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 @  792Mhz Storage – eMMC Module Socket, micro SD card slot up to 128GB Video Output – HDMI Audio Output – HDMI, I2S USB – 2x unpopulated USB2.0 ports Expansion Headers Unpopulated 40-pin header with GPIO, UART, SPI, I2C, and ADC signals Unpopulated 7-pin header for I2S Debugging – Unpopulated serial debug header Misc – On-board RTC function with battery connector, unpopulated IR receiver Power […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on CTL NL6x Rugged Chromebook Doubles as a Whiteboard

CTL NL6x Rugged Chromebook Doubles as a Whiteboard

Chromebooks are used by all kind of people, but they appear to be especially popular in classrooms. However, pupils can be “brutal” with their toys and tools, so that’s probably why CTL designed NL6x rugged Chromebook which can basically be walked on as the top cover resists up to 365 pounds pressure, includes anti-peel keys and a water-resistant keyboard, as well as reinforced ports, hinges, and power plug ports. It can also withstand 70cm high drops, and the back of the screen also doubles as a whiteboard. CTL NL6x Chromebook specifications: SoC – Intel Celeron N2940 quad core processor @ 1.83 GHz / 2.25GHz (Burst freq.) with Intel HD graphics (7.5W TDP; 4.5W SDP) System Memory – 4GB Storage – 16GB eMMC + 2-in-1 SDHC/MMC card reader Display – 11.6″ LED LEC with 1366 x 768 resolution Video Output – HDMI Audio – HDMI output,  3.5mm combo jack for microphone […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 30 Comments on Received Your Orange Pi One Board? You’ll Need to Tweak Your FEX File / script.bin

Received Your Orange Pi One Board? You’ll Need to Tweak Your FEX File / script.bin

[Update: I’ve been informed that for some unknown reasons the voltage regulator outputs 1.3 and 1.5V instead of 1.1 and 1.3V on Orange Pi One with the settings and FEX file below, which could lead to overheating, and possibly damage the board under heavy load. A workaround is available here] [Update2: And the temperatures reported by the kernel are wrong (too low), so it’s better not to use the higher voltage at all. More details and tests @ http://forum.armbian.com/index.php/topic/617-wip-support-for-the-upcoming-orange-pi-one/page-4#entry5261] Orange Pi One is arguably the cheapest ARM Linux development board with networking available today for $9.99 plus shipping. It is very similar to Orange Pi PC with an Allwinner H3 quad core Cortex A7 processor, Ethernet, and HDMI, but has less memory as it comes with 512MB RAM instead of 1GB, and comes with a few less features too. The bad news is that Shenzhen Xunlong did not release any […]