Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft), Author at CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

December 4, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Zidoo X5 is Yet Another Amlogic S905 Android Media Player

Zidoo has also joined the fray of companies releasing Amlogic S905 based TV boxes, and they’ve decided to go low end with 1GB RAM, 8 GB internal storage, Fast Ethernet, and 2.4 GHz WiFi. Zidoo X5 specifications: SoC – Amlogic S905 quad core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 2.0GHz with penta-core Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage – 8GB eMMC + micro SD slot Video Output – HDMI 2.0 up to 4K @ 60Hz with CEC support, and 3.5 mm AV jack Audio – HDMI, AV, optical S/PDIF Connectivity – Fast Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0 USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports Misc – IR receiver Power Supply – 5V/2A Dimensions & Weight – N/A (plastic case) The device runs Android 5.1. Based on my last two reviews about their products, Zidoo has an history of releasing products a little too early, not unlike most […]

December 4, 2015March 13, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 289 Comments

Review of Beelink MINI MX TV Box with MX Player

Beelink MINI MX Amlogic S905 Android media player has similar features, and costs about the same as K1 Plus TV box I reviewed last week, so it would be interesting to compare both. While specifications are similar there are some differences. For example, MINI MX lacks AV output, and only features two USB ports against four for K1 Plus, but it supports Gigabit Ethernet which could be an advantage while playing high bitrate 4K videos, as well a Bluetooth 4.0. I’ve already provided pictures and torn down MINI MX, so today is time for the full review and a comparison with K1 plus. First Boot, Settings and First Impressions I connected my USB 3.0 hard drive to one of the USB port, and a USB hub to tghe other port with a USB webcam, a USB keyboard, and two RF dongles for a gamepad and an air mouse. I also […]

December 4, 2015October 13, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Cypress Unveils a $49 Solar Powered IoT Development Kit with Bluetooth LE Connectivity

Cypress Semiconductors has recently launched a Solar powered IoT device kit, with the easy-to-remember codename S6SAE101A00SA1002, featuring the company’s CYBLE-022001-00 Bluetooth Smart module, and S6AE101A energy harvesting power management IC (PMIC) on the main board, as well as all accessories such as a small solar panel, a BLE-USB bridge, and all necessary components and cables. Target applications include battery-less wireless sensor node (WSN), IoT device that monitors various sensors, BLE Beacon, wearable device, building energy management system (BEMS), Home EMS, Factory EMSystem, wireless lighting control,wireless HVAC sensor and security system. The main features of the Energy harvesting motherboard include: Cypress CYBLE-022001-00 Bluetooth Smart module with ARM Cortex-M0 @ 48MHz, 128 KB flash, 16KB SRAM Cypress S6AE101A energy harvesting PMIC Sensor – Temperature & humidity sensor USB – 1x USB port for programming and debugging Debugging – SWD (serial Wire Debug) connector, JTAG header for USB-BLE Expansion – Sensor expansion connector […]

December 3, 2015December 3, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Axiomtek MANO300 Industrial mini-ITX Board Features Intel Celeron N3150 Processor, Plenty of Interfaces

Axiomtek MANO300 is an industrial grade fanless mini-ITX motherboard powered by an Intel Celerron N3150 “Braswell” quad core processor with two SO-DIMM slots, two SATA interfaces, dual Gigabit Ethernet, several serial interfaces and more, targeting automation and embedded industries. MANO300 board specifications: SoC – Intel Celeron N3150 quad core Braswell processor @ up to 2.08 GHz with Intel HD Gen8 Graphics System Memory – 2x 204-pin SO-DIMM dual channel DDR3L-1333 up 8 GB Storage – 1 x SATA-600, 1x mSATA, SDXC card slot Display – 1x VGA, 1x HDMI, 1x LVDS (Up to 3 independent displays supported) Connectivity – 2 x 10/100/1000Mbps (Realtek RTL8111F) Serial 2x RS-232/422/485 (DB9) 4x RS-232 (one with 5V/12V power select) via connectors USB – 4x USB 3.0 host ports, 2x USB 2.0 (internal) Audio – Mic-in/Line-out Expansion – 1x PCIe x1, 1x PCI Express Mini Card with SIM card slot, 8x digital I/Os Misc – […]

December 3, 2015May 12, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Wio Link is an ESP8266 Board Designed to Make IoT Projects Easier (Crowdfunding)

There are already plenty of board or modules based on Espressif ESP8266 WiFi SoC, but if you don’t like soldering, or would rather avoid breadboards and some cables for your or your kids’ projects, Wio Link may be interesting, as all you need to is to connect Grove modules required for your applications to get started, and Seeed Studio also took care of the low level software part and a drag-and-drop mobile app is provided, so software programming has been made easy too. Wio Link hardware specifications: SoC – Espressif ESP8266EX Tensila SoC Storage – 4MB flash Connectivity – 802.11b/g/n WiFi, with WEP/TKIP/AES encryption support Expansion – 6x Grove connectors: 3x digital, 1x analog, 1x UART and 1x I2C (3.3V I/Os) Power Supply 5V via micro USB port 3.4 ~ 4.2V via external battery Output DC Current – 1000mA MAX Charge Current: 500mA MAX Dimensions – 55mm*48mm Weight – 26g […]

December 3, 2015December 3, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 13 Comments

Sonoff & Slampher are $5 RF and WiFi Smart Switches and Lightbulb Adapters (Crowdfunding)

ITEAD Studio has launched two new low cost home automation products with Sonoff smart switch, and Slampher smart E27 light bulb adapter both supporting control via WiFi and your Android smartphone, or 433MHz with a simple remote control, while still retaining the capability to control your electrical appliances and lights with a manual switch. Installation is pretty easy, and safer than some other products like Semlamp. Sonoff – You simply need to cut the cable to your appliance, and insert two wires into the IN part, and the other two wires into the OUT part. Turn if on, and add it to the app if you are going to use a smartphone Slampher – Remove your light bulb from its current socket, screws the bulb to Slampher, and put it back into your socket. Register the light in to the app and your done. Both devices will send data to […]

December 3, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

iWave Systems iW-RainboW-G20M-Q7 SoM Features Renesas RZ/G1M Cortex A15 SoC

iWave Systems has unveiled a new Qseven 2.0 compliant system-on-module part of their RainboW family with iW-RainboW-G20M-Q7 module powered by Renesas RZ/G1M dual core ARM Cortex A15 SoC, and targeting industrial and automotive applications with over 10 years of support. iW-RainboW-G20M-Q7 module specifications: SoC – Renesas RZ/G1M dual core ARM Cortex A15 @ 1.5GHz with PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU @ 520MHz System Memory – 1GB DDR3(expandable) Storage – 4GB eMMC Flash (expandable) + 2MB SPI NOR Flash for boot code, and optional Micro SD Slot Connectivity – 1x Gigabit Ethernet PHY USB – 2 Port USB HUB I/Os via 230-pin Qseven edge connector: Storage – 1x SATA , 1x SDHC USB – 1x USB3.0 host, 2x USB 2.0 hosts, or 1x USB 2.0 device Display – 1x LVDS Connectivity – 1x Gigabit Ethernet Audio – 1x I2S Audio 2x PWM, 2x I2C, SPI, CAN, UART, GPIOs 1x PCIe (multiplexed with SATA) JTAG or […]

December 2, 2015December 3, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 32 Comments

LattePanda is a $79 Arduino Compatible Intel Atom x5 Board Running Windows 10 (Crowdfunding)

I feel like I’m living in another world after writing a title combining Arduino, Intel and Windows 10, but that’s exactly what LattePanda is promising with a development board featuring both an Intel Atom x5-Z8300 processor and an Atmel AVR MCU, and Windows 10 as the operating system. LattePanda board specifications: SoC – Intel Atom x5-Z8300 “Cherry Trail” quad core processor @ 1.44 GHz (Burst frequency: 1.84 GHz) with Intel Gen8 HD graphics @ 500 MHz System Memory – 2 to 4 GB DDR3L Storage – 32 or 64 GB eMMC, micro SD slot MCU – Atmel Atmega32u4 micro-controller Video Output / Display – HDMI, and MIPID DSI connector Audio I/O – HDMI, 3.5mm audio port Connectivity – Ethernet, WiFi and Bluetooth 4.0 USB – 1x USB 3.0 port, 2x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x micro USB port for power Serial – 1x from Intel SoC, 1x from Atmel MCU […]