Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - 2 Comments on Programmable USB Hub Power Adjustable with Built-In Dev Board (Crowdfunding)

Programmable USB Hub Power Adjustable with Built-In Dev Board (Crowdfunding)

Capable Robot Components has launched its Crowd Supply campaign for the Programmable USB Hub in June of 2019. The hub is a feature rich and component rich USB hub that has a dev board built-in. The entire system is housed in an extruded aluminum case, with all the numbering and lettering and port attachments in brilliant white.  Control power and data flow, directly through the unit. The first 40 units are sold out. There seem to be good reasons why these USB Hubs sell out fast.  There was an in-depth article written on a similar hub some time ago.  Inside the enclosure is an array of functionality packed neatly onto a small board. There are 4x USB 2.0 ports that are High-Speed downstream ports and 1x upstream port, a 5th endpoint on the USB hub exposes 2 12C buses via Sparkfun Qwiic connectors, the UART and 2X GPIO. The input power is delivered to the unit by a locking Molex connector. Also, […]

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Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - 9 Comments on PiJuice Zero a UPS for the Raspberry Pi Zero (Crowdfunding)

PiJuice Zero a UPS for the Raspberry Pi Zero (Crowdfunding)

Made to work with the Raspberry Pi Zero, the PiJuice Zero is an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) and project platform board, that can fit inside the Pi Zero case. The latest innovation from the tech gurus at Pi Supply, the PiJuice Zero is easy to use and quite powerful. The original product was the PiJuice HAT which was released in 2016. The rundown on this platform and the crowdfunding page can be found on Crowd Supply. The PiJuice Zero allows users to take their Raspberry Pi Zero projects anywhere and still keep things running, while intelligent power management controls how that power is utilized. The user-friendly software, programmable LEDs and switches allow for maximum options in applications. The PiJuice Zero was made for those in-the-field projects. Completely wireless and off-the-grid power supply the PiJuice Zero is packed with features and allows for applications for the Raspberry Pi Zero, that couldn’t be realized before. Some of those options are: Portable Pi […]

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Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - 4 Comments on THEC64 a Retro Functional Commodore 64

THEC64 a Retro Functional Commodore 64

Retro Games has set December 2019 as the release date for their reimagined full-size fully functional C64, named THEC64. This somewhat smaller version of the original Commodore 64 comes with 64 games, a joystick and may include a handheld game console. THEC64 computing power is limited, but Basic is still functioning and can be booted, as well as Vic20 Basic. The original replica was a small keyboard facsimile of the original keyboard, called the C64 mini. The keyboard was just for “show” but did have 64 games included, which many people suspect are the same games that will be available on the “full-size” reissue. There are quite a few people willing to help out with the launch of the THEC64, offering video tutorials of how to program the fully functioning retro computer. There is a website called 64Bites, devoted to the Commodore 64 and it’s Basic programming, and this leads directly to programming on THEC64. To add to the teasers […]

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Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - 2 Comments on Pi-Top [4] mini-PC runs the New Raspberry Pi 4

Pi-Top [4] mini-PC runs the New Raspberry Pi 4

pi top [4]

The features and design have changed, but the reliability and the advanced processing capability are all the well-known new Raspberry Pi 4, housed in the new Pi-Top [4]. The popular platform has come out with a portable design with expanded connectivity, scalability, and increased processing capabilities. It boasts an OLED display in a mini-PC form-factor that the company has announced will go on sale on Kickstarter. The SBC industry is seeing a general increase in features and processing ability. Added device connectivity, especially in multimedia capability. The Pi-Top [4] is no exception. The laptop version of Pi-Top is still a viable computer with many features for an SBC footprint. The new Pi-Top [4] mini-PC has expanded RAM, increased ports, and comes with an inventor’s kit. The Pi-Top [4] comes with a roster of accessories that include; sensors, LED’s, and potentiometers to get those just beginning their journey on the path of invention, off the ground. There is a foundation plate […]

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Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - 7 Comments on PanGu Board an SBC Based on the STM32MP1 Processor

PanGu Board an SBC Based on the STM32MP1 Processor

PanGu Board

The PanGu Board is a single board computer (SBC) that is feature-rich and versatile, at an affordable price point. The board powered by STMicroelectronics STM32MP1 processor was released in February of 2019 and hadn’t really made much a splash in the pool of microprocessors available at the time. The processor is now the main feature of the PanGu Board, an SBC with a host of features and utilizing the Arm dual-core Cortex–A7 MPU and the Cortex-M4 coprocessor to allow for more enhanced multimedia ability and all the heavy real-time processing that users are calling for today. Hardware Features MPU Dual Cortex-A7, 650MHz Cortex-M4, 209Mhz 3D GPU Flash & Memory 16-bit DDR3L, up to 1GByte 8-bit eMMC Flash Quad-SPI NOR Flash Supports Micro SD Audio 3.5mm stereo headphone jack support microphone input Display Parallel RGB LCD interface, the resolution up to WXGA (1366×768) MIPI DSI interface Support for resistive and capacitive touch panel HDMI Type A connector includes audio output USB […]

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Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - 5 Comments on Google to Roll Out RCS App as an Alternative to SMS

Google to Roll Out RCS App as an Alternative to SMS

The Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a messaging platform that allows messaging from carrier to carrier and between phone and carrier, that is positioned to replace SMS but has had its share of pushback from the communication industry. The service has been around for a long time but had very little noteworthy attention since its inception in 2007.  Named the GSM Association in 2008, there were many upgrades, but three years after the GSMA formed the steering committee to oversee the project, the project platform was named Rich Communication Services and now called simply RCS. Between 2007 and the present there have been many versions of the RCS platform, and Google stepped in in 2010 and has been helping with updates right up into its announcement that it would be offering an opt-in version of the platform on all Android devices this month, June 2019, called RCS Chat. The advantages and features offered by RCS are group chat, chat, capability discovery, […]

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Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - No Comments on Snapmaker 2.0 is a 3-in-1 3D Printer, CNC and Laser Engraver (Crowdfunding)

Snapmaker 2.0 is a 3-in-1 3D Printer, CNC and Laser Engraver (Crowdfunding)

The Snapmaker 2.0 is going to hit the market very soon, and it comes with a modular design and functionality to rival the high-priced all-in-one 3D printers, but comes at a very reduced price point. The company was featured on KickStarter and was fully funded within just a few days.  Snapmaker 2.0 has many features and upgrades from the earlier model.  The Snapmaker 2.0 comes in 3 models, the A150, A250 and the A350 and the main differences are in the build scalability. Respectively the build volumes range from 164x160x160mm which at the smallest range, it is already larger than the original Snapmaker, up to 320x350x330mm. These 3D printer models will carry a different pricing structure, but still in the modest range for a 3-in-1 3D printer with the A150 at $719, the A250 at $899 and the A350 at $1079, for preorder on Kickstarter. The Kickstarter price is about half of what the retail price will be when […]

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Posted on by Stephen Vicinanza - 10 Comments on TH3D EZBoard Lite Board Upgrades Ender and Creality CR-10 3D Printers

TH3D EZBoard Lite Board Upgrades Ender and Creality CR-10 3D Printers

TH3D EZBoard Lite Prototype

The basic setup of Creality 3D’s very popular Ender and CR-10 series 3D printers now have a drop-in board upgrade that is poised to rival printers that cost many times more than the Creality models. The original board only utilizes the ATmega2560 microcontroller, the A4988 stepper motor drives, with those cheap Chinese capacitors. The board runs Marlin 1.x open source firmware.  This setup is very close to the Arduino Mega 2560 and the RepRap RAMPS 1.4 board which are some of the most common and simplest board combinations in the world. The upgrade from TH3D, is the EZBoard Lite, makes some very important changes to the overall board ability, scalability and functionality. The physical process of upgrade is simple and easy. The outcome is an increase in speed and functionality that is comparable to 3D printers costing 5 to 10 times as much. Features Easy Drop-In Installation No Soldering No Wire Cutting No Printing of Adapter Parts Multiple Creality Model […]

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