Posted on - No Comments on Compact Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ Launched for $25

Compact Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ Launched for $25

Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+

The Raspberry Pi 3 B+ is likely the most popular maker board available today at $35, but it just got a little brother – Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ – that should also enjoy good popularity with a $25 price tag. The new model features the same BCM2837B0 quad core processor @ 1.4 GHz, and dual band WIFI connectivity, just in a smaller form factor. Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ specifications: SoC – Broadcom BCM2837B0 64-bit ARMv8 quad core Cortex A53 processor @ 1.4GHz with dual core VideoCore IV GPU System Memory – 512MB LPDDR2 Storage – micro SD slot Video & Audio Output – HDMI 1.4 and 4-pole stereo audio and composite video port Connectivity – WiFi 802.11 b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2 LE (via Cypress CYW43455 based module) USB – 1x USB 2.0 host port, 1x micro USB port for power Expansion 40-pin GPIO header MIPI DSI for Raspberry Pi touch screen display MIPI CSI for Raspberry Pi camera …

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Posted on - 6 Comments on Giveaway Week Winners – November 2018

Giveaway Week Winners – November 2018

We just had a week of fun on CNX Software with our yearly “Giveaway Week” activity where 7 prizes – from development boards to Raspberry Pi add-on boards or solar chargers – were randomly given away to people who entered by leaving a comment. The winners are in, with Asia starting strong, but Europe quickly taking the lead, and the US ending up the giveaway with a great (again) finish. Here’s the full list of winners: Videostrong VS-RD-RK3399 development board – Việt trần, VIETNAM CHOETECH Solar Charger – Erki, ESTONIA ESP32-LyraTD-MSC audio mic HDK – Ron, The Netherlands ROC-RK3328-CC development board – Dainis, LATVIA (a second time winner having previously won during Giveaway Week 2016) ThaiEasyElec 3G GPS Raspberry Pi Hat – zmlopez, SPAIN ANAVI Infrared and RGB strip pHAT – Joe, USA NanoPC-T4 development board – Jeffrey, USA I’ve just send all 7 packages earlier this afternoon. Hopefully, the winners will received their prize before Xmas and have fun …

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Posted on - 2 Comments on A Tale of Many Divisions – Naive Prime Factorization Across a Handful of Architectures

A Tale of Many Divisions – Naive Prime Factorization Across a Handful of Architectures

Compiler Explorer Dissassembly

CNXSoft: Another guest post by blu where he looks at how a small piece of code involving divisions behaves on different architectures. Once upon a time (i.e. the other week) I was giving my 5th-grader tips on how to efficiently compute least common multiples, when it struck me I could do better ‒ I could write a prime factorizer that could be useful to the elementary-school-goers in this house, as well as to the people checking the formers’ homeworks. Moreover, a naive prime factorizer could show kids how computers would carry out algorithms taught in class. There was also a bit of curiosity involved ‒ last time I wrote a prime factorizer I was in high school, and the language was Applesoft BASIC, so 30 years later, armed with a modern C++ arsenal and a supercomputer (by late ‘80s standards), I wondered what one might come up with today, approaching the problem from first principle (sorry, no Euler today). The …

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Posted on - 7 Comments on Khadas Edge Developer Package Review – Part 1: Unboxing, Captain and Edge-IO Expansion Boards

Khadas Edge Developer Package Review – Part 1: Unboxing, Captain and Edge-IO Expansion Boards

Khadas Edge Captain Board

Shenzhen Wesion recently launched an Indiegogo campaign for their Rockchip RK3399/RK3399Pro based Khadas Edge, Edge-1S and Captain boards. The Edge boards have an interesting form factor as they are both standalone boards, and system-on-modules compatible with Captain carrier board, and the smaller Edge-IO board. While the crowdfunding campaign is on-going, the company decided to send me an early version of Khadas Edge Developer Package for evaluation. I’ll start out by checking out the content of the kit, and show how to get started with assembly, before reviewing the board with Linux at a later date. Khadas Edge Developer Package Unboxing I received the developer kit in a blank carton board package, but they’ll likely have a prettier package at launch like they did for heir VIM2 board. Anyway, the important part is the content. From top left to bottom right: An IR remote control, the package for the Edge board + Captain, a USB-PD power supply, Edge-IO board with spacers, …

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Posted on - 10 Comments on $6 C-SKY Linux Development Board Features GX6605S Media SoC with C-SKY ISA

$6 C-SKY Linux Development Board Features GX6605S Media SoC with C-SKY ISA

C-SKY Linux Development Board

We’ve got plenty of ultra low cost , media capable Linux boards in recent years, but most of those are based on Arm architecture. More recently RISC-V open source ISA has started to show up in various boards such as Sipeed M1, but none of those can play video, or at least don’t come with an hardware video decoder. C-Sky Linux development board does change that somewhat. It’s sold for about $6 (39 RMB) on Taobao, and $17.36 shipped on Aliexpress, and features Nationalchip GX6605S processor for DVB-S2 HD set-top boxes using C-SKY architecture, independent from RISC-V, although C-SKY is also a member of the RISV-C foundation. C-SKY Linux development board key features and specifications: SoC – Nationalchip GX6605S C-SKY ISA V1 CK610M 32-bit processor @ 574 MHz with 64MB DDR2 RAM, built-in DVB-S2/S demodulator Storage – 4MB SPI flash for bootloader and media player program Video Output – HDMI output up to 1080p; framebuffer resolution (for UI): 1280×720 Video …

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Posted on - 406 Comments on Giveaway Week – NanoPC-T4 RK3399 SBC

Giveaway Week – NanoPC-T4 RK3399 SBC

NanoPC T4 Connected

We started the week-end with a Rockchip RK3399 board, so it makes perfect sense to end giveaway week with a bang, and another RK3399 SBC: FriendlyElec NanoPC-T4. Like other such boards, NanoPC-T4 supports both Linux and Android, but since I had tested various RK3399 SBCs with Linux, instead I decided to review NanoPC-T4 with Android 7.1, and it performed mostly has expected although I found out a larger heatsink would be necessary for more consistent performance. FriendyElec normally provides good documentation and decent firmware images for their boards so that definitely a plus. The winner of the kit will receive half of what is shown in the photo above, as I received two kits with the board, a heatsink and screws, a remote control, a 12V power supply, and an acrylic case. To enter the draw simply leave a comment below. Other rules are as follows: Only one entry per contest. I will filter out entries with the same IP …

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Posted on - 53 Comments on Giveaway Week – ANAVI Infrared pHat + Light pHat Starter Kit

Giveaway Week – ANAVI Infrared pHat + Light pHat Starter Kit

Raspberry-Pi-IR-HAT

Leon ANAVI works as a software engineer, but designs some open source hardware boards as a hobby, and usually sends me his creations for review. That means I have a bunch of his products, and today I’ll be giving away ANAVI Light pHat Starter Kit, and ANAVI Infrared pHat. The light sensor in the kit above will not be included, since I have no idea where it is… The winner still get the board and RGB LED string, and a few stickers. After connecting to a Raspberry Pi board and adding a 12V power supply, you’ll be able to control the LED as I did in “Getting Started with ANAVI Light pHat Starter Kit with RGB LED Strip, Light Sensor“. ANAVI Infrared pHat will also be part of the winning package, and you may consider reading the instructions showing how to control an air conditioner with a Raspberry Pi board. To enter the draw simply leave a comment below. Other …

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Posted on - 1 Comment on Linux on DeX (Linux on Samsung Android Phones & Tablets) Enters Private Beta

Linux on DeX (Linux on Samsung Android Phones & Tablets) Enters Private Beta

Linux on Dex

Samsung unveiled “Linux on Galaxy” a little over a year ago with the aim of allowing developers to running Linux desktop on their high Galaxy smartphones coupled with DeX Station dock, keyboard, mouse and display. It was not quite ready for public consumption yet, so I registered to their mailing list to get more information in due time. This morning, I received an email with the subject “Register for the Linux on DeX beta trail” that reads in part: As an early adopter, you signed up for Linux on Galaxy at the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) 2017. This service allows you to project a Linux development environment onto a desktop environment, complete with a monitor, keyboard, and mouse. So you can bring your code with you, wherever you go. This year, we have renamed the service Linux on DeX, and are beginning a private beta trial. Please visit our booth at SDC 2018 or visit linuxondex.com to find out more …

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