Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments on Amazon Fire TV Stick 3rd Gen is Powered by MediaTek MT8695D SoC

Amazon Fire TV Stick 3rd Gen is Powered by MediaTek MT8695D SoC

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K powered by a MediaTek MT8695 quad-core SoC for launched for $50  about two years ago. The company has now introduced two cheaper variants with Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite and Fire TV Stick powered by a similar MediaTek MT8695D quad-core processor designed for 1080p (Full HD) HDR video playback. Both devices are basically the same for Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite goes for $29.99, and Amazon Fire TV Stick for $39.99 as the Lite version includes a cheaper Alexa Voice Remote Lite that lacks hardware buttons for controlling the volume and power on your TV and does not support Dolby Atmos (except via HDMI pass-through). New Amazon Fire TV Stick (Lite) specifications: SoC – MediaTek MT8695D quad-core Cortex-A53 processor @ 1.7 GHz with Imagination PowerVR GE8300 GPU supporting OpenGL ES 3.2 System Memory – 1GB DDR4 Storage – 8GB eMMC flash Video Output – HDMI up to 1920 x 1080 (1080p) @ 60Hz with HDCP […]

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Posted on by Ayo Ayibiowu - 2 Comments on Amazon Sidewalk – A Low Bandwidth Network For Connecting Smart Devices and IoT

Amazon Sidewalk – A Low Bandwidth Network For Connecting Smart Devices and IoT

In 2019, Amazon introduced the Sidewalk with privacy and security at the core. Amazon Sidewalk a low-bandwidth, long-distance wireless protocol that is expected to provide a new way for devices to stay connected especially when smart devices leave their WiFi or Bluetooth coverage range by leveraging the 900 MHz spectrum. Amazon Sidewalk will most likely be an LPWAN type network since it is promising neighborhood-like device connectivity with is crowdsourcing initiative. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for short distances, the 900 MHz spectrum, and other frequencies for longer distance coverage. Sidewalk attempts to make sure your BLE devices can still connect to your home network even when you take a walk away from your home. According to Amazon, users can easily access the Sidewalk network using two types of devices: Sidewalk Bridges and Sidewalk-enabled devices. Amazon has now announced that compatible Echo devices can now act as bridges and also some selected Ring Floodlight and Spotlight Cams will also be supported […]

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments on Espressif and Amazon Introduce ESP32-PICO-V3-ZERO Alexa Connect Kit Module

Espressif and Amazon Introduce ESP32-PICO-V3-ZERO Alexa Connect Kit Module

Espressif Systems & Amazon have recently announced ESP32-PICO-V3-ZERO Alexa Connect Kit (ACK) module providing out-of-box connectivity to ACK cloud services, support for features such as Alexa control, “Frustration-Free Setup” and Amazon Dash replenishment for connected devices. The tiny (23 x 16 x 2.3mm) module is based on the company’s ESP32-PICO-V3 System-in-Package (SiP) based on ESP32-V3 dual-core Xtensa LX6 WiFI and Bluetooth SoC, a 4 MB SPI flash, a crystal oscillator, filter capacitors, and an RF matching network. The module supports 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity and comes with a PCB antenna and a u.FL connector to plug in an external antenna [Update: That should be an RF test connector instead, see comments]. ESP32-PICO-V3-ZERO module interfaces to a host MCU through a UART interface, and to speed-up time-to-market the module comes pre-certified for regulatory certifications such as FCC, CE, SRRC, IC, and RCM. The module comes pre-programmed with the ACK module firmware managed by Amazon […]

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on STM32 IoT Discovery Kit Runs AWS-Ready FreeRTOS, Supports Arduino and Pmod Expansion Boards

STM32 IoT Discovery Kit Runs AWS-Ready FreeRTOS, Supports Arduino and Pmod Expansion Boards

STMicroelectronics STM32 IoT Discovery Kit is supposed to ease software development for IoT nodes thanks to a qualified port of FreeRTOS integrated into the STM32Cube ecosystem, and ready to connect to Amazon Web Services (AWS). The hardware is comprised of an STM32L4+ Cortex-M4F microcontroller, various MEMS sensors, a secure element, and offers WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, and NFC connectivity. STM32 IoT Discovery Kit (B-L4S5I-IOT01A) key features and specifications: MCU – STMicro STM32L4+ (STM32L4S5VIT6) Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller with 2 MB Flash, 640 KB RAM in LQFP100 package storage – 64 Mbit Quad-SPI Flash Connectivity Bluetooth 4.1 module (STMicro SPBTLE-RF) 802.11 b/g/n compliant Wi-Fi module (Inventek ISM43362-M3G-L44) Dynamic NFC tag based on ST25DV04K with its printed NFC antenna USB – Micro USB OTG port STMicro Sensors 2 digital omnidirectional microphones (MP34DT01) Relative humidity and temperature sensor (HTS221) 3-axis magnetometer (LIS3MDL) 3D accelerometer and 3D gyroscope (LSM6DSL) 260-1260 hPa absolute digital output barometer (LPS22HB) Time-of-flight (ToF) and gesture-detection sensor (VL53L0X) Expansion Arduino Uno V3 […]

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on ESP32-Vaquita-DSPG Board and SDK Support Alexa Integration and AWS IoT Core Cloud Service

ESP32-Vaquita-DSPG Board and SDK Support Alexa Integration and AWS IoT Core Cloud Service

Espressif Systems has just announced another ESP32 board, namely ESP32-Vaquita-DSPG development kit together with an SDK that supports AVS (Alexa Voice Service) integration with AWS IoT cloud connectivity. ESP32-Vaquita-DSPG specifications: Wireless Module – ESP32-WROVER-E with ESP32-D0WD-V3 WiFi + Bluetooth SoC , 64 Mbit SPI flash and 64 Mbit PSRAM Audio DSP – DSPG DBMD5P Audio SoC with far-field voice recognition using the company’s HDClear algorithms. Power Amplifier for external speakers up to 8W Codec – ES8311 I2S audio codec Speaker connector 3.5mm audio jack 2-mic array on MIC board Debugging – USB-UART port Misc- Mainboard – Power LED, boot & reset buttons MIC board – 5x RGB LEDs, 2x function buttons Power Supply 5V input via USB Power Port 5V-to-3.3V regulator. ESP32-Vaquita-DSPG board needs an external 4-ohm speaker or a pair of headphones for audio output, two USB cables for power and debugging, and a computer running Windows, Linux, or macOS for development. You’ll also need Espressif’s Voice Assistant SDK […]

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on Linux 5.6 Release – Main Changes, Arm, MIPS & RISC-V Architectures

Linux 5.6 Release – Main Changes, Arm, MIPS & RISC-V Architectures

Linus Torvalds has just announced the release of Linux 5.6 on the Linux Kernel Mailing List: So I’ll admit to vacillating between doing this 5.6 release and doing another -rc. This has a bit more changes than I’d like, but they are mostly from davem’s networking fixes pulls, and David feels comfy with them. And I looked over the diff, and none of it looks scary. It’s just slightly more than I’d have preferred at this stage – not doesn’t really seem worth delaying a release over. So about half the diff from the final week is network driver fixlets, and some minor core networking fixes. Another 20% is tooling – mostly bpf and netfilter selftests (but also some perf work). The rest is “misc” – mostly random drivers (gpio, rdma, input) and DTS files. With a smattering of fixes elsewhere (a couple of afs fixes, some vm fixes, etc). The shortlog is appended, nothing really looks all that exciting, […]

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 11 Comments on Seeed IoT Button for AWS Brings Back Amazon Dash Button to Life for Developers

Seeed IoT Button for AWS Brings Back Amazon Dash Button to Life for Developers

Amazon introduced $5 dash buttons in 2015 to let consumers purchase regular items such as washing powder by simply pressing a button. Some people hacked them for other purposes, for instance as WiFi logging buttons, but the company eventually stopped selling the buttons in February 2019 and fully killed those at the end of August. Seeed Studio is bringing back Amazon Dash button to life in some ways, with the Seeed IoT Button For AWS Wi-Fi-based, programmable button that deploys the AWS IoT 1-Click service. Seeed IoT Button for AWS hardware specifications: MCU – Dual-core MCU with 20MHz Cortex M0 and 200MHz Cortex M4F (Very likely Realtek RTL8720DN Wireless MCU) Storage – 4MB flash Connectivity – Dual-band Wi-Fi 4 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4GHz & 5GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0 LE USB – 1x USB Type-C port for charging Misc – Button good for 100,000 cycles, 3x LEDs (red, green, blue) Power Supply 5V via USB-C port Battery – 3.6V Li-ion 18650 Rechargeable […]

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments on Toradex AI Embedded Vision Starter Kit Leverages Amazon Web Services for AI and ML Applications

Toradex AI Embedded Vision Starter Kit Leverages Amazon Web Services for AI and ML Applications

Toradex, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and NXP Semiconductors collaborated to create the AI Embedded Vision Starter Kit aiming to ease the development of cloud-connected computer vision and machine learning applications in industries such as industrial automation, agriculture, medical equipment, and many more. The AI Embedded Vision Starter Kit includes the following items: Toradex Apalis iMX8 System on Module (SoM) powered by NXP i.MX 8QuadMax applications processor Toradex Ixora Carrier Board Allied Vision Alvium 1500 industrial-grade MIPI CSI-2 camera All required cables and a 12VDC (30W) power supply Full software stack, including source code for running the device as well as for cloud deployment Extensive documentation 50 USD AWS credit The kit will help developers meet the must-have requirements of smart connected devices including secure connectivity, remote monitoring, OTA updates, maximum uptime & reliability, compact form factor, cost-optimized hardware, computer vision and machine learning algorithms optimized for low-power hardware, and more. Alex Dopplinger, industrial marketing manager at NXP explains The step-by-step […]

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