firmware News - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

December 2, 2025December 2, 2025 by Sponsored Post - 2 Comments

Mongoose Wizard builds professional embedded device dashboards for microcontrollers like ESP32, STM32, NXP, RPi and others (Sponsored)

Cesanta Software introduced Mongoose Wizard – a no-code visual tool that enables embedded developers to effortlessly build a professionally looking device dashboard (WebUI) and REST API without writing any frontend code, transforming the microcontroller (MCU) board into a browser-accessible web dashboard for control, monitoring, and updates. Whether for prototyping or building production devices, integrating a web dashboard into firmware gives end users intuitive and powerful control. Designed for use in Industrial, Automotive, Smart home, or any Internet of Things product (machinery, devices, appliances, etc.) that benefits from a browser-based interface. Mongoose Wizard utilises the Mongoose Library, an open source network library for C/C++. Mongoose Library provides event-driven non-blocking APIs for TCP, UDP, HTTP, WebSocket, MQTT, and other protocols. It is designed for connecting devices and bringing them online. On the market since 2004, used by a vast number of open-source and commercial products – it even runs on the International […]

November 26, 2025November 26, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 23 Comments

STMicro ST25DA-C is the first NFC chip with Matter support

ST ST25DA-C is an NFC chip with built-in support for the latest Matter 1.5 protocol, enabling easier installation of smart devices on home networks, including lighting, access control, security cameras, or any IoT device. NFC here is used as an alternative to Bluetooth LE or QR core commissioning. NFC tap-to-pair functionality enables users to tap an NFC tag code on a device with their smartphone to securely and easily add it to their Matter-compatible app(s) and network(s). Besides batteryless commissioning, the ST25DA-C chip can also be used for firmware updates over I2C (Matter OTA), and secure storage for keys & certificates. ST25DA-C secure NFC tag specifications: Contact interface 1.62 V to 3.3 V supply voltage range ESD protection Human body model (HBM): 6 kV for digital and antenna pads Charge device model (CDM): 1 kV based on a STMicroelectronics module I2C serial interface up to 400 kHz Contactless interface Power […]

November 24, 2025November 24, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Raspberry Pi Imager 2.0 released with a revamped user interface, Raspberry Pi Connect support

Raspberry Pi Imager V2.0.0 Raspberry Pi 5 Device

Raspberry Pi Imager 2.0 has just been released with a revamped user interface with a wizard to enable easier navigation, as well as a new option for Raspberry Pi Connect remote access, among other changes. The Raspberry Pi Imager was first released in March 2020 to improve the user experience when flashing OS images for the Raspberry Pi to a microSD card. No need to download an OS image from the website and flash it manually to a microSD card with the dd command line tool, Win32DiskImager, or BalenaEtcher. Just select your Raspberry Pi model, the image you want from a curated list, and the storage device, and you’re good to go. A popular feature was the OS customization settings, but the list grew quite large, and that’s one of the main reasons for the release of the Raspberry Pi Imager 2.0 utility. Raspberry Pi Imager 2.0 highlights: New UI […]

November 18, 2025November 18, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 12 Comments

The Librephone project aims to remove proprietary blobs from smartphones running an open-source OS

Some of you may already be running an open-source operating system on your smartphone, which could be Android-based, such as LineageOS, GrapheneOS, and e/OS, or Linux-based like postmarketOS and Ubuntu Touch. However, due to closed-source firmware files/proprietary blobs, you’re only running a partially open-source OS. The Free Software Foundation aims to change that with the Librephone project, whose goal is to reverse-engineer nonfree blobs and provide open-source alternatives. Some proprietary blobs are used to run WiFi, Bluetooth, 4G LTE/5G modems, touchscreen, fingerprint sensor, and other hardware. So it won’t be a trivial task, as serious reverse-engineering work is needed and done in a clean-room way to prevent copyright lawsuits, plus there may be regulatory issues with the code handling the radios\ frequency and power from the FTC and other governmental agencies around the world. To be clear, the Librephone project won’t be another operating system, and the only goal is […]

October 29, 2025October 29, 2025 by Debashis Das - 8 Comments

Waveshare MK20 macro keyboard features twenty mechanical keys with 0.85-inch color LCD keycaps

Waveshare MK20 Multi Functional AI Voice Control Panel

Waveshare MK20 is a multifunctional macro keyboard with twenty mechanical keys featuring 0.85-inch LCD keycaps. As an upgrade to the earlier MK10 model, it adds a 2.8-inch secondary display along with two control knobs. The device supports AI voice interaction, real-time data display, and smart home integration with Home Assistant. Like its predecessor, the MK20 relies on a dual-system architecture: an Allwinner T113-S3 dual-core Cortex-A7 processor runs Linux to drive the displays, and a GD32 microcontroller runs QMK for low-latency keyboard and knob input. Each LCD key offers 128×128 resolution and supports dynamic images, videos, and multi-layer overlays, while the 2.8-inch secondary display (428 × 142 resolution) provides status or customization information. The keyboard also includes two rotary encoders with aluminum caps for volume, playback, or timeline control. The device is built with an aluminum alloy top case and a 2.5D acrylic lens for durability. Waveshare MK20 specifications: Main Controller – Allwinner […]

October 24, 2025October 23, 2025 by Debashis Das - 2 Comments

u-blox MAX-M10N GNSS module supports Low Energy Accurate Positioning (LEAP) mode, firmware upgrades

u blox UBX M10150 KB chip and the MAX M10N module

Following the launch of the UBX-M10150-CC low-power GNSS module, u-blox has expanded its lineup with the MAX-M10N, another ultra-low-power module based on the UBX-M10150-KB GNSS chip. The new module supports firmware upgradeability and offers up to 50% lower power consumption thanks to features such as Low Energy Accurate Positioning (LEAP) and PSMCT cyclic tracking modes. The latest SPG 5.30 firmware also adds support for RTCM correction input for sub-meter positioning accuracy, along with improved spoofing and jamming detection. It also includes data logging and geo-fencing for autonomous tracking and uses AssistNow Predictive and Live Orbits for faster satellite acquisition. The MAX-M10N integrates an LNA and dual SAW filters for better RF sensitivity and interference protection, while maintaining pin compatibility with earlier MAX modules. These features make it suitable for low-power, high-accuracy applications such as wearables, asset tracking, and battery-powered IoT devices. u-blox MAX-M10N GNSS module specifications: Receiver type – u-blox M10 […]

October 23, 2025October 22, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

M5Stack Cardputer-Adv ESP32-S3 computer gains improved antenna, larger 1,750 mAh battery, ES8311 audio codec

In 2023, M5Stack introduced the Cardputer, a mini portable computer based on an ESP32-S3 module and equipped with a display and a keyboard. The Cardputer-Adv is an update based on the Stamp-S3A core module, with the same 1.14-inch LCD and 56-key keyboard, but featuring a range of upgrades. These include enhanced audio with an ES8311 audio codec, a high‑SNR MEMS microphone, an NS4150B amplifier, a 1W speaker, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, an improved antenna design, a larger 1,750 mAh battery, and a built-in BMI270 6-axis IMU. M5Stack Cardputer-Adv specifications: (bold highlights show improvements/changes over the original Cardputer) Wireless MCU module – M5Stack M5Stamp S3A with SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN8 CPU Dual-core 32-bit Xtensa LX7 microcontroller with AI vector instructions up to 240MHz RISC-V ULP co-processor Memory – 512KB SRAM Storage – 8MB flash Wireless – 2.4GHz WiFi 4 (802.11b/g/n), Bluetooth 5.0 BLE + Mesh 2.4GHz 3D antenna USB […]

September 26, 2025September 25, 2025 by Debashis Das - 2 Comments

Espressif’s EchoEar ESP32-S3 voice-controlled AI chatbot runs esp-brookesia firmware

Espressif EchoEar Smart AI Development Kit

Espressif Systems’ EchoEar is a compact ESP32-S3 AI chatbot designed for voice interaction and edge AI applications, for smart toys, voice-enabled speakers, and control systems. It features a 1.85-inch circular touch display, a dual microphone array with local wake-word detection, and support for large AI models from OpenAI, Xiaozhi AI, and Gemini. The kit is built around the ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5 module, and also integrates a 3W speaker for audio interaction, and a microSD card slot for data storage. Other hardware features include a BMI270 IMU, a green LED, a USB-C port, a magnetic connector, and a battery management chip. Espressif EchoEar Specifications Wireless Module – ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3R8 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz with vector extension for AI/ML workloads RAM – 512KB SRAM, 8MB PSRAM ROM – 284KB Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth LE 5 Storage – 16MB […]