IoT News - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

February 2, 2026February 1, 2026 by Debashis Das - No Comments

DSTIKE AI Home Security Sidekick – ESP32-S3 hacking tool with Wi-Fi, display, camera, and voice interaction

DSTIKE AI Home Security Sidekick, nicknamed “Eve,” is an ESP32-S3-based AI-powered hacking tool with a display, camera, audio interaction, USB, and a built-in battery for portable use. The device is designed by Travis Lin, well known for his deauther watches like the Deauther Watch V4S and the Deauther Watch X, but now they have designed a Home Security Sidekick with a 2.0-inch LCD, a 2MP camera for basic computer-vision tasks, and an onboard microphone and speaker for voice interaction. It supports real-time Wi-Fi deauthentication attack detection through 802.11 management frame analysis, includes a USB Type-C port for charging and firmware flashing, and integrates a physical wake/function button, all housed in a transparent acrylic enclosure for home network monitoring, desktop diagnostics, and educational applications. DSTIKE AI Home Security Sidekick specifications Core module – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 SoC – ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core LX7 processor with up to 240MHz Memory – 512KB SRAM, […]

January 30, 2026January 30, 2026 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Forlinx OK153-S12 Mini – A low-cost Allwinner T153 SBC with Raspberry Pi GPIO header and long-term availability

Forlinx has introduced the OK153-S12 Mini, an Allwinner T153 SBC/development board, which looks to be a low-cost version of the OK153-S SBC that we previously covered. It keeps the same FET153-S SoM, but swaps the industrial terminal blocks, mini PCIe, and some other interfaces for a more compact footprint and a Raspberry Pi-compatible 40-pin header. The SBC supports up to 1 GB of DDR3 memory, up to 512 MB of NAND flash or 8 GB eMMC flash, and also features a microSD card slot for storage. Other interfaces include two Gigabit Ethernet ports, two USB Type-C ports for power, data, and debugging, and a USB 2.0 host port. Display is supported via an RGB LCD interface with backlight control via PWM. Other features include mono audio line-out via a 3.5mm headphone jack, multiple GPIOs, and buttons for reset, download, and user input, along with various status LEDs, and a 40-pin […]

January 28, 2026January 28, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Semtech launches AirLink RX400 and EX400 5G RedCap routers for IoT applications

Semtech has just launched the AirLink RX400 and EX400 5G RedCap routers for industrial and commercial IoT applications. They offer a lower power consumption and lower costs compared to traditional 5G deployment. The routers are powered by an unnamed Arm Cortex-A55 processor, feature up to two Gigabit Ethernet ports, 5G RedCap cellular connectivity (3GPP Release 17 and 5G Standalone) with LTE Cat 4 fallback, dual-band GNSS, optional WiFi 6 connectivity, and optional RS-232 interfaces, among other features. AirLink RX400/RX400 specifications: SoC – Unnamed dual-core Arm Cortex-A55 processor System Memory – 600 MB RAM available to containers Storage – 500 MB flash available to containers Networking AirLink EX400 – 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports AirLink RX400 – Gigabit Ethernet port 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) cellular connectivity up to 226 Mbps downlink, 120 Mbps uplink, dual SIM (Nano-4FF); 4G LTE fallback Optional dual-band Wi-Fi 6 1×1 MIMO up to 600 Mbps Serial (AirLink RX400 […]

January 27, 2026January 27, 2026 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

Meterbit Pixlpal – An open-source ESP32-S3 smart display with 128×64 RGB LED matrix, Hi-Fi audio output (Crowdfunding)

Designed by Meterbit Cybernetics in Nigeria, the Pixlpal is an open-source, ESP32-S3-based 11.25-inch 128×64 RGB LED matrix display designed as a customizable ticker for news, crypto, and smart home notifications, while also offering Hi-Fi audio playback. The device also includes a multi-function rotary encoder for local control, a digital MEMS microphone, and a 3.5 mm headphone output driven by a TI PCM5102A DAC for Hi-Fi audio playback. Pixlpal also provides a USB Type-C OTG port for power and programming, and a USB Type-A adapter port for firmware updates and peripherals. The device targets Smart Home dashboards, desktop information displays, and educational or maker-focused IoT applications. Pixlpal specifications: Wireless Module – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 SoC – ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz with vector extension for AI/ML workloads Memory – 512KB SRAM Storage – TBD Wireless – WiFi 4 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.0 LE PCB antenna Display – […]

January 26, 2026January 25, 2026 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Infineon AIROC ACW741x Wi-Fi 7 ultra-low power tri-radio IoT SoC family support MLO, Wi-Fi sensing, BLE 6.0, and Thread

Infineon AIROC ACW741x family of Wi Fi 7 ultra low power tri radio IoT SoCs

Infineon has introduced the AIROC ACW741x tri-radio Wi-Fi 7 wireless SoC family designed for IoT and smart home devices. The company mentions it’s the first Wi-Fi 7 solution with a “20 MHz” 1×1 Wi-Fi 7 radio, Bluetooth 6.0 (including Channel Sounding), and an 802.15.4 radio for Thread and Matter support, in a 7×7 mm QFN package. When we think of Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), we usually picture high-end routers and smartphones with gigabits of data over the huge 320 MHz channels. But the standard also includes features specifically designed for low-power IoT devices. Infineon’s new AIROC ACW741x family, which they claim is the “industry’s first” Wi-Fi 7 SoC specifically optimized for IoT applications, including smart home, battery-powered sensors, access control systems, asset tracking, video doorbells, IP cameras, smart locks, thermostats, and other always-connected devices requiring secure, low-power wireless connectivity. Infineon AIROC ACW741x specifications : Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) 1×1 SISO, […]

January 24, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

FOSDEM 2026 schedule – Embedded, RISC-V, Robotics, Rust, Open Hardware, and more

FOSDEM 2026 will take place on January 31-February 1, with thousands of developers meeting in Brussels to discuss open-source software & hardware projects. The free-to-attend “Free and Open Source Software Developers’ European Meeting” gets more traction every year, and in 2026, there will be at least 1,113 speakers, 1,016 events, 70 tracks, and potentially close to 10,000 attendees. As usual, I’ll create a virtual schedule with sessions most relevant to the topics covered on CNX Software from the “Embedded, Mobile and Automotive” and “Open Hardware and CAD/CAM” devrooms, but also other devrooms, including “RISC-V”, “Robotics and simulation”, and “FOSS on Mobile”, among others. I’m aware some of the talks overlap by a couple of minutes or so… FOSDEM 2026 Day 1 – Saturday, January 31 10:40 – 11:15 – RISC-V Vector optimisations in FFmpeg by Rémi Denis-Courmont FFmpeg is the most versatile multimedia codec and format support library, and was […]

January 23, 2026January 23, 2026 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

M5Stack StickS3 ESP32-S3 Mini IoT Dev Kit features 1.14-inch color display, speaker and mic for voice interaction

M5Stack StickS3 is a miniature ESP32-S3 WiFi and BLE IoT development kit/controller powered by an Espressif Systems ESP32-S3-PICO-1-N8R8 system-in-package with 8MB flash and 8MB PSRAM, and equipped with a 1.14-inch display, built-in microphone and speaker, as well as an integrated IR receiver and transmitter. It’s an update to the ESP32-PICO-V3 based StickC-Plus2 with a more powerful ESP32-S3 module, a USB Type-C OTG port, improved audio integrating an ES8311 mono audio codec, a slightly larger 250 mAh battery, as well as a 4-pin Grove connector and a 16-pin female GPIO header for expansion. M5Stack StickS3 specifications: SiP – Espressif ESP32-S3-PICO-1-N8R8 as found on the M5Stack ATOMS3R and ATOMS3R Cam IoT controllers SoC – ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz Memory – 512KB SRAM, 16 KB RTC SRAM Wireless – 2.4 GHz WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5 LE + Mesh Memory – 8MB QSPI PSRAM Storage – 8MB QSPI […]

January 21, 2026January 21, 2026 by Debashis Das - No Comments

LilyGO T-Display S3 Pro LR1121 devkit adds Sub-GHz and 2.4GHz LoRa, audio support

LilyGO has recently released the T-Display S3 Pro LR1121, a new ESP32-S3 development kit with a Semtech LR1121 transceiver for universal LoRa connectivity across the sub-GHz and 2.4GHz bands. The board is an update to the earlier T-Display S3 Pro, which features a slimmer design and a 2.33-inch touchscreen display, but this new LR1121 variant adds sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz LoRa/(G)FSK support along with a voice communication kit that includes a MAX98357A I2S speaker amplifier, a PDM/I2S digital microphone, vibration motor, and a RTC. There are also programmable buttons, Qwiic connectors, and a 1/4-inch tripod mount, as well as a 2000 mAh Li-ion battery, USB-C for power, and ultra-low sleep current. These features make it suitable for applications such as LoRa walkie-talkies, Meshtastic nodes, voice-enabled IoT devices, portable dashboards, and experimental long-range wireless systems. T-Display S3 Pro LR1121 specifications: Wireless MCU – Espressif ESP32-S3R8 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 microcontroller […]