CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

June 22, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 11 Comments

$28 CX939 Android TV Stick is Powered by Rockchip RK3128 Processor

We’ve seen a few low costs devices powered by Rockchip RK3128 quad core processor recently, such as FirePrime development board, or Ruach A20s TV box, but CX939 is an even cheaper device, in HDMI TV stick form factor that currently sells for $28.20 on Aliexpress. Transpeed CX939 TV dongle specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3128 quad core ARM Cortex A7 @ 1.2 GHz with ARM Mali-400MP2 GPU @ 500 MHz System Memory – 1 GB DDR3 Storage – 8 GB NAND flash + micro SD card slot Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi with external antenna, and Bluetooth Video & Audio Output – HDMI 1.4 up to 1080p USB – 1x USB 2.0 port, 1x micro USB OTG port, 1x micro USB port for power Misc – Button (for power?) Power Supply – 5V/2A via micro USB port Dimensions – N/A The device runs Android 4.4.2, and is said to be pre-loaded […]

June 21, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 20 Comments

DragonBoard 410c 64-bit ARM Development Board in Stock for $75

There has been a few 96Boards announced so far, and a Banana Pi96 could soon be launched, as LeMarker has just joined the Linaro Community Board Group, but so far the board that generated the most buzz was Qualcomm Dragonboard 410c, but at the time pricing was not officially disclosed, although a $75 target price was posted in several blogs. And now it seems Qualcomm 64-bit ARM board indeed costs $75, as it is listed for that price on Arrow Electronics website with a few pieces in stock. Dragonboard 410c specifications have also been further detailed: SoC- Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (APQ8016) quad-core ARM CortexA53 @ 1.2 GHz with Adreno 306 GPU @ 400MHz System Memory – 1GB LPDDR3 @ 533MHz, Single-channel 32-bit (4.2GBps) Storage – 8GB eMMC 4.51 + micro SD 3.0 (UHS-I) Video Output – HDMI up to 1080p Video Playback -1080p@30fps HD video playback and capture with H.264 […]

June 20, 2015June 20, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

Parallella Desktop Computer Board Price Drops to $99 (Temporary)

Parallella “super computer” board with Xilinx Zynq-7010 ARM+FPGA SoC and Adapteva’s 16-core Epiphany coprocessor may have started at $99 uring their Kickstarter campaign, but once the board became more broadly available, price started at $119 for the microserver version, and $149 for the desktop computer version which adds a micro HDMI port, a micro USB port, and some expansion I/Os. But to get rid of some stock, the company has decided to temporary decrease the desktop version price to $99 on Amazon. Let’s remind us of the desktop computer board specifications: SoC – Xilinx Zynq Z7010 dual-Core ARM Cortex A9 with 512KB L2 Shared Cache + Artix-7 FPGA with 28K logic cells Coprocessor – 16-core Epiphany-III processor System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage – micro SD slot + 128Mb quad SPI flash Connectivity – 10/100/1000M Ethernet Video Output – 1x micro HDMI USB – 1x micro USB host port Expansion […]

June 18, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

Open Source Linux Drivers for PowerVR GPUs Might Be in the Works

When I write about a new processor with a PowerVR GPU, I can be sure there will be one or two comments saying something like “It has a PowerVR GPU, it’s a non-starter”, mostly because of the status of graphics drivers in Linux. Luc Verhaegen (libv) also made a presentation at FOSDEM 2013 listing various open source projects for GPUs found in ARM processors and PowerVR was the only one without any community project. Bear in mind that apart from Nvidia, and to some extend Broadcom for the VideoCore IV GPU found in BCM2835 / BCM2836 processors used in Raspberry Pi boards, no other companies have released user space drivers for their GPUs, and all work is done by volunteers for other open source GPU drivers, and I’m not sure any of them work 100% yet. Imagination has already provided working GPU drivers for their MIPS Creator-CI20 board, these are […]

June 16, 2015June 15, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Ruach A20s is a $35 Android TV Box Powered by Rockchip RK3128 SoC

Ruach A20 was a media player based on Allwinner A20 processor released about a year ago. Now Ruach Electronics launched an updated model featuring Rockchip RK3128 quad core Cortex A7 processor with the somewhat confusing name Ruach A20s. Ruach A20s specifications: SoC – Rockchip RK3128 quad core ARM Cortex A7 @ 1.2 GHz with ARM Mali-400MP2 GPU @ 500 MHz System Memory – 1 GB DDR3 Storage – 8 GB NAND flash Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi Video Output – HDMI 1.4 up to 1080p, composite (RCA) Audio Output – HDMI, stereo audio output (RCA) USB – 2x USB 2.0 ports Misc – IR sensor, power button (mechanical On/Off switch), recovery pin hole Power Supply – 5V/2A Dimensions – 11.8 x 7.8 x 3.0 cm The features and ports are just like the older model, so the main difference is really only the Rockchip processor. The model still […]

June 15, 2015June 16, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 31 Comments

IoT Wi-Fi Modules Comparison Table – ESP8266 vs CC3000 vs RN131 vs HDG204

We now have several options to add WiFi to IoT / embedded projects at relatively low cost, and ESP8266 based solutions clearly wins on costs, but are there some advantages to other higher priced modules? To help us find out, Mike Barela has put up a comparison table with some Wi-FI modules based on Espressif ESP8266, Texas Instruments CC3000, Microchip RN131, and H&D Wireless HDG204 processors. Note 1 – Also comes in Arduino Shield size with SD card slot for $39.95 Note 2 & 3 – Adafruit and Sparkfun sell tested units with AT Firmware for $6.95. lower prices are available on eBay, but quality may vary. Note 4 – Currents are probably somewhat higher than stock ESP-12 due to onboard LED and regulator. The comparison is not exhaustive, but it still appears to show ESP8266 solutions support most features than pricer competing modules. There are however case where competing […]

June 14, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 29 Comments

Tronsmart Draco H3 TV Stick Firmware and SDK Released

Tronsmart Draco H3 is a low cost HDMI TV stick powered by Allwinner H3 quad core processor. At $35, the device costs about $5 more than Amlogic S805 based sticks like MK808B Plus with about the same specs (quad core Cortex A7/A5, 1GB RAM, 8GB flash, HDMI out..), but with the added benefit of 4K @ 30Hz support. Tronsmart has now released some firmware files as well as Linux kernel and an Android SDK. Two firmware files have been released: Tronsmart_Draco_H3_720p_Kernel_20150526.zip – Firmware with 1280×720 framebuffer for better performance Tronsmart_Draco_H3_1080p_Kernel_20150526.zip – Firmware with 1920×1080 framebuffer for higher resolution Please note that the resolution will only affect the user interface, and when you play videos you should get the resolution selected in Android settings. So if you play a 4K videos it will truly show as a 4K video on your TV, even though the user interface is only 720p, at […]

June 13, 2015June 16, 2015 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Inforce 6410Plus Qualcomm Single Board Computer Adds GPS, MIPI CSI and DSI Interfaces

[Update on June 16 with comments from Inforce Computing: The Inforce 6410Plus is a product/application ready SBC that can be mass-manufactured to be designed-in directly by OEMs into end-products. Of course developers, DIY enthusiasts, and research houses may use it as a development board, but essentially it’s a product ready SBC. CSI and DSI interfaces – A single 40-pin LSHM MIPI connector on the previous generation product has been replaced with a single 51-pin FI-R MIPI CSI connector. A single connector enables support for 2 cameras/up to 20MP. Similarly, we’ve replaced the LVDS interface with a single 51-pin MIPI-DSI connector that supports two simultaneous displays. ] Inforce IFC6410 board is one of the few low cost Qualcomm Snapdragon development boards / SBCs available on the market. Released in 2013, it features a Snapdragon 600 processor (APQ8064) coupled with 2GB RAM, 4GB eMMC, and various connectors. Inforce Computing has now introduced […]