CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

December 7, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Add WiFi connectivity to older USB printers with Orange Pi 3G-IoT-A and UoWPrint print server

I previously used an inexpensive CHIP board as a Linux printer and scanner server for the Canon MP250 USB multi-function printer. It took a while to make it work with a long list of instructions and even then the scanner function was not working very reliably. ValdikSS’s UoWPrint driverless printing and scanning server aims to simplify the process for older USB printers and also supports AirPrint and Mopria standards over WiFi. The older Orange Pi 3G-IoT-A board was the hardware of choice for this project due to its ultra-low price. The resulting product enables users to convert their old USB printer (or MFP) into a WiFi printer/MFP and print and scan without drivers from Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as mobile operating systems such as iOS/Android. ValdikSS told CNX Software he spent a considerable amount of time backporting patches required to run modern Debian 12 to the kernel 3.2.67 […]

December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

M5Stack releases local server implementations of UIFlow visual programming Web IDE

Visual programming is now a very popular method to teach programming to kids and M5Stack relies on UIFlow for their ESP32-based IoT development kit. Like most other companies, M5Stack provides either a Web IDE accessible from their server or a desktop program available for Windows, MacOS, or Linux, but the company has now released a local server implementation that allows users to run a Web IDE instance in their local network. The local server is available for Windows 11 x64, MacOS, Ubuntu 22.04, and Linux Arm (e.g. Raspberry Pi), so I downloaded the Ubuntu version to give it a try on my laptop. Somehow the Ubuntu release is full of Windows DLLs, but let’s ignore that for now, and the README.txt tells us to install one dependency and run the program as follows:

apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer
./UIFlow.Server.Desktop

1 2	apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer ./UIFlow.Server.Desktop

A window pops up letting us start or stop the server. It can be accessed with […]

December 6, 2023December 12, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments

MINIX Z100-0dB fanless Intel N100 mini PC supports 2.5GbE and WiFi 6 networking

Companies keep on releasing new Intel Processor N100 mini PCs, and the latest one is the MINIX Z100-0dB fanless mini PC with support for 2.5GbE and WiFi 6 networking, and dual display setups through two HDMI ports. The mini PC is said to support up to 32GB RAM, ships with up to 512GB NVMe SSD, and comes with the usual USB 3.2/2.0 ports, microSD card slot, and 3.5mm audio. The “0DB” name comes from the fact that it is a fanless system as shown on the top of the top device with the string “ZERO dB Cooling System”. MINIX Z100-0dB specifications: SoC – Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel HD graphics @ 750 MHz; TDP: 6W System Memory – 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB DDDR4-3200, upgradable to 32GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB M.2 SSD (PCIe Gen3 x4), upgradable […]

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

AMD Ryzen Embedded V3000 COM Express Type 7 module supports up to 64GB DDR5 memory

ADLINK Express VR7 is a COM Express Basic size Type 7 computer-on-module powered by the eight-core AMD Ryzen Embedded V3000 processor with two 10GbE interfaces, fourteen PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and optional support for the “extreme temperature range” between -40°C and 85°C. The COM Express module supports up to 64GB dual-channel DDR5 SO-DIMM (ECC/non-ECC) memory and targets headless embedded applications such as edge networking equipment, 5G infrastructure at the edge, video storage analytics, intelligent surveillance, industrial automation and control, and rugged edge servers. Express-VR7 specifications: SoC – AMD Embedded Ryzen V3000 (one or the other Ryzen V3C48 8-core/16-thread processor @ 3.3/3.8GHz; TDP: 45W Ryzen V3C44 4-core/8-thread processor @ 3.5/3.8GHz; TDP: 45W Ryzen V3C18I 8-core/16-thread processor 1.9/3.8GHz; TDP: 15W (useful in the extreme temperature range) Ryzen V3C16 6-core/12-thread processor 2.0/3.8GHz; TDP: 15W Ryzen V3C14 4-core/8-thread processor 2.3/3.8GHz; TDP: 15W System Memory – Up to 64GB (2x 32GB) dual-channel ECC/non-ECC DDR5 memory […]

December 6, 2023December 8, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments

Youyeetoo X1 x86 SBC Review – Part 2: GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, NFC, PoE module, and power consumption

The Youyeetoo X1 x86 single board computer (SBC) with an Intel Celeron N5105 Jasper Lake CPU differs from a typical Intel or AMD mini PC by its range of IOs including SPI, I2C, UART, NFC connectivity, and support for PoE module that you won’t find in a typical computer, and that’s what we will test in the second part of the X1 SBC review along with power consumption. The Youyeetoo X1 SBC is also different from Arm-based single board computers since we can just install any x86-compatible operating system by ourselves, and w don’t need to flash a board-specific image like we would do with Arm SBCs and peripherals such as SPI, I2C or UART may be or may not usable immediately due to lack of supported drivers. We’ve already installed Ubuntu 22.04 on the Youyeetoo X1 in the first part of the review, so in the second part, we’ll […]

December 5, 2023December 5, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Lenovo Chromebox Micro fanless mini PC runs ChromeOS, targets digital signage applications

There’s a new type of Chromebox in town with the Chromebox Micro with a form factor very similar to the MeLE Quieter4C we’ve just covered, but running Chrome OS instead and designed to be mounted to the back of a display. The Lenovo Chromebox Micro is the first device of this type that I’ve seen. The fanless mini PC is based on an Intel Celeron N4500 dual-core processor with 8GB RAM and 32GB eMMC flash and mostly targets digital signage and interactive retail kiosks. Lenovo Chromebox Micro: SoC – Intel Celeron N4500 dual-core processor @ 1.1GHz / 2.8GHz (Burst frequency) with Intel UHD graphics; 6W TDP System Memory – 8GB Storage – 32 GB eMMC flash Video Output – 1x HDMI port Audio – 1x audio jack, digital audio via HDMI Networking – Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port USB – 2x USB Type-C ports, 2x USB Type-A ports Misc – Power […]

December 5, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

LILYGO Mini E-Paper Core IoT controller gets ESP32-S3 wireless microcontroller

LILYGO Mini E-Paper Core has gotten an upgrade to the ESP32-S3 wireless microcontroller. The IoT controller was first introduced in 2021 with an ESP32-PICO-D4 system-in-package, a 1.02-inch E-Paper display, and a few GPIOs on the back, and the company kept the same design for the ESP32-S3 model called “Mini E-Paper Core S3”. The tiny ESP32-S3 IoT controller can still be used for integrated into your own project, and the company also provides several shields with nRF24L01 2.4GHz wireless or 433/868 MHz “LoRa” connectivity to transform the device into a longer range IoT device. Mini E-Paper Core S3 specifications Wireless SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN4R2 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 @ up to 240 MHz with vector instructions for AI acceleration Memory – 512KB RAM, 2MB PSRAM Storage – 4MB flash Wireless – 2.4 GHz WiFi 4 and Bluetooth Storage – MicroSD card socket Display – 1.02-inch e-paper display with 128×80 […]

December 5, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

MeLE Quieter4C ultrathin fanless Intel N100 mini PC supports up to three displays

MeLE has just launched a new model from its Quieter family with the Quieter4C ultrathin fanless mini PC powered by an Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor, 8GB to 16GB LPDDR4, and 128GB to 512GB eMMC+SSD storage, and supporting up to three independent 4K displays. Intel N100 mini PCs have become popular due to their excellent price/performance ratio, but although a few are fanless, many are actively cooled, and the Quieter4C differentiates itself by its low profile with the system being just 18.3 mm thick. MeLE Quieter4C specifications: SoC – Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel HD graphics @ 750 MHz; TDP: 6W System Memory – 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4X Storage 128GB or 256GB eMMC flash Optional 256GB M.2 SSD (for 512GB storage in total) via M.2 2280 SATA III/PCIe Gen3 x4 socket MicroSD card reader Video […]