Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 39 Comments on Banana Pi BPI-R2’s U-boot & Linux 4.4 Source Code & MediaTek MT7623N Datasheet Released

Banana Pi BPI-R2’s U-boot & Linux 4.4 Source Code & MediaTek MT7623N Datasheet Released

Banana Pi BPI-R2 is a multimedia router board powered by MediaTek MT7623N quad core processor with 2GB RAM, 5 Gigabit Ethernet ports, up to two SATA ports, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI output, and I/O headers. The board is not for sale yet, but the company has recently released the source code with U-boot and Linux 4.4.70, as well as a datasheet for MediaTek MT7623N processor. The source code can be found on Github, so let’s see if we can build it:

After a couple of minutes, the build would end with:

For the very last step, it asks you to login as root / sudoer, which it should not do… But we end up with the images, so at least it builds:

MediaTek has also been active by committing patchsets for MT7623 to the Linux Kernel Mailing List, so mainline Linux is an eventual possibility for […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments on InnSpire InnCable is an Android TV Box Embedded into an Ethernet Cable

InnSpire InnCable is an Android TV Box Embedded into an Ethernet Cable

We’ve got used to super small computer systems from TV boxes-in-a-plug to HDMI TV sticks, and tiny development boards such as Raspberry Pi Zero W. But InnSpire pushed the concept further with InnCable as the computer, or in this case the TV box, is placed inside an Ethernet cable, or more exactly a cable with Ethernet on one side (optional with PoE for power), and HDMI port on the other. Currently InnCable targets hotels, so it’s mainly designed as a TV box in a cable, rather than a computer as a cable. Some of InnCable smart cable’s key features and specifications include: SoC – “Blazing fast processor” Video Output – HDMI Networking – Ethernet and WiFi USB – 2x USB 2.0 ports Serial – RJ-12 port for serial connection to another device Power Supply – PoE (power over Ethernet) or 5V micro USB cable The cable can be controlled with […]

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Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments on Diskio Pi 13.3″ Touch Panel Display Kit is Designed for Raspberry Pi and ODROID Boards (Crowdfunding)

Diskio Pi 13.3″ Touch Panel Display Kit is Designed for Raspberry Pi and ODROID Boards (Crowdfunding)

If your project requires a touch panel, there are plenty of solutions for Raspberry Pi and ODROID boards, with Hardkernel even selling ODROID-VU8C fully integrated touch panel display. However, most display kits require you to make your own case, and feature smaller displays with lower resolution. One developer has however come up with Diskio Pi, a higher-end touch panel kit with a 13.3″ Full HD display that works with the most popular Raspberry Pi and ODROID boards. Diskio Pi specifications: Display –  13.3″ AUO TFT IPS display with 1920×1080 resolution connected via a 30-pin eDP connector ; 330 cd/m2 brightness; 85° viewing angles in all directions. Touch panel – 10-point capacitive touch; G/G structure; USB 2.0 interface; ≥6H surface hardness. Main board: HDMI to eDP driver Stereo sound amplifier USB 2.0 hub with 3x ports:  2x external + 1x internal Battery balance circuit (3S/3S2P) Expansion – Various headers for prototyping […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on Ligowave LigoPTP Bridges Allow Wireless Point-to-Point Communication up to 100 Km

Ligowave LigoPTP Bridges Allow Wireless Point-to-Point Communication up to 100 Km

Last week-end I went to a conference showcasing local products and companies, and there was a small section for “smart cities”. Most of that section exhibited solutions for security applications such as IP cameras and DVR, as well as various metal detectors, but one company did have some wireless connectivity solutions. I asked a sales engineer which technology they used, and he said it was a proprietary solution operating at 5 GHz, so I asked if they had anything relying on LoRaWan or Sigfox, and he had never heard about those. That’s because the solutions offered where not for low power long range connectivity, but instead backhaul wireless connectivity with solutions offering up to 100km range for point-to-point connectivity up to 480 Mbps, or up to 36 km for point-to-multipoint solutions. Those type of products are used by cities to monitor their CCTV  system, telcos, and the industry (e.g. mining, […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments on Nintendo SNES Classic Edition Retro Game Console Launching for $80 in September

Nintendo SNES Classic Edition Retro Game Console Launching for $80 in September

Last year, Nintendo introduced NES Classic Edition mini console running 30 games, which was latter found to be based on Allwinner R16 processor, eventually leading to some hack to install RetroArch on the device. Sadly the company decided to discontinue mass production of the mini console, but Nintendo is now back with another retro mini console thanks to Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) Classic Edition. The console will run a few less games, 21 in total including Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy III, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Mega Man X, Star Fox, Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting, Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World, and others. Full technical details have not been disclosed yet, but the console will come with two wires game controllers, a USB power adapter, and connect to your TV via HDMI. We’ll have to see if they still kept the same […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments on Allwinner A63 2K “Flat Panel” SoC Unveiled at APC 2017 Conference

Allwinner A63 2K “Flat Panel” SoC Unveiled at APC 2017 Conference

Allwinner unveiled their latest A63 quad core Cortex A53 SoC for tablet at the APC 2017 conference in Zhuhai, Shenzhen, last week. The processor will be an upgrade to Allwinner A64 with a Mali-T760MP2 GPU, support for 2560 x 1600 displays, and a 6K H.265/VP9 video processing unit. Some of Allwinner A63 key features: CPU- Quad core Cortex A53 processor with 32KB L1 I-cache, 32KB L1 D-cache, shared 512KB L2 cache GPU – ARM Mali-T760MP2 “high performance” GPU with OpenGL ES 3.2 support VPU – 4K/6K VP9, H.265, and H.264 4K @ 30fps video decoder; Smartcolor 3.0 “video quality enhancement engine” Memory I/F – DDR3, DDR3L, LPDDR3, LPDDR2 Storage I/F – eMMC 5.0; TLC/MLC/SLC/EF NAND flash with 80-bit ECC Display I/F – Dual MIPI and eDP interfaces up to 2560 x 1600 resolution Audio – Support for multi-microphone array, multi-channel analog voice signal input and stereo ADC, DAC Package – […]

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Posted on by Karl Johnson - 4 Comments on Raiscube R2 3D Printer Review – Part 3: How to Install E3D Hotend Clone For Faster Prints

Raiscube R2 3D Printer Review – Part 3: How to Install E3D Hotend Clone For Faster Prints

Karl here with the final article on Raiscube R2 3D printer for now. Going to talk about the challenges of this upgrade, and how to do it yourself. This has been one of the most frustrating projects that I have worked on. I set 3 goals for this upgrade: Simple as possible Least amount of modification to the printer ability to revert back I don’t feel like I met my goals but I feel like I made it 90%. Trying to meet the simple as possible with least amount of modifications is what caused me so much grief. What is needed E3D Hotend for $9.56 on GearBest Kapton Tape for $1.87 Thermal paste Rotary cutting tool (maybe hacksaw good luck with that) Shrink tube or electrical tape Wire 3 printed parts on Thingiverse Zip Ties & Velcro E3D Installation Steps Print 3 parts from Thingiverse above with 50% infill and .2 […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 13 Comments on A95X R2 TV Box Review – Part 2: Android 7.1, Video & Audio Tests, and Benchmarks

A95X R2 TV Box Review – Part 2: Android 7.1, Video & Audio Tests, and Benchmarks

In the first part of A95X R2 Rockchip RK3328 TV box review, I listed the specifications of the device, took a few photos, and reported about the chip used in the PCBA. I’ve now had time to play with the box, so I can report about my experience with Android 7.1, video & audio capabilities, and the performance of the device in the second part of the review. First Boot, Setup, and First Impressions I connected a USB 3.0 hard drive to the USB 3.0 port of the box, a USB keyboard to one of the USB port to take screenshots, and a USB hub with the RF dongles for my air mouse and gamepad in the remaining USB 2.0 port. I completed the hardware setup with Ethernet and HDMI cables, as well as the power supply. I then pressed the power button on the unit to start it up, […]

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