CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

January 5, 2017January 6, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Fasetto LINK 256GB to 2TB SSD Portable WiFi NAS is Powered by Samsung Exynos 7420 Processor

Fasetto LINK is a wireless portable storage for your smartphone, camera, or other device, includes 256GB, 512GB, or 2TB SSD storage, and – for some reasons – is based on a rather powerful Samsung Exynos 7420 octa-core processor coupled with 4GB RAM. The device can also take expansion blocks to add extra battery or/and LTE connectivity via pogo pins. LINK specifications: SoC – Samsung Exynos 7420 octa core big.LITTLE processor with 4x Cortex A57 core @ 2.1GHz + 4x Cortex A53 cores @ 1.5Ghz, and Mali-T760 MP8 GPU System Memory – 4GB LPDDR4 Storage – 256GB, 512GB, or 2TB Samsung NVMe SSD Connectivity – 802.11ac WiFi + Bluetooth 4.0, optical LTE via expansion block Expansion – 17-pin ball connector USB – USB type C port Battery – 1,300 mAh battery (2 weeks standby; 5 hours streaming); optional 1120mAh expansion block (total: 4 weeks standby; 8 hours streaming) Dimensions – 5.08 x […]

January 5, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

HDMI 2.1 Specification to Add Support for 4K @ 120 Hz, 8K and 10K Resolutions. New 48G Cable Required.

The HDMI Forum has just announced they’ve been working on HDMI specification Version 2.1 adding new video resolutions and refresh rates including 8K60 and 4K120, as well as dynamic HDR, and increased bandwidth up to 48 Gbps for uncompressed 8K videos with HDR. The new specification also includes support for eARC (enhanced audio return channel) with support for advanced audio formats such as object-based audio, and advanced audio signal control capabilities including device auto-detect. Game Mode VRR is another new feature from HDMI 2.1 with variable refresh rate to enable a 3D GPU to display the image at the moment it is rendered in order to reduce lag and frame tearing. Beside 4K120 and 8K60, the new specification also handles 4K, 5K, 8K, and even 10K resolutions at various frame rates between 50Hz to 120 Hz, up to 10K @ 120 Hz. Higher resolutions and frame rates (>=4K @ 120Hz; […]

January 5, 2017January 18, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Crowd-designed ZTE Hawkeye “Project CSX” Smartphone with Eye-Tracking, Adhesive Back Launched on KickStarter

ZTE launched Project CSX last year in order to let anybody submit product ideas and/or vote for the best choices, and after several months, the winning entry was a phone with an adhesive backcover and eye-tracking function to control the phone without hands. The company has now named the phone ZTE Hawkeye launched a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to raise funds for the development and manufacturing of the smartphone. Hawkeye smartphone specifications [Updated on Jan 18 with the released the specs]: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 Octa-core processor @ 2.0GHz System Memory – 3GB RAM Storage – 32GB flash memory + micro SD slot up to 256GB Display – 5.5″ FHD (1920 x 1080) Audio – HiFi audio Connectivity – WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, dual SIM card slot Camera – Rear: Dual Lens 13MP + 12MP with optical zoom; front: 8MP USB – 1x USB type C port Sensors – Fingerprint […]

January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Vapor Cooled ASUS Zenfone AR Smartphone Comes with 8GB RAM, Supports Google DayDream and Tango

ASUS Zenfore AR is an interesting beast, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, it’s the first processor I’ve heard to come with 8GB RAM, and also the first to support both Google DayDream virtual reality, and Google Tango 3D depth sensing camera. On top of that, it’s allegedly cooled by an “advanced vapor cooling system”. Zenfone AR (ZS571KL) specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad core processor up to 2.35 GHz with Adreno 530 GPU System Memory – 6 to 8 GB LPDDR4 RAM Storage – 32, 64, 128 or 256GB UFS 2.0 flash, micro SD/SDCX card slot up to 2TB, 5GB ASUS WebStorage for file, 100GB Google drive for 2 years Display – 5.7″ WQHD (2560×1440) AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 4, 10-finger capacitive touch Camera Tricam system with 23MP autofocus, motion tracking, and depth sensing cameras (Tango) 8MP front-facing camera with autofocus dual LED flash Video – […]

January 5, 2017May 20, 2019 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 58 Comments

ASUS Tinker Board is a Raspberry Pi 3 Alternative based on Rockchip RK3288 Processor

Regular readers may remember MQMaker MiQi board, a $35 (and up) development board powered by Rockchip RK3288 quad core ARM Cortex A17 processor, based on Raspberry Pi 3 form factor, but much faster according to benchmarks. Sadly, the board’s crowdfunding campaign was not that successful, possibly because of the “its’ a 2-year old processor” syndrome. But now, Minimachines has found that ASUS has designed a very similar board, dubbed Tinker Board, with an extra WiFi and Bluetooth LE module, audio jack, MIPI DSI connector, and a few other modifications. Asus Tinker Board specifications (bold highlights and strike-through show differences with MiQi board): SoC – Rockchip 3288 quad core ARM Cortex A17 up to 1.8 GHz with Mali-T764 GPU supporting OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0 /3.0, and OpenCL 1.1 System Memory – 2GB LPDDR3, dual channel Storage – 8 or 32 GB eMMC flash + micro SD slot Video output & Display I/F 1x HDMI 2.0 up to 3840×2160@60p […]

January 4, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

LeEco Smart Bicycles Run Android 6.0

LeEco, better known for their smartphones, has unveiled two bicycles at CES 2017 that run BikeOS – a version of Android 6.0 operating system tailored to cyclists – on a 4″ display attached to the bicycles. The bicycle supports GPS/GLONAS navigation for cyclists, ride & fitness logging, and includes a compass, a barometer, a light sensors, as well as wheel speed and crank speed meters. The bicycles can play music, and LeEco bike owners can talk to each other using the built-in walkie-talkie. The bicyckle’s display is powered by a Snapdragon 410 processor, includes a 6,000 mAh battery, and is rated IP54 against splashes and dust. The two models also includes two wheels, pedals, and other stuff you’d expect from bicycles: LeEco Smart Road Bike Aerodynamic Toray T700 carbon fiber frame, fork, seat post, handlebar and wheels 8.4 kg 11-speed one-by drivetrain Single chain ring up front, wide-range cassette in back […]

January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

$10 RTLDuino is an Arduino Compatible WiFi IoT Board based on Realtek RTL8710AF WiSoC

Last summer, we discovered a cheap RTL8710AF WiFi module with many of the same function as ESP8266, but with an ARM Cortex M3 core instead. The only problem is that it was not quite as easy to play with as ESP8266 boards, as at the time I started by playing with AT commands with B&T RTL00 RTL8710AF module, and later on, I got a more convenient PADI IoT Stamp with breakout board, but if you wanted to change the firmware you had to play with the SDK and a J-Link SWD debugger. Realtek RTL8710AF did not offer the convenience of Arduino IDE program like its big brother “RTL8195AM” from the same Ameba family. I know mbed is being worked on, but in the meantime things have changed for the better, as kissste informed me that RtlDuino implementation added Arduino support to RTL8710AF and RTL8711AM modules, and an NodeMCU-like board with […]

January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Qorvo GP695 “Smart Home” SoC Integrates 802.15.4, Zigbee 3.0, Thread, and Bluetooth LE

GreenPeak Technologies ultra-low power, short range RF communication technology company was acquired by Qorvo last year, and Qorvo has recently announced a GP695 system on chip (SoC) for smart home devices part of GreenPeak’s previous family of devices, and supporting multiple short range RF protocols. GP695 key features: MCU Core – ARM Cortex M4 Connectivity IEEE 802.15.4 ZigBee 3.0 Thread Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Qorvo Wi-Fi interference mitigation technology GP695 has been designed to be used in device such as a door locks, smart HVAC, smart security systems, connected video doorbells and intercoms, lightbulbs, smoke alarms, and leak detectors, and complements GP712 multi-protocol SoC designed for smart home gateways. Qorvo will feature live demonstrations of its smart home and IoT solutions at its booth during CES 2017, at Sands Expo, Halls A-D Booth #42114. There’s very limited public information, and no product page could be found in their website.