CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

January 6, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

MediaTek MT8581 Media Processor Supports 4K UHD Blu-rays, 10-bit H.265, VP9, and HDR Imaging

Mediatek has unveiled MT8581 processor for UHD Blu-ray players at CES 2016, with support the latest 10-bit H.265 and VP9, as well as High Dynamic Range (HDR) for better video quality. The press release provides limited info, but I found a temporary? page with more details (screenshot), and MT8581 specifications should be as follows: CPU – Quad core ARM Cortex A53 processor GPU – N/A, but could be ARM Mali-820MP2 according to AndroidPC.es Optical Disks support – Blu-ray, DVD and CD playback, including the latest BD-ROM format, such as BD-Live and BonusView. When combined with MT8577A Video Codecs – HEVC/H.265 10-bit, H.264 and VP9 Profile 2, Ultra HD 60p video decoder (3840×2160), MPEG-1/2/4, VP8 and VC-1 for Full HD 60p. Encode: H.265 and H.264. High Dynamic Range – HDR10 open standard and Dolby Vision IP Audio – AAC, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, and DTS HD Network […]

January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Outernet Shares Knowledge via their Lighthouse Satellite Receiver

While many of us take Internet access for granted, about 60% of the world population did not have access to Internet at the end of 2014, and Outernet initiative aims to provide educational, emergency, and news content to this segment of the population, which still represents the majority, at a rate of 1GB per day via a satellite receiver called Lighthouse. Let’s check the hardware first: SoC – Amlogic AML8726-MX dual core Cortex A9 @ 1.5GHz with Mali-400MP GPU System Memory – 1GB DDR3 Storage – 4 GB NAND flash + 1x micro SD slot Video Output – HDMI, AV (CVBS + R/L audio) Audio Output – HDMI, AV, and optical S/PDIF Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi with up to 5 clients Tuner – DVB-S2 tuner with two antenna connectors (only one used) USB – 3x external USB 2.0 ports, 2x internal USB 2.0 ports (used) Misc – […]

January 6, 2016January 6, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 21 Comments

Omron Project Zero BP6000 is Both a Blood Pressure Monitor and a Smartwatch

Many smartwaches or fitness trackers include an heart rate monitor, but instead many people need to monitor their blood pressure to make sure it’s not too high (hypertension) or low (hypotension). Usually this involves either going to the doctor, or doing measurements at home with a blood pressure monitor by placing a cuff on the upper arm, and in this should take a short time, but many people may still not want to bother with the procedure. So Omron has designed a new blood pressure monitor that looks like a large smartwatch, and includes the same function as fitness monitors, in order to simply the process further, and have more people regularly measure their blood pressure. Technical details about Project Zero wrist blood pressure monitor (BPM) are not fully available yet, but we do now the company is going through FDA approval, so contrary to gadgets with heat rate monitors […]

January 5, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 4 Comments

Broadcom BCM4908 Router SoC Supports 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, and Up to 3.4 Gbps Combined WiFi Speeds

While most of us are still talking about megabit per second (Mbps) when it comes to Internet connectivity, some are already enjoying higher maximum speeds of one or more Gigabit per second (Gbps) with services like Google Fiber or Comcast Gigabit Pro (2Gbps) in the US. That means one of the bottleneck include Gigabit Ethernet in most home settings, so to address higher network speeds at home and at the office, Broadcom has designed and unveiled BCM4908 quad core 64-bit ARM SoC for high-end routers that includes an interface for a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet PHY, and supports the company’s BCM4366 wave 2 5G WiFi MU-MIMO for up to 3.4 Gbps combined WiFi transfer rates across multiple devices. Some key features of BCM4908 processor include: Quad core 64-bit ARM processor @ 1.8 GHz Zero CPU Wi-Fi offload to free up CPU resources BroadStream iQoS acceleration Dedicated security processor to enable hardware […]

January 5, 2016January 5, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

SOOCOO G1 is a $54 Action Camera with a Flexible Stick

Last year, a company, now called BOUD, launched Flex Cam PIC actions camera with an innovative and cute stick that can bend as needed, either straightened to use it as a selfie stick, or rolled around an object. The project launched on Indiegogo, but had some delays, and over the course of last year I received a few emails asking me when the camera would be ready. While development is close to the end, and backers should receive their rewards soon, SOOCOO, a Chinese company known for their action & sports camera, must have thought it was a pretty neat idea, and decided to create their own version of Flex Cam PIC with G1 model using a similar, but removable, flexible stick. SOOCOO G1 camera specifications: SoC – “SUI chipset” (I could only “map” SUI to Sensor Unlimited Inc, but they don’t seem to mostly provide industrial solutions) Storage – […]

January 5, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Wi-Fi HaLow is the Consumer Name for 802.11ah Low Power Long Range WiFi

For some reasons, people who decide to name things like to give one name for technical people, and another for consumers. A few years ago, I went to buy a 1080p TV, but at first the seller was confused when I asked, and then I talked about resolution, and when he asked “Full HD” or “HD Ready”? It was my turn to me confused. There are several other example such as Bluetooth Low Energy for geeks may be Bluetooth Smart for consumers, and now the Wi-Fi alliance has just announced that IoT devices and gateway featuring the latest 802.11ah standard will be designed as Wi-Fi HaLow devices. They have not come up with a Wi-Fi Halow logo yet… Nevertheless, apart from the name, nothing appears to have changed. HaLow/802.11ah is still the same Wi-FI standard operating at 900MHz targeting IoT applications with low power, long range (up to 1km), and […]

January 5, 2016May 10, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Mediatek Unveils MT2523 SiP for GPS Enabled, Bluetooth LE Wearables

Silicon manufacturers are starting to launch ever more integrated solutions specifically designed for wearables, and after Samsung S3FBP5A bio-processor unveiled a few days ago, MediaTek has launched MT2623 ARM Cortex M4 System-in-Package (SiP) with GPS, Bluetooth LE, and a MIPI DSI interface. Other details are sparse but here’s what the company disclosed for MT2523: MCU core – ARM Cortex M4 GPU – 2D accelerator supporting true colors, per-pixel alpha channel, anti-aliasing fonts, and 1-bit index color to save memory. Connectivity – Dual-mode Bluetooth Low Energy and GPS Display – MIPI DSI and serial interfaces Integrated PMU Battery Life – More than a week (typical) The SiP’s printed circuit board area is said to be 41% percent smaller than competitors’ solutions. MT2523 will be available to manufacturers in H1 2016, and found in active and fitness smartwatches a little later. Thanks to Nanik for the tip.

January 4, 2016January 6, 2016 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 21 Comments

PiPO X6S is a Windows 10 Cherry Trail mini PC with 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Dual Ethernet, and SATA Support

PiPO X6S is a Windows 10 mini PC powered by an Intel Atom x5-Z8300 quad core processor with up to 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC, and a 2.5″ internal SATA bay, that includes support for 802.11ac WiFi, and two Ethernet ports. PiPO X6S specifications (preliminary since the specs on GeekBuying are a complete mess, and pictures are lacking): SoC – Intel Atom x5-Z8300 “Cherry Trail” quad core processor @ 1.44 GHz/1.84 GHz with Intel Gen8 HD graphics System Memory – 4 GB DDR3 Storage – 64 GB flash, 2.5″ SATA drive support, and micro SD slot up to 128GB Video and Audio Output – HDMI and AV Connectivity – 2x 10/100M Ethernet ports, 802.11 b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.0 via Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3160 Plus Bluetooth card USB – 2x USB 2.0 host ports, 1x USB 3.0 port Misc – Reset and power button Power Supply – 5V/3A Dimensions – […]