Google has now formally announced Android O version and name: Android 8.0 Oreo. We already had seen the new Features in Android O-reo during the first preview release with picture-in-picture support, autofill APIs, adaptive icons and so on. There’s also a new Android Oreo character…

If you want to run the latest Android 8.0 on your device, you can do so on Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Pixel C, Pixel, and Pixel XL by getting the firmware in the download page, unless you are enrolled in Android Beta Program in which case you should receive it automatically. What I did not see (yet) is a joint announcement for a new Android 8.0 phone like last year LG V20 smartphone with Android 7.0, and Google simply said that “by the end of this year, hardware makers including Essential, General Mobile, HMD Global Home of Nokia Phones, Huawei, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp and Sony are scheduled to launch or upgrade devices to Android 8.0”.

You can also get Android 8.0 source code in AOSP using android-8.0.0_r4 tag:

Tweet Google has now formally announced Android O version and name: Android 8.0 Oreo. We already had seen the new Features in Android O-reo during the first preview release with…

Espressif Systems has revealed another ESP32 variant, but this time it’s not an SoC, but a 7x7mm system-in-package (SIP) that comes ESP32 dual core processor, a 4MB  SPI flash, a crystal oscillator and various passive components, so that you don’t need to include those in your design, and create an ultra-compact PCB for wearables and other space-constrained applications.

ESP32-PICO-D4 Internal Schematics – Click to Enlarge

ESP32-PICO-D4 SiP specifications:

• SoC – ESP32 with two Tensilica LX6 cores, 448 KB ROM, 520 KB SRAM (inc. 8KB RTC memory), 1kbit eFuse
• On-module Flash – 4MB SPI flash
• Connectivity
  • WiFi – 802.11 b/g/n/e/i (802.11n up to 150 Mbps)
  • Bluetooth – Bluetooth V4.2 BR/EDR and BLE specification; ; class-1, class-2 and class-3 transmitter; Audio: CVSD and SBC
• SIP Interfaces
  • SD card, UART, SPI, SDIO, LED PWM, Motor PWM, I2S, I2C, IR
  • GPIO, capacitive touch sensor, ADC, DAC, LNA pre-amplifier
• Sensors –  On-chip Hall sensor & temperature sensor
• Clock – On-module 40 MHz crystal
• Power supply – 2.3 ~ 3.6V
• Operating current – Average: 80 mA
• Temperature range –  -40°C ~ 85°C
• Package dimensions –  7.0±0.1 mm x 7.0±0.1 mm x 0.94±0.1 mm

I understand ESP32 supports up to 16MB flash, so future ESP32-PICO-D16 SIP might be possible too. The second schematics in the datasheet shows what a basic board with ESP32-PICO SIP looks like.

ESP32-PICO-D4 Module Peripheral Schematics – Click to Enlarge

The company explains the SiP is particularly suited for any space-limited or battery-operated applications, such as wearable electronics, medical equipment, sensors and other IoT products. Beside the datasheet, there’s currently very little information about ESP32-PICO-D4 on the web, so we’ll have to wait to see what comes out of it.

Via ESP32net Tweet

Tweet Espressif Systems has revealed another ESP32 variant, but this time it’s not an SoC, but a 7x7mm system-in-package (SIP) that comes ESP32 dual core processor, a 4MB  SPI flash,…

Last week, we saw that the upcoming Intel Gemini Lake processors integrated a CNVi (Connectivity Integration) block with a WiFi MAC, and Bluetooth MAC & Baseband Modem connected over a CNVio interface to a separate CRF (Companion RF) module handling the RF part. The design change is shown in the block diagram below with the old design on the left using wireless modules connected over PCIe and USB, and the new design on the right used in Cannon Lake/Gemini Lake processors which aims at saving power, cost, and size.

Intel has now uploaded the product brief for their first wireless CRF module: Intel Wireless-AC 9560 with the following key features:

• Connectivity
  • WiFi
    • Dual band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac wave 2 2×2 WiFi up to 1.73 Gbps using 160 MHz channels
    • Standards – IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, 802.11d, 802.11e, 802.11h, 802.11i, 802.11w, 802.11r, 802.11k, 802.11v pending OS support
    • Security
      • WPA and WPA2, 802.1X (EAP-TLS, TTLS, PEAP,EAP-SIM, EAP-AKA, EAP-AKA’) authentication methods
      • PAP, CHAP, TLS, MS-CHAP, MS-CHAPv2 protocols
      • 64-bit and 128-bit WEP, TKIP, 128-bit AES-CCMP encryption
    • Supports roaming between access points
  • Bluetooth 5
  • Antenna diversity and Radio ON/OFF control supported
• Connector Interface – M.2: CNVio
• Dimensions
  • 9560NGW model: 30 x 22 x 2.4 mm (M.2 2230 form factor)
  • 9560D2W model: 16 x 12 x 1.57 mm (M.2 1216 form factor)
• Weight – 9560NGW: 2.8 grams, 9560D2W: 0.7 gram
• Certifications – FIPS, FISMA, UL, C-UL, CB (IEC 60950-1), and other regulatory certifications depending on country

Intel has been providing M.2 2230 and M.2 1216 wireless modules for a while, so there’s no direct space saving here with CNVi when using those modules, but they should still come with less components than previous design.

We’ll have to wait until systems based on Gemini Lake or Cannon Lake start selling before being able to purchase Wireless-AC 9560 module, or see it bundled in computers or laptops.

Tweet Last week, we saw that the upcoming Intel Gemini Lake processors integrated a CNVi (Connectivity Integration) block with a WiFi MAC, and Bluetooth MAC & Baseband Modem connected over…

Launched in 2015, NVIDIA Jetson TX1 developer kit integrates some serious processing power with a Jetson TX1 module with a 256-core Maxwell GPU, four Cortex A57 cores, 4GB RAM, 16GB eMMC, and plenty of ports and I/Os via a mini-ITX carrier board. The only problem is that it’s quite expensive, as it was launched with an official $599 price tag, and it’s still $579 on Amazon US. The good news is that NVIDIA decided to launch a promotion for Jetson TX1 Developer Kit SE, based on the same $500+ development kit minus USB cable and camera module, and offered for just $199.

Click to Enlarge

Let’s refresh our memory with the board’s specifications:

• Jeston TX1 module
  • NVIDIA Maxwell GPU with 256 NVIDIA CUDA Cores
  • Quad-core ARM Cortex-A57 MPCore Processor
  • 4 GB LPDDR4 Memory
  • 16 GB eMMC 5.1 Flash Storage
  • Connects to 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled devices
  • 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet
• NVIDIA Jetson TX1 Carrier Board
  • USB – 1x USB 3.0 Type A Safety Booklet, 1x  USB 2.0 Micro AB (supports recovery and host mode)
  • HDMI
  • M.2 Key E
  • PCIe x4
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • Full size SD card slot
  • SATA data and Power
  • GPIOs, I2C, I2S, SPI
  • TTL UART with flow control
• Power Supply – External 19V AC adapter AC Adaptor and power cord

The kit includes NVIDIA Jetson TX1 Carrier Board, an AC Adapter and power cord, antennas to connect to Wi-Fi enabled devices, 4x rubber feet, a Quick Start Guide, and a Safety Booklet. Various other optional accessories can also be added to your purchase such HDMI cable, USB camera, USB cable, and so on.

In order to qualify for the discount, you need to be part of NVIDIA Developer Program (free registration), and while the promotion is only available in the US and Canada, the company intends to offer the kit in “other geographies starting this September”.

Tweet Launched in 2015, NVIDIA Jetson TX1 developer kit integrates some serious processing power with a Jetson TX1 module with a 256-core Maxwell GPU, four Cortex A57 cores, 4GB RAM,…

Kingston DataTraveler 2000 is a USB 3.0 flash drive that stores files with hardware based AES-256 encryption, and to make sure nobody can access those, it’s also protected with a pin code thanks to a keypad on the flash drive itself. That’s news to me, but the devices have been selling since early 2016 with 16 to 64GB capacities, and you’ll find them on Amazon for $127 and up.

Click to Enlarge

However, since such high security USB flash drives are mostly used for confidential information by enterprises and governments (it’s FIPS-197 compliant), some company’s customers may have complained that 16 to 64GB storage is a bit too much for confidential data, with recent top secret documents leaks or IP thefts, so Kingston has just announced smaller 4GB and 8GB versions of the drives.

Those drives are OS agnostic with encryption occurring inside the drive, and seen buy your computer or other hardware as a normal USB drive after your enter the pin number. For extra security, the company explains “its auto-lock feature is activated when the drive is removed from the host device, and the encryption key and password are deleted after 10 invalid login attempts to thwart brute force intrusions”.

I could not see the new 4GB and 8GB DataTraveler 2000 stick for sale anywhere yet. You’ll find a few more details in the product page.

Via PC Watch (Japan) & Eddy Lab

Tweet Kingston DataTraveler 2000 is a USB 3.0 flash drive that stores files with hardware based AES-256 encryption, and to make sure nobody can access those, it’s also protected with…

Russia based Yota makes some unusual phones with dual display with a standard color front display, and an e-paper rear display that allows you to check the time without pressing a button, keeping displaying important information even when your battery is completely discharged, and more. The first Yotaphone was launched in December 2012, followed by a prettier and more powerful Yotaphone 2 in December 2014, but we’ve had to wait nearly three years for the company – with some fresh money and technical involvements from Chinese partners – to introduce YotaPhone 3 at the Russian Embassy in Beijing. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, and features a 5.5″ super AMOLED display on the front, and a 5.2″ E-Ink display on the back.

Yotaphone 3 preliminary  (& partial) specifications:

• SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core Cortex A53 processor @ up to 2.0 GHz with Adreno 506 GPU
• System Memory – 4 GB
• Storage – 64 or 128 eMMC flash
• Display
  • 5.5″ super AMOLED LCD 1920 x 1080 display (front)
  • 5.2″ E-ink Carta 1280 x 720 display (back)
• Cellular Connectivity – Dual SIM support
• Camera – 13MP front-facing camera, 12MP rear camera with dual tone flash
• USB – 1x USB type C port
• Sensors – Fingerprint sensor, front and back proximity sensors, etc…
• Battery – 3,300 mAh battery
• Dimensions – TBD

The phone runs YotaOS 3.0 based on Android 7.1.1 Nougat, and comes with apps for the E-ink display that are specific to the Chinese market.

Click to Enlarge

YotaPhone 3 will first sell in China with pre-order starting on JD.com on September 5th for 2,398 CNY ($360) for the 64GB version, and 3,098 CNY ($465) for the 128 GB, and actual sales starting on Setpember 18th. The phone will later launch in Russia, where it will be called YOTA 3. It’s unclear when/whether it will sell in other markets, but you can be sure it will soon show up on Chinese e-retailer websites such as Aliexpress, GearBest, Geekbuking, and others.

Via Liliputing and GSM Arena

Tweet Russia based Yota makes some unusual phones with dual display with a standard color front display, and an e-paper rear display that allows you to check the time without…

ComfilePi CPi-A070WR & CPi-A102WR are industrial IP65 panel PCs powered by Raspberry Pi CM3 compute module, with respectively 7″ and 10.2″ resistive touchscreen displays, and that run modified version of Raspbian OS.

ComfilePi CPi touch panel computers specifications:

• SoC – Broadcom BMC2837 quad core Cortex A53 processor @ up to 1.2GHz with Broadcom VideoCore IV GPU
• System Memory – 1 GB
• Storage – 1x micro SD Slot
• Display
  • 7“ 800×480 Touchscreen Pressure-sensitive (Resistive Film Type) LCD display OR
  • 10.2” 800×480 Touchscreen Pressure-sensitive (Resistive Film Type) LCD display
• Audio – 3.5mm audio out port
• I/Os
  • 40-pin header socket based on Raspberry Pi 40-pin header pinout with 22x GPIO with ESD protection circuit
  • 2x RS-232 terminal blocks
  • 1x I2C terminal block
• USB – 3x USB 2.0 ports
• Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, optional WiFi via USB dongle
• Misc – 1x Piezzo buzzer
• Power Supply – 12~24V DC via 3-pin terminal block
• Dimensions (housing made of Flame retardant ABS)
  • CPi-A070WR – 187 x 124 x 51.1 mm
  • CPi-A102WR – 264 x 70 x 52.6 mm
• Temperature range – Operating: 0°C to 70°C; storage – -20°C to 80°C
• IP Rating – IP65 rated front panel

While the company mentions CM3 module, it appears they actually went with CM3L module, an odd choice for an industrial product, as it means the OS will run from micro SD card, instead of the more reliable / resistant to vibrations eMMC flash found in CM3 module.

Expansion I/Os Details – Click to Enlarge

The company provides a Raspbian image for the touch panel PC that’s modified for:

• Legal reasons – Removed Mathematica and the Wolfram Language, the Oracle JDK, and RealVNC since they are not allowed in commercial products (without paying extra)
• User Interface Framework – Qt 5.8 and supporting packages added
• Features specific to ComfilePi Panel PC – Touchscreen calibration, and piezzo buzzer beep when touch is detected

Source code can be found in the FTP server, and you’ll find hardware and software documentation in the Wiki. The video below provides an overview and demonstrates a few use cases for the panel PCs.

[embedded content]

ComfilePi CPi-A070W & CPi-A102WR industrial panel PCs are sold for respectively $199 & $299 on Comfile Tech website, but you’ll also find both models on US based Saelig distributor for bit more.

Via LinuxGizmos

Tweet ComfilePi CPi-A070WR & CPi-A102WR are industrial IP65 panel PCs powered by Raspberry Pi CM3 compute module, with respectively 7″ and 10.2″ resistive touchscreen displays, and that run modified version…

Last week, we discovered Amlogic S905W processor through Tanix TX3 Mini TV box, with the processor maxing out at 4K @ 30 Hz in order to provide cost-competitive solutions, for example against Rockchip RK3229 TV boxes. However, at the time, the price was not that attractive. Prices have come down quickly, as Tanix TX3 Mini can be purchased for about $29 with 1GB RAM /16GB flash, and $32 with 2GB RAM/ 16 GB flash using coupon PYNNHDAH. X96 Mini is an even cheaper option as the Amlogic S905W is sold for as low as $24.99 shipped on Banggood.

X96 mini TV box specifications:

• SoC – Amlogic S905W quad core ARM Cortex-A53 @ up to 1.5 GHz with penta-core Mali-450MP GPU @ 750 MHz
• System Memory – 1 or 2GB DDR3
• Storage – 8 or 16GB eMMC flash + micro SD card slot
• Video & Audio Output – HDMI 2.0a output with HDR, AV port (composite + stereo audio)
• Video Codecs – [email protected] H.265 [email protected], [email protected] VP9 Profile-2, MPEG1/2/4, H.264, HD AVC/VC-1, RM/RMVB, Xvid/DivX3/4/5/6 , RealVideo8/9/10
• Connectivity – 10/100M Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi (No Bluetooth)
• USB – 2x USB 2.0 ports: 1x host, 1x device (OTG?)
• Misc – IR receiver, IR expansion port
• Power Supply – 5V/2A
• Dimensions – 82 x 82 x 17mm

X96 Mini can be cheaper than Tanix TX3 because it comes with less internal storage (8GB vs 16GB), they’ve done without optical S/PDIF audio output, and the device is smaller. The box runs Android 7.1.2, and ships with an HDMI cable, a remote control, an IR remote control, a power adapter, user’s manual, and just like the older X96 TV box,  some mounting kit with “magic tape” in order to hook the device behind the TV. A photo of the board has also been provided, sop we can look a more details about the design:

Click to Enlarge

1. The IR port is marked IR/COAX, so I suspect it can also be used as a coaxial S/PDIF output port
2. An 8GB Samsung KLM8G1GEME-B041 eMMC 5.1 flash is used which means they’ve used the best 8GB Samsung flash available with 185/40 MB/s sequential R/W speed, and 5.2K/2.5K R/W IOPS, meaning performance should be decent at all times. The 16GB should be even faster, if they’ve used the same eMMC 5.1 family.
3. The WiFi chipset reads something like 5V6051P… I have no idea what brand or model that is…

The 2GB/16GB version of X96 mini is sold for $34.99, that’s about $2 more than the equivalent Tanix TX3 price. You’ll also find both X96 Mini models on Aliexpress.

As a side note, Banggood is organizing a promotion for their 11th Anniversary, and while I have not been able to find any big discount myself, but just around 5% off compared to normal price, you may be luckier.

As a second side note, Amlogic S805X – 4x Cortex A53 limited to 1080p – is also coming, as I learned via Stane1983’s rant about the latest Amlogic Android SDK…

Via AndroidPC.es

Tweet Last week, we discovered Amlogic S905W processor through Tanix TX3 Mini TV box, with the processor maxing out at 4K @ 30 Hz in order to provide cost-competitive solutions,…

You’ve probably heard about Volkswagen emission scandal that surfaced last year. Basically, the company used some tricks to detect when the vehicle was under test and ran in low emission mode during those tests, and normally on the road emitting up to 40 times over the U.S. pollution limits. Cheating is quite easy because testing is performed indoor with the car wheels on rollers as shown in the picture below, so all the software had to do is detect whether the car was actually moving forward to select the right mode.

Several executives involved in the decision to rig the emissions tests got charged as expected, but what happened to the engineer who implemented the code following his  boss(es)’ request? Reuters reports that he’s been sentenced to 40-month prison term, and a $200,000 fine, after pleading guilty early on, and collaborating with authorities.

His lawyer argued that Jiang (Engineer surname) was no a “mastermind” of the emissions fraud, and “blindly executed a misguided loyalty to his employer” , but the prosecutor countered that he was a “pivotal figure” in designing the cheating system. Liang is now 63 years old working in another position for the company, and the system was used between 2006 to 2015, so even at the time, he was likely a senior engineer, and not a “rookie” engineer. None of the “news outlet” I’ve read bothered to post a link to the court decision for people wanting more details… But still, that ruling means you could be legally liable for the code you write, even if you did not take the decision yourself. The case is not complete, as an appeal is possible, but it looks like they are only attempting to reduce the sentence.

Tweet You’ve probably heard about Volkswagen emission scandal that surfaced last year. Basically, the company used some tricks to detect when the vehicle was under test and ran in low…

Back in April, BBen showcased their “Micro computer”, an Apollo Lake mini PC in stick form factor, at the Hong Kong Global Sources Electronics Fair, which was scheduled to launch in July. With about one month delay, the company is now selling Bben MN10 PC Stick starting at $157.30 including with an unlicensed Windows 10 installation, but also offer Windows 10 Home, and Windows 10 Pro for an extra $21.39 and $30.33 respectively.

BBen MN10 HDMI TV stick specifications:

• SoC – Intel Celeron N3350 dual core processor @ 1.1 GHz / 2.4 GHz, 12 EU Intel HD graphics 500 @ 200 MHz / 650 MHz; 6W TDP
• System Memory – 3 GB DDR3
• Storage – 64 GB eMMC flash + micro SD slot up to 128 GB
• Video Output – HDMI port
• Audio – HDMI + 3.5mm headphone jack
• Connectivity – Dual band 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0
• USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports
• Misc – Fan and ventilation holes,
• Power Supply – 12V/1.5A via power barrel
• Dimensions – 110.6 x 45.5 x 13.8 mm
• Weight – 70 grams

The specifications are somewhat similar to ECDREAM A9 PC Stick, with the same processor, mostly the same interfaces, and active cooling, but the RAM is limited to 3GB, storage is larger at 64GB, and the BBen model adds an audio jack. MN10 will feel more like an actual stick with a 45.5 mm width compared to 58 mm for ECDREAM model.The mini PC ships with a power adapter, a HDMI cable, a user guide, and a warranty card. In case you plan to connect a USB hard drive, the company recommends a low power external hard drive (5V/1A), or to connect it via “the USB 2.0 port”, which in this case must be mean connect it via a USB 2.0 hub, and not directly to the USB 3.0 port. The product is not listed on the company website just yet, but eventually we should find it on the company’s “mini PC” page.

Via AndroidPC.es

Tweet Back in April, BBen showcased their “Micro computer”, an Apollo Lake mini PC in stick form factor, at the Hong Kong Global Sources Electronics Fair, which was scheduled to…

There’s been a lot of development related to Google Assistant in the last few days. First, Google provided an update for AIY Projects, with their AIY Projects Voice Kit now available for…

We’ve previously cover Macchina M2 OBD-II dongle based on an Arduino compatible MCU, and with 4G LTE support for the maker market, and iWave Systems OBD-II dongle with 4G LTE and LTE running…

We all know that Gemini Lake processors will succeed Apollo Lake family, we have a good idea of the supported features. and even know that Intel is expecting 10 to 15% CPU integer performance…

Karl here with final part of Tevo Tarantula dual extruder 3D printer review. The kit that was sent by Gearbest has a large bed, auto leveling, dual extrusion, and flex extruder of which I only found…

Huawei has unveiled their latest Kirin 970 SoC for premium smartphone at IFA 2017. The processor features an 8-core CPU, and a new 12-core GPU, but what makes this new processor stands apart it a…

I’ve just completed MINIX NEO Z83-4 Pro review, a Cherry Trail mini PC with Windows 10 Pro, but if you’d like something with a more recent and faster processor, the company will soon launch a MINIX NEO N42C-4 with an Apollo Lake processor, and upgradeable memory and storage.

MINIX NEO N42C-4 preliminary specifications:

• SoC – Intel Pentium N4200 quad core “Apollo Lake” processor @ 1.10 / 2.50 GHz with 18 EU Intel HD Graphics 505 (6W TDP)
  
• System Memory – 4GB DDR3L SO-DIMM module (upgradeable to 8GB via 2x SO-DIMM slots)
• Storage – 32GB eMMC 5.1 flash, 1x 2280 M.2 SSD slot
• Video Output – HDMI 1.4 up to 4K @ 30 Hz, mini DisplayPort up to 4K @ 60 Hz, USB type C up to 4K @ 60 Hz(video only, no audio); supports for up to 3 independent displays
• Audio – Via HDMI, miniDP, 3.5mm audio combo jack
• Connectivity – Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n/ac WiFi & Bluetooth 4.1
• USB – 3x USB 3.0 ports, 1x USB Type-C port
• Misc – Power button
• Power Supply  – 12V? power jack or USB type C

The mini PC is pre-loaded with an activated version of Windows 10 Pro 64-bit. While other recent MINIX Intel mini PCs are all fanless, N42C-4 relies on a cooling fan, and it’s the first model that upgradeable with SO-DIMM SDRAM slots, and an M.2 slot for SSD. The video below also shows the mini PC connected to a monitor over a USB type C cable providing both power (from display) and video output.
[embedded content]

MINIX NEO N42C-4 will be available at the beginning of October for $269.90 / 269.90 Euros.

Via Netbook Italia

Tweet I’ve just completed MINIX NEO Z83-4 Pro review, a Cherry Trail mini PC with Windows 10 Pro, but if you’d like something with a more recent and faster processor,…

LoRaWAN protocol is one of the most popular LPWAN standards used for the Internet of Things today, but some people found it “lacked efficiency, did not support direct node-to-node communication, and was too costly and far too complicated for many applications”, so they developed their own LoRa wireless protocol software called RadioShuttle, which they claim is “capable of efficiently sending messages in a fast and secure way between simple LoRa modules”.

Some of the key features of the protocol include:

• Support for secure or insecure (less time/energy) message transmission, multiple messages transmission in parallel
• Unique 32-bit device ID (device number) per LoRa member, unique 16-bit app ID (program number for the communication)
• Security – Login with SHA-256 encrypt password; AES-128 message encryption
• Air Traffic Control – Nodes only send if no LoRa signal is active on that channel.
• Optimized protocol –  Message delivery within 110 ms (SF7, 125 kHz, free channel provided); default LoRa bandwidth 125 kHz (125/250/500 kHz adjustable), as narrow bandwidths allow for a longer range; Automatic transmitting power adjustment
• Operating modes
  • Station, constant power supply recommended –  12 mA in receiving mode, transmitting mode (20 to 100 mA)
  • Node Online (permanently receiving), constant power supply recommended – 12 mA in receiving mode, transmitting mode (20 to 100 mA)
  • Wireless sensor (Node Offline checking) – Node reports back regularly. 1 µA in standby mode, battery operation for years.
  • Wireless sensor (Node Offline) – Node only active if events are reported. 1 µA in standby mode, battery operation for years.

The Radioshuttle library has a low memory and storage footprint with current requirements of

• 100 kB Flash for RadioShuttle library with SHA256 & AES
• 10 kB RAM for Node Offline/Checking/Online mode
• 10 kB RAM for Station Basic mode (RAM depends on the number of nodes)
• 1 MB RAM for Station Server mode (Raspberry Pi, 10,000 LoRa nodes)

The solution supports various Arduino boards, some ARM Mbed boards (e,g, STM32L0, STM32L4), and Linux capable boards like Raspberry Pi or Orange Pi (planned). Semtech SX1276MB1MAS and SX1276MB1LAS (SX1276-based), MURATA CMWX1ZZABZ-078/091 (found in STM32 Discovery kit for LoRaWAN), and HopeRF RFM95 transceivers are supported.

LonRa Board – Click to Enlarge

The developers have also designed their own LongRa board, compatible with Arduino Zero, based on Semtech SX1276 LoRa radio chip with a 168 dB link budget and support for 868 MHz & 915 MHz frequency. The board can be powered by its micro USB port, or by two AA batteries if you’re going to use the board as a wireless sensor node.

RadioShuttle protocol is not open source for now, and while it support multiple devices as stated previsouly, if you are not using LongRa board, a 25 Euros license is required per device.

Tweet LoRaWAN protocol is one of the most popular LPWAN standards used for the Internet of Things today, but some people found it “lacked efficiency, did not support direct node-to-node…

Way back in 2012, I wrote about Microchip MGC3130 3D Gesture Controller with “GestIC technology” which allows you to make gesture up to 15cm from the surface and at lower power in order to control devices in a new way. At the time, the chip was said to sell for $2.26 in large quantities, and the evaluation kits went for $169 and up. I’m writing about MGC3130 about 5 years later, as Seeed Studio has started taking pre-orders for a $25.89 Flick HAT board based on the solution, and designed for Raspberry Pi boards, or other boards with a compatible 40-pin “GPIO” header featuring an I2C interface.

Flick HAT 3D Tracking & Gesture HAT specifications & features:

Tweet Way back in 2012, I wrote about Microchip MGC3130 3D Gesture Controller with “GestIC technology” which allows you to make gesture up to 15cm from the surface and at…

Seeed Studio launched Wio GPS tracker with a 2G GSM module a few months ago, and while it should work in some countries, others are phasing out 2G networks, and only support 3G or 4G. The company has now launched an update with Wio LTE board with the same form factor, and most of the same features except they replaced the 2G/Bluetooth/GNSS module with a 4G LTE/GNSS module, and Atmel SAMD21 ARM Cortex M0+ microcontroller by an STMicro STM32 ARM Cortex-M4F MCU.

Wio LTE board specifications:

• MCU – STMicro STM32F405RG ARM Cortex M4F MCU @ 168 MHz with 1MB flash, 192+4KB SRAM
• Storage – micro SD slot
• Connectivity via Quectel EC21-A (America) module
  • LTE Cat.1 modem:
    • FDD LTE: B2/B4/B12 WCDMA: B2/B4/B5
    • AT Command: 3GPP TS27.007 and enhanced AT Commands
    • Data – LTE-FDD Max 10Mbps(DL) Max 5Mbps (UL)
    • NanoSIM card
    • 2x u.FL antenna connectors
  • GNSS – GPS/BeiDou/GLONASS/Galileo/QZSS with 1x u.FL GNSS antenna connector
• Audio – 3.5mm audio jack with mic and stereo audio
• Expansion – 6x Grove Connectors (2x Digital, 2x Analog, 1x UART, 1x I2C)
• USB – 1x micro USB port for power and firmware update
• Misc – RGB LED, LTE power button, MCU reset button
• Power Supply – 5V via micro USB port, 2-pin JST 1.0 header for battery
• Dimensions – 54.7mm x 48.2mm

When I reviewed Wio GPS Tracker, the instructions provided to use with the Arduino IDE did not work very well. So let’s hope they will come up with a better and up-to-date getting started guide for Wio LTE board in their Wiki. Alternatively, the new board also supports Espruino for JavaScript programming for the I/Os, micro SD card, 4G, SMS, and GPS, and shown in Espruino Wio LTE page.

Seeed Studio is now taking pre-order for Wio LTE US Version for $97.50 plus shipping. Quectel also has other EC21 modules like EC21-E (EMEA, Korea, Thailand, India), EC21-AUT (Australia), and others, so I’d expect Seeed Studio to also launch variants of Wio LTE board that work in other countries.

Tweet Seeed Studio launched Wio GPS tracker with a 2G GSM module a few months ago, and while it should work in some countries, others are phasing out 2G networks,…