Star Cloud PCG02U is the first Ubuntu product from MeLE. After taking a few pictures of the TV stick and the board, I’ve tested the performance and functionality of the device. First Boot and Setup You can either connected the stick directly into an HDMI port, or using the provided female to female adapter via an HDMI cable. I’ve opted to insert the device directly into the AUX port of my Onkyo A/V receiver itself connected to my TV. Since there’s only one USB host port, USB keyboard and mouse are not convenient since it would add a USB hub, so I went with Logitech MK270r wireless mouse & keyboard combo instead. You can either used Ethernet or WiFi for Internet connectivity, and I opted for the latter for most of the review, but WiFi is also working fine. The final step is to connect the power supply into the […]
GOLE1 is a $79 Intel Atom x5 Windows 10 / Android 5.1 mini PC with a 5″ Touchscreen Display (Crowdfunding)
PiPo has been one of the first company to take advantage of Microsoft policy of providing a free license for Windows 10 for devices with smaller touchscreen displays with mini PCs such as PiPo X8 that includes a 7″ display, saving $25 to $35 on the Windows 10 license for such products without displays. Shenzhen Qianhai Gole Technology (Gole) has also been selling similar devices on their Aliexpress store, and the company is now taking to Indiegogo to launch their latest model, dubbed GOLE1, featuring a 5″ touchscreen display, and fitting in your pocket. Gole1 specifications: SoC – Intel Atom x5-Z8300 “Cherry Trail” quad core processor @ 1.44 GHz / 1.84 GHz with Intel Gen8 HD graphics (2W SDP) System Memory – 2 or 4 GB DDR3L Storage – 32 or 64 GB NAND flash + micro SD slot up to 64GB Display – 5″ capacitive touchscreen display with 1280×720 […]
Android Wear 2.0 Developer Preview Release
Google I/O 2016 has started, and among several announcements, Google released Android Wear 2.0 develop preview which according to the company is the “most significant update” since the launch of Android Wear two years ago. Some noticeable changes include: Standalone apps – Android Wear apps can now access the Internet directly over Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or cellular, without relying on a paired smartphone or tablet. New system UI – New notification design and app launcher, as well as a new watch face picker. Material design for wearables Keyboard and handwriting input methods added Google Fit platform – Improvements to the Google Fit platform make it easier to app developers to use fitness data and detect activity. Android N Support – Data Saver, Java 8 Lambda support, emojis, etc… A new Complication API has also been added to display small pieces of information directly on the watch face. Preview images for LGE Watch […]
Asu Cast One Android Smartwatch Features a Projector and Touch Panel
Smartwatches and wearables in general have to main implementations for the user interfaces, either using a display and physical button, or a touch screen display. Asu Cast 1 changed all that, as they removed the display, using a touch panel (no screen) combined with a projector, using your hand or other surfaces. Asu Cast One smartwatch projector specifications: SoC – Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (APQ8026) processor @ 1.2 GHz System Memory – 768 MB RAM Storage – 4GB flash Projector – 1280 x 600 resolution, 15 lumens brightness (equivalent to 100 lumens DLP projectors), “screen” size: 2″ to 60″. Touch panel – Multi-touch Connectivity – WiFi and Bluetooth Sensors – Gravity sensor and gyroscope Battery – 740 mAh battery Dimensions – 50 x 41 x 14.6 mm Weight – 65.9 grams The thing runs a heavily customized version of Android 5.1, and supports DLNA, Miracast and Airplay. The company did not disclose […]
“BluePill” is a $2 Arduino Compatible Development Board Based on STMicro STM32 MCU
I’m amazed that if your budget for a board was just $5 for one MCU board, you now have so many options for your electronics projects: ESP8266 boards, a few STM8 boards, One Dollar Board project, and many more… Other options are “BluePill” or “RedPill” boards based on STM32 or GD32 32-bit ARM Cortex M3 micro-controllers that go for about $2 shipped, and can be programmed with the Arduino IDE thanks to STM32Duino project. BluePill board specifications: MCU – STMicro STM32F103C8T6 ARM Cortex-M3 MCU @ 72 MHz with 64KB flash memory, 20KB SRAM. USB – 1x micro USB port for power and programming Debugging – 4x pin SWD header or micro USB port Expansion – 2x 20-pin with power signals, I2C, SPI, GPIOs, ADC inputs, etc… Misc – Reset button, two jumpers (for boot mode), power and user LEDs. Power – 5V via USB, 2.0-3.6V power via 3.3V pin on […]
Jide and Asus Optimized Remix OS 2.0 on a Specific Intel Celeron 3150 mini-ITX Board
Remix OS 2.0 Android port with optimization for desktop use is great on ARM hardware, as in most cases, Linux distributions or Windows 10 don’t really run perfectly on such hardware. Remix OS for x86 could also be an option for your older computer that may feel sluggish with recent desktop operating systems, but would people really run it on newer and faster x86 hardware as their main OS? Jide and Asus actually think there’s a market here, and both companies collaborated to optimize Remix OS 2.0 for Asus N3150I-C mini-ITX motherboard powered by Intel Celeron N3150 processor. For reference, I’ll list the main specifications of Asus N3150C-I motherboard: SoC – Intel Celeron N3150 “Braswell” quad core processor @ up to 2.08 GHz with Intel HD Graphics Gen8 @ up to 640 MHz – 6W TDP System Memory – 2x U-DIMM up to 8GB DDR3 1600/1066 MHz Non-ECC dual channel […]
The “One Dollar Board” Project Aims to Teach Electronics in Developing Countries (Crowdfunding)
I’ve already tried a one dollar board based on STM8s in the past, but it required a separate STLink debugger, installing a toolchain, and a few other steps. The “One Dollar Board” project, born in Brazil, has different objectives, as it aims to provide an easy way for pupils around the world to getting started with electronics, by simply connecting it to the USB port of a computer or board capable of running the Arduino IDE, and following the instructions printed on the board. One Dollar Board specifications: MCU – 8-bit MCU (likely Atmel AVR) with 8 KB flash 6x GPIO (input and output ports) USB – 1x USB port for power and programming Misc – 2x LEDs, reset button Expansion – Spaces for Wifi ESP8266, Atmel 24C256 serial EEPROM (256 KB), and L293 Driver motor (unclear where though) Power Supply – 5V via USB Dimensions – Compatible with Arduino […]
AOC Mars is an ARM Based 24″ All-in-One PC Running Remix OS 2.0
AOC International and Jide Technology has partners to launch Mars, the first all-in-one (AIO) PC supporting Remix OS. The computer is powered by Amlogic S905 processor with 2GB RAM & up to 64GB storage, and features a 23.8″ display. AOC Mars “M1238B” preliminary specifications: Soc – Amlogic S905 quad core Cortex A53 processor @ 2.0 GHz with penta-core Mali-450MP GPU System Memory – 2GB RAM Storage – 16 or 64 GB flash depending on model Display – 23.8″ display with 1920 x 1080 resolution Video – 2x HDMI ports Audio – Stereo speakers, 3.5mm jacks for headphone and microphone Connectivity – Ethernet, and probably WiFi and Bluetooth (TBC) USB – 4x USB 2.0 ports Misc – Power, volume, menu and back buttons Dimensions – 9.9mm thickness, 13.3 mm border width The computer will run Remix OS 2.0. It will first be showcased at CES Asia 2016 in Shanghai, launched in […]