Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on M5Stack releases local server implementations of UIFlow visual programming Web IDE

M5Stack releases local server implementations of UIFlow visual programming Web IDE

Visual programming local Web IDE

Visual programming is now a very popular method to teach programming to kids and M5Stack relies on UIFlow for their ESP32-based IoT development kit. Like most other companies, M5Stack provides either a Web IDE accessible from their server or a desktop program available for Windows, MacOS, or Linux, but the company has now released a local server implementation that allows users to run a Web IDE instance in their local network. The local server is available for Windows 11 x64, MacOS, Ubuntu 22.04, and Linux Arm (e.g. Raspberry Pi), so I downloaded the Ubuntu version to give it a try on my laptop. Somehow the Ubuntu release is full of Windows DLLs, but let’s ignore that for now, and the README.txt tells us to install one dependency and run the program as follows:

A window pops up letting us start or stop the server. It can be accessed with […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 7 Comments on MINIX Z100-0dB fanless Intel N100 mini PC supports 2.5GbE and WiFi 6 networking

MINIX Z100-0dB fanless Intel N100 mini PC supports 2.5GbE and WiFi 6 networking

MINIX Z100-0DB

Companies keep on releasing new Intel Processor N100 mini PCs, and the latest one is the MINIX Z100-0dB fanless mini PC with support for 2.5GbE and WiFi 6 networking, and dual display setups through two HDMI ports. The mini PC is said to support up to 32GB RAM, ships with up to 512GB NVMe SSD, and comes with the usual USB 3.2/2.0 ports, microSD card slot, and 3.5mm audio. The “0DB” name comes from the fact that it is a fanless system as shown on the top of the top device with the string “ZERO dB Cooling System”. MINIX Z100-0dB specifications: SoC – Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel HD graphics @ 750 MHz; TDP: 6W System Memory – 4GB, 8GB, or 16GB DDDR4-3200, upgradable to 32GB Storage 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB M.2 SSD (PCIe Gen3 x4), upgradable […]

ArmSoM CM5 - Raspberry Pi CM4 alternative with Rockchip RK3576 SoC
Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on AMD Ryzen Embedded V3000 COM Express Type 7 module supports up to 64GB DDR5 memory

AMD Ryzen Embedded V3000 COM Express Type 7 module supports up to 64GB DDR5 memory

AMD Ryzen V3000 COM Express Module

ADLINK Express VR7 is a COM Express Basic size Type 7 computer-on-module powered by the eight-core AMD Ryzen Embedded V3000 processor with two 10GbE interfaces, fourteen PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and optional support for the “extreme temperature range” between -40°C and 85°C. The COM Express module supports up to 64GB dual-channel DDR5 SO-DIMM  (ECC/non-ECC) memory and targets headless embedded applications such as edge networking equipment, 5G infrastructure at the edge, video storage analytics, intelligent surveillance, industrial automation and control, and rugged edge servers. Express-VR7 specifications: SoC – AMD Embedded Ryzen V3000 (one or the other Ryzen V3C48 8-core/16-thread processor @ 3.3/3.8GHz; TDP: 45W Ryzen V3C44 4-core/8-thread processor @ 3.5/3.8GHz; TDP: 45W Ryzen V3C18I 8-core/16-thread processor 1.9/3.8GHz; TDP: 15W (useful in the extreme temperature range) Ryzen V3C16 6-core/12-thread processor 2.0/3.8GHz; TDP: 15W Ryzen V3C14 4-core/8-thread processor 2.3/3.8GHz; TDP: 15W System Memory – Up to 64GB (2x 32GB) dual-channel ECC/non-ECC DDR5 memory […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments on Youyeetoo X1 x86 SBC Review – Part 2: GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, NFC, PoE module, and power consumption

Youyeetoo X1 x86 SBC Review – Part 2: GPIO, UART, I2C, SPI, NFC, PoE module, and power consumption

Youyeetoo X1 GPIO review

The Youyeetoo X1 x86 single board computer (SBC) with an Intel Celeron N5105 Jasper Lake CPU differs from a typical Intel or AMD mini PC by its range of IOs including SPI, I2C, UART, NFC connectivity, and support for PoE module that you won’t find in a typical computer, and that’s what we will test in the second part of the X1 SBC review along with power consumption. The Youyeetoo X1 SBC is also different from Arm-based single board computers since we can just install any x86-compatible operating system by ourselves, and w don’t need to flash a board-specific image like we would do with Arm SBCs and peripherals such as SPI, I2C or UART may be or may not usable immediately due to lack of supported drivers. We’ve already installed Ubuntu 22.04 on the Youyeetoo X1 in the first part of the review, so in the second part, we’ll […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments on Lenovo Chromebox Micro fanless mini PC runs ChromeOS, targets digital signage applications

Lenovo Chromebox Micro fanless mini PC runs ChromeOS, targets digital signage applications

Lenovo ChromeBox Mini

There’s a new type of Chromebox in town with the Chromebox Micro with a form factor very similar to the MeLE Quieter4C we’ve just covered, but running Chrome OS instead and designed to be mounted to the back of a display. The Lenovo Chromebox Micro is the first device of this type that I’ve seen. The fanless mini PC is based on an Intel Celeron N4500 dual-core processor with 8GB RAM and 32GB eMMC flash and mostly targets digital signage and interactive retail kiosks. Lenovo Chromebox Micro: SoC – Intel Celeron N4500 dual-core processor @ 1.1GHz / 2.8GHz (Burst frequency) with Intel UHD graphics; 6W TDP System Memory – 8GB Storage – 32 GB eMMC flash Video Output – 1x HDMI port Audio – 1x audio jack, digital audio via HDMI Networking – Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port USB – 2x USB Type-C ports, 2x USB Type-A ports Misc – Power […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on LILYGO Mini E-Paper Core IoT controller gets ESP32-S3 wireless microcontroller

LILYGO Mini E-Paper Core IoT controller gets ESP32-S3 wireless microcontroller

LILYGO Mini E-Paper ESP32-S3

LILYGO Mini E-Paper Core has gotten an upgrade to the ESP32-S3 wireless microcontroller. The IoT controller was first introduced in 2021 with an ESP32-PICO-D4 system-in-package, a 1.02-inch E-Paper display, and a few GPIOs on the back, and the company kept the same design for the ESP32-S3 model called “Mini E-Paper Core S3”. The tiny ESP32-S3 IoT controller can still be used for integrated into your own project, and the company also provides several shields with nRF24L01 2.4GHz wireless or 433/868 MHz “LoRa” connectivity to transform the device into a longer range IoT device. Mini E-Paper Core S3 specifications Wireless SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3FN4R2 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 @ up to 240 MHz with vector instructions for AI acceleration Memory – 512KB RAM, 2MB PSRAM Storage – 4MB flash Wireless – 2.4 GHz WiFi 4 and Bluetooth Storage – MicroSD card socket Display – 1.02-inch e-paper display with 128×80 […]

Rockchip RK3568/RK3588 and Intel x86 SBCs
Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments on MeLE Quieter4C ultrathin fanless Intel N100 mini PC supports up to three displays

MeLE Quieter4C ultrathin fanless Intel N100 mini PC supports up to three displays

MeLE Quieter4C

MeLE has just launched a new model from its Quieter family with the Quieter4C ultrathin fanless mini PC powered by an Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor, 8GB to 16GB LPDDR4, and 128GB to 512GB eMMC+SSD storage, and supporting up to three independent 4K displays. Intel N100 mini PCs have become popular due to their excellent price/performance ratio, but although a few are fanless, many are actively cooled, and the Quieter4C differentiates itself by its low profile with the system being just 18.3 mm thick. MeLE Quieter4C specifications: SoC – Intel Processor N100 quad-core Alder Lake-N processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel HD graphics @ 750 MHz; TDP: 6W System Memory – 8GB or 16GB LPDDR4X Storage 128GB or 256GB eMMC flash Optional 256GB M.2 SSD (for 512GB storage in total) via M.2 2280 SATA III/PCIe Gen3 x4 socket MicroSD card reader Video […]

Posted on by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments on Robustel introduces EG5101 and EG5200 Debian 11 industrial IoT gateways with 4G LTE cellular connectivity

Robustel introduces EG5101 and EG5200 Debian 11 industrial IoT gateways with 4G LTE cellular connectivity

Robustel EG5101 EG5200 Debian 11 industrial gateways

Robustel introduced the EG5101 and EG5200 industrial IoT gateways running Debian 11 a few weeks ago, both with 4G LTE cellular connectivity, but the NXP i.MX 6ULL-based EG5101 has a more compact design, while the NXP i.MX 8M Plus-powered EG5200 provides more I/Os and resources. Expanding the earlier EG5100, EG5120, and LG5100 models from the company, the two edge computing gateways target Industry 4.0 and smart infrastructure applications and enable real-time analytics at the edge with lower latency than running workloads in the cloud. Robustel EG5101 and EG5200 SoC/Memory/Storage EG5101 NXP i.MX 6ULL Cortex-A7 32-bit processor @ 792 MHz 512MB to 1024MB DDR3 8GB eMMC flash EG5200 NXP i.MX 8M Plus quad-core Cortex-A53 64-bit processor @ 1.6 GHz with 2.3 TOPS NPU 4GB DDR4 32GB eMMC flash, microSD card socket Connectivity EG5101 1x 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port 4G LTE with 1x SMA-K antenna connector, 2x Mini SIM (2FF) EG5200 5x […]

Boardcon Rockchip and Allwinner SoM and SBC products