CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

November 14, 2012November 14, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Learn How to Write a Driver for Linux 3.x With The Linux Driver Template

A Linux Driver Template (LDT) has been published to help new Linux kernel developers writing hardware device drivers. Constantine Shulyupin posted the Linux Driver Template (LDT) on the Linux mailing list in order to merge it into the mainline Linux kernel. The code can be used as as a starting point for new drivers, and shows how to use several Linux facilities such as module, platform driver, file operations (read/write, mmap, ioctl, blocking and nonblocking mode, polling), kfifo, completion, interrupt, tasklet, work, kthread, timer, simple misc device, multiple char devices, Device Model, configfs, UART, hardware loopback, software loopback and ftracer. This sample has been added to other device drivers samples in eLinux.org. And if you want to learn further there’s always the Linux driver bible: “Linux Device Drivers, Third Edition” which can be downloaded for free as PDF, although it’s for 2.6.10 kernel and many parts may not be up-to […]

November 14, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Samsung Exynos 4412 (Origen 4 Quad Board) Open Source Development Schedule

If you’ve got an Exynos 4412 development board such as Hardkernel ODroid-X or Insignal Origen Quad, or even other devices based on Exynos 4412 such as the Samsung Galaxy S3, you may be interested to know the open source development schedule for the platform as show below (Source: Origenboard.org). Samsung already released the source code for Samsung Galaxy S3 in June, but this should add more recent drivers and support for more peripherals. The stable release should be available on the 21st of December 2012, but in the meantime, you could always pickup features earlier as they are being implemented. The code is available in http://git.insignal.co.kr/ (Git repository) and is maintained by both Insignal and Samsung.

ArmSoM CM5 Raspberry Pi CM4 alternative with Rockchip RK3576 SoC

November 14, 2012November 14, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

NXP Launches Cortex M0+ LPC800 MCU and $15 LPC812-LPCXpresso Board

Following ARM Cortex M0+ announcement in March 2012, NXP Semiconductors has just announced the LPC800, tiny 32-bit MCUs based on Cortex M0+ core @ 30 MHz designed to replace 8-bit MCUs, together with LPCXpresso development board for the LPC800. The MCUs come with 1 to 4KB SRAM, 4 to 16 KB Flash, several serial interfaces and are available in SO20, TSSOP20, TSSOP16 and even DIP8 packages. Here are the key features of NXP new ultra low power 32-bit MCU family: ARM Cortex-M0+processor up to 30 MHz, software compatible with Cortex M0, M3 and M4 cores Memories: 4 to 16 kB Flash (with 64 Byte page size) 1 to 4 kB SRAM Serial Peripherals: Up to 3 USART interfaces Up to 2 SPI controllers 1x I2C-bus interface Timers: Multiple-channel multi-rate timer (MRT) State Configurable Timer (SCT) Self Wake-up Timer (WKT) clocked from either the IRC or a low-power clock source Windowed […]

November 14, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Android Jelly Bean 4.2 SDK, Source Code and Binary Images Are Now Available

As the Nexus 4 smartphone and Nexus 10 tablet became available for purchase yesterday, Google released Android 4.2 SDK for developers and pushed Android 4.2 to AOSP. The Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean) SDK platform (API level 17) brings the following key improvements: Performance – Renderscript computation can be run directly in the GPU on the Nexus 10. This is a first since Exynos 5250 is the first ARM processor capable of supporting GPGPU (via Mali-T604 GPU). See the chart of the right showing results between CPU and CPU+GPU computation of some multimedia benchmarks. Lock screen widgets – Users can now place interactive lock screen widgets directly on their device lock screens. This only requires a small update to adapt existing widgets to run on the lock screen. Daydream – An interactive screensaver mode that can be used when the device is charging or docked to a desk dock. Better external […]

November 13, 2012November 13, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Texas Instruments OMAP 5 Cortex A15 Systems-on-Module Galore

Today Texas Instruments published a press release to announce partners 6 company had worked to design and manufactures systems-on-module based on the dual core Cortex A15 OMAP 5 SoC and that those would be on display at Electronica Trade Faire this week (13-16 October) in Munich. Embedded++ EPP-Pico-OMAP5430 This solution is actually a Pico-ITX board based on OMAP5430 with 2 GB LP-DDR2, USB 3.0 SuperSpeed connectivity (1x USB 3.0, 3x USB 2.0), up to 16 GB eMMC storage, a SATA port, a 100Mb Ethernet port , UART, RS-323 & SPI ports, GPIOs, DVI and LVDS outputs, a serial camera input port, a micro SD card socket, Murata WiLink 8.0 connectivity solution (Wi-Fi, GNSS, Bluetooth®, Bluetooth v4.0 and FM technologies) and a built-in battery charger (1-cell Li-Ion). The company provides Linux and Android 4.1 BSP. Check the product page for a few more details. GreenBase GK-5432 GK-5432 is a computer on […]

November 13, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Google Unveils $199 Acer C7 Chromebook Powered by Intel Celeron 847

After the new (ARM based) Samsung Chromebook released last month, Google announced the Acer C7 Chromebook based on an Intel Celeron processor at a cheaper price ($199 vs $249), but at the cost of shorter battery life and the addition of a fan. Beside the Celeron processor @ 1.1 GHz, the new Acer C7 Chromebook comes with 2 GB RAM, a 320 GB hard drive, features a 11,6″ display, weights 1.3 kg and the 37Wh battery can last for over 3.5 hours. Other features include Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth. The Acer Chromebook comes with 3 USB 3.0 ports, HDMI & VGA video outputs, a 2-in-1 card reader, a webcam, built-in stereo speaker and audio jacks for headphones and microphones. Whereas the Exynos 5250 can boot in less than 10 seconds (Thanks partialy to the SSD), the new Acer Chromebook boots up in 18 seconds which is not too bad. Google will […]

Rockchip RK3568, RK3588 and Intel x86 SBCs abd SoMs

November 13, 2012May 29, 2017 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 27 Comments

Jesurun Xplus H25 Mini PCs with Rotating HDMI Port, DLNA Support

Jesurun Xplus H25 mini PCs are typical Android 4.0 AllWinner A10 and Rockchip RK3066 mini PCs, expect for one slight mechanical difference: The HDMI male port can rotate and possibly allow the mini PC to be inserted directly into the TV in case where other may not. Of course, one option could always be to buy a cheap HDMI rotating adapter or an HDMI cable to connect the device, but I find having this option within the device is neater. Let’s look at the specs of the single core version: SoC – AllWinner A10 with Mali-400 GPU System Memory – 1GB RAM Storage – 4GB NAND Flash + TF card slot USB – 1x USB 2.0 OTGX + 1x USB HOST + 1x mini USB HOST WiFi – 802.11b/g/n Video Container Formats – AVI, MKV, TS, TP, TRP, M2TS, MPG, MP4, M4V, MOV, VOB, MVC(3D) ISO, IFO, DAT, WMV, ASF/RM, […]

November 13, 2012November 14, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

£20 PiFace Digital I/O Expansion Board for the Raspberry Pi Board

Elements14 has just announced that it will be the exclusive distributor of the PiFace Digital I/O expansion board for the Raspberry Pi and sell it for 20 GBP. The PiFace Digital board, whose first prototype was unveiled back in May, is an expansion board allows you to interact with the outside world and control and sense physical devices such as lights, motors and sensors like the Gertboard, but has the advantage of fitting neatly on the top the Raspberry Pi, which should allow it to be used with some of the existing Raspberry Pi cases. Detailed technical information is scarce on the Mk2 version of PiFace Digital (the one sold by Elements14), but the board apprars to include 2 relays (which can be disabled by jumper), a buffered I/O interface with 8 inputs and 8 outputs, and buttons & LEDs. If will primarily be an education platform and free educational tools […]

Boardcon Rockchip RK3588S SBC with 8K, WiFI 6, 4G LTE, NVME SSD, HDMI 2.1...