CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

October 7, 2023October 7, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 12 Comments

Raspberry Pi releases RP1 peripheral controller datasheet and block diagram

The Raspberry Pi 5 was recently introduced with the Broadcom BCM2712 CPU and the RP1 chip handling I/Os designed in-house by the Raspberry Pi just like they did for the RP2 (RP2040) microcontroller, and we now have more details about the Raspberry Pi RP1 including a (draft) datasheet and a block diagram. The RP2040 came out before the RP1 peripheral controller as the design for the latter started 7 years ago with a total R&D budget to develop the Raspberry Pi 5 of around 25 million dollars. While at launch, we knew the RP1 handled some peripherals, doubled USB bandwidth with two separate USB 3.0 hosts, and embedded higher speed MIPI interfaces, it was unclear whether some of the other connections came from the BCM2712 or RP1 chips. But we now do know with the release of the datasheet. Raspberry Pi RP1 key features and specifications: MCU – Dual-arm Cortex-M3 […]

October 6, 2023December 5, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

Barebone M4 fanless mini PC features Intel Processor N100 for $106 and up

I thought it would be hard to beat the price of the Processor N100 ZX05 mini PC, but the Topton M4 fanless mini PC does just that for just $106.53 plus shipping. The trick for that price is that the M4 is a barebone mini PC without any RAM, storage, or wireless module, but some may see it as an advantage preferring to purchase RAM, storage, and/or a WiFi module separately, or simply having the ability to replace or upgrade them when needed. M4 mini PC specifications: SoC – Intel Processor N100 Alder Lake-N quad-core/quad-thread processor @ up to 3.4 GHz (Turbo) with 6MB cache, 24EU Intel HD graphics @ up to 750 MHz; TDP: 6W System Memory – Up to 32GB (TBC) DDR4-3200 via SO-DIMM socket Storage 1x M.2 2280 socket for NVMe (PCIE3.0 x2) or SATA III SSD 1x mSATA socket SATA III port for up to 7mm […]

ArmSoM CM5 - Raspberry Pi CM4 alternative with Rockchip RK3576 SoC

October 6, 2023October 7, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

Android 14 released, source code hits AOSP

Google has just released Android 14 for supported devices such as Google Pixel phones and pushed the source code to AOSP (the Android Open-Source Project). Most of the changes to the fourteenth version of the Android operating system were introduced with the first Android 14 developer preview – released in February 2023 – which included performance improvements, better privacy and security, and additional user-side customization options. Some of the new features unveiled since the first Android 14 developer preview include: AI-generated wallpapers using text-to-image diffusion models to help users easily create unique wallpapers HDR images with Ultra HDR (Android 13 already supported HDR videos) Built-in Health Connect support to let people track their fitness, health, and wellness levels across apps in a secure way respecting privacy. Android 14 encourages users to set a six-digit PIN (or longer) to improve security. Improved accessibility with vision-and hearing-inclusive features such as an enhanced […]

October 5, 2023October 5, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

UP Squared i12 Edge is a compact, yet feature-rich, fanless Alder Lake-P mini PC

UP Squared i12 Edge is a compact fanless mini PC powered by 12th Generation Intel Alder Lake-P processors from the Celeron 7305E penta-core CPU up to an Intel Core i7-1270PE 12-core processor, but still a good range of ports and features. Based on the UP Squared i12 SBC introduced earlier this year, the UP Squared i12 edge mini PC comes with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM and features a 64GB or 128GB SSD soldered on board, plus an M.2 2280 NVMe socket and a SATA port for additional storage. The system also has two gigabit Ethernet ports, optional WiFi and Bluetooth, three 4K-capable display interfaces (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C), and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports. UP Squared i12 Edge specifications: 12th generation Alder Lake-P SoC: Intel Core i7-1270PE 12-core/16-thread processor @ up to 3.30GHz (E-cores) / 4.50GHz )P-cores) with 96EU Intel Xe graphics – PBP: 28W, up to 64W MTP […]

October 5, 2023October 4, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

GL.iNet Flint2 AX6000 router supports up to 900 Mbps WireGuard VPN with MediaTek MT7986 SoC

GL.iNet Flint2 (also known as GL-MT6000) is a new AX6000 router based on MediaTek MT7986 (Filogic 830) Arm SoC and supporting VPN speeds of up to 900 Mbps using WireGuard and 190 Mbps with OpenVPN. This caught my attention, as I previously covered other GL.iNet routers such as the Spitz AX (GL-X3000NR) and the Beryl AX (GL-MT3000) based on the previously generation Filogic 820 (MT7981B) CPU with claims of (only) 300 Mbps transfer rates with Wireguard, so the new model is supposed to triple the VPN performance. GL.iNet Flint2 (GL-MT6000) specifications: SoC – MediaTek MT7986 (Filogic 830) quad-core Arm Cortex A53 processor @ 2.0 GHz with hardware acceleration engines for Wi-Fi offloading and networking System Memory – 1GB DDR4 Storage – 8GB eMMC flash Networking 2x 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports 4x Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports 802.11b/g/n/ac/ax WiFi 6 with 4x external Wi-Fi antennas Up to 1,148 Mbps @ 2.4 GHz […]

October 4, 2023April 5, 2024 by Sponsored Post - No Comments

Azulle’s Byte4 – Customization at Its Finest With 3 Stellar Add-on Modules (Sponsored)

In the ever-evolving world of technology, we often find ourselves at a crossroads between power and flexibility. Striking the perfect balance can be a daunting task, but sometimes innovation comes along to redefine the game. Enter Azulle’s Byte4, a desktop mini PC that reimagines computing by seamlessly integrating three stellar add-on modules: Active Cooling, 4G LTE (AT&T Certified), and Power over Ethernet (POE). As a leading manufacturer of mini PCs and mini PC sticks, Azulle firmly believes that innovation should simplify our lives rather than complicate them. With that in mind, one of our flagship products, the Byte, embodies this philosophy in its modular design, allowing users to tailor their computing experience to their unique needs without the hassle of complicated setups. Active Cooling: A Shield Against the Heat Traditional cooling solutions often come at the cost of space and noise. Unlike the conventional cooling mechanisms that merely whisper their […]

Rockchip RK3568/RK3588 and Intel x86 SBCs

October 4, 2023October 3, 2023 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Inkplate 4 TEMPERA ePaper display supports ESPHome, Arduino, and MicroPython (Crowdfunding)

Years after years, Soldered Electronics keeps on churning out new ESP32-powered ePaper displays and the latest model is the Inkplate 4 TEMPERA with a recycled 3.8-inch e-paper touchscreen with 600×600 resolution and plenty of sensors and features for a device of that size. The InkPlate 4 TEMPERA comes with a frontlight, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, temperature, humidity, air quality, and gesture sensors, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in battery, and a low-power operating mode. Inkplate 4 TEMPERA specifications: Wireless module – ESP32-WROVER-E with ESP32 dual-core microcontroller with Wi-Fi 4 & Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity Memory – 8MB PSRAM Storage – 4MB flash PCB antenna Storage – MicroSD card slot Display (ED038TH2) 3.8-inch 3-bit grayscale (black, white, and six shades of gray) ePaper display with 600 x 600 pixels resolution Refresh rate 0.18s partial refresh rate in 1-bit (B&W) mode 0.86s full refresh mode in either 1-bit or 3-bit modes Multi-point touchscreen […]

October 3, 2023October 3, 2023 by Paisit Wongsongsarn - 20 Comments

Review of the first Matter device by SONOFF – MINI Extreme Wi-Fi Smart Switch (MINIR4M)

We have just received the first Matter product from SONOFF for review, which is the Mini Extreme Switch (MINIR4M) model. Its external appearance closely resembles the Mini Extreme Switch Wifi (MINIR4) which we reviewed previously. They have different colors to distinguish between WiFi (Orange) and Matter (Green). In this review, we have experimented with various Smart Home platforms that support Matter, such as Home Assistant, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and even their own eWeLink app. Let’s see how their operations and features differ to some extent. Quick intro for Matter. We have heard Matter/Thread together in the news. Matter is a control protocol, while Thread is a communication protocol. Both protocols can work together, or separately. Matter can operate on the top of various communication protocols, including WiFi, Ethernet, BLE, or Thread, with subtle differences such as energy efficiency, network, and resiliency. What’s crucial to note is that Matter acts […]